Partner Highlight: Public Radio East’s Record-Breaking Cartober

Key Takeaways:

• Cartober delivered record-breaking results for Public Radio East (PRE), helping the station achieve its highest one-month total of vehicle donations ever and offset the loss of federal funding.
• A multi-channel promotional approach that combined on-air messaging with digital, social, newsletter, and in-person outreach helped PRE maximize listener awareness and participation.
• Vehicle donations expanded PRE’s fundraising beyond traditional on-air pledge drives, offering supporters a meaningful alternative way to give.

Full Story:

For Public Radio East (PRE), participating in Cartober provided both timely support and record-breaking results. “As Public Radio East seeks to make up for the loss of federal funding, participation in Cartober helped provide a much-needed boost in revenue to our station,” said Jared Brumbaugh, Assistant General Manager at Public Radio East. “During the campaign, PRE received the highest one-month total of vehicle donations ever.” The station’s participation also contributed to an 86% increase in donations compared to October the previous year.

Multi-Channel Approach Delivers Results

PRE’s success was driven by a comprehensive, multi-channel outreach strategy designed to meet listeners wherever they engage with the station. “We utilized pre-recorded announcements and live, on-air drivetime pitching to promote Cartober to our listeners,” Jared shared.

In addition to on-air promotion, PRE integrated Cartober across its digital platforms. “We included digital assets on our website, created a Cartober landing page for the campaign, and promoted it on our social media pages, in our newsletters, and at in-person community events,” Jared shared. “The resources and materials provided by CARS were invaluable in promoting Cartober to our listeners.”

Long-Term Fundraising Impact

Beyond the immediate fundraising impact, Cartober has influenced how PRE approaches vehicle donations in the long term. “Participation in Cartober allows us to continue fundraising efforts between our normally scheduled fund drives,” Jared said. “It’s also a great way to remind listeners that there are alternative ways to support PRE beyond traditional monetary contributions.”

Looking ahead, Jared encourages other organizations to be proactive when preparing for Cartober. His advice: “Start planning early and use all channels of communication with listeners and donors to maximize your outreach.”

Congratulations to Public Radio East on a highly successful Cartober campaign. Their results demonstrate the power of strategic promotion, strong partnership, and creative fundraising in supporting public media when it’s needed most.

Partners interested in getting more involved in Cartober 2026 are encouraged to reach out to marketingsupport@careasy.org to learn more and start planning early!