MTFCA Forum

For the past 60 years, six antique car clubs in Portland, Oregon have held the "Always in April" Portland Swap Meet. I am pleased to announce that we will have it again April 10, 11 & 12, 2026!

However, with online classifieds, T-bay, and various internet sales, our proceeds are currently only about 20% of what they were ten years ago. The swap meet almost did not survive Covid. Looking down the road, I wonder how many more years we have until it is no longer a viable business model?

That being said, what does your club do for fundraisers?
How much are your local dues?
Do your dues cover operating costs?
Do members pay for everything out of pocket?

I'm not being an alarmist, but want to look forward for future options...

: ^ )

Keith

If your club is organized as a Social & Recreational Club under IRS and your states non-profit tax rules, your club members can not profit from the public money from car shows and swap meets, etc. Similar to a IRS 501 (c7). All profits after expenses have to be donated to charity. Your club should be supported entirely from dues and fees paid by the members. We at the Mother Lode Club have struggled with this for years. We are proud that we make a nice profit from our annual swap meet and are able to make sizable donations to museums and local non-profits.
So all you can do to increase funds for club activities is to raise dues, have 50-50 raffles (in House, no public) bake sales etc.

In Milwaukee :

Participate in Memorial Day Parade, 4th of July Parade, Germanfest Parade and sometimes others to raise funds.
Annual dues are $50
- $25 for costs and $25 for newsletter
Gas, lunches, parts - comes out of your pocket.

We also have 'Coach Houses'. Something is wrong with your car. We will set up a date and 4-10 guys will
come to your house and get your car running. You just have to provide food and refreshments.

We have done auctions of items donated by members annually. T related. Extra parts, literature, antiques, etc.
Executed on a Saturday. The club provides lunch.(catered BBQ usually) Lots of fun, Lots of bargains & enough money raised to operate the club for the year +.

What Keith failed to mention. There are very few model T booths selling T parts. It's not worth the costs of driving to Portland(gas, food, motels) for a hand full of Model T booths. Like all inclusive swap meets of late they will sell a booth to just about anyone that has the price of the booth. Also the population of the Portland reginal group has aged. Older guys don't have the stamina to stand at the gates and monitor entry and exits for 3 days and most importantly the younger guys won't step up. This younger generation would rather buy on line and get it shipped to their door. I have not attended Portland for 10 years too much chrome and junk parts for my interest

I am old enough to remember going to the very first Portland swap meet and it was ALL volunteer, even the building was free. Today the county owns the setting for the swap meet and their rates for rent is outrageous. So in reality the day of the old fashioned swap meets is over by costs and lack of interest of the newer generation. Even Hershey is a mere shadow of itself. Sadly the handwriting is one the wall.

just sayin'
brasscarguy.

p/s yes I have a very varied collection of collector cars from 1906 Reo thru a 1994 Ferrari, I have the interest just not going to a swap meet with nothing to offer

Just another idea for money raising for car clubs. I was recently asked by a local business owner to display my Model T at their 100th anniversary celebration. I turned down his offer of payment but told him that if he wanted to, a donation to our local club would be appreciated. He later made a generous donation to our club. Win! Win!. The business owner was happy, the club got some cash and I had a great day explainig the car, letting people take pictures of attendees in period costumes with the car, and listening to a local jazz group. Oh yeah, free cake too! Maybe the same idea could be used for requests for wedding party transportation and other similar events.

David

The rule used to be, donations are not taxable. If you charged someone, that is taxable. Hopefully that is still the case.

Learned that from a clown who made master balloon creations for adults and children. He never charged a penny.