By Aarushi Gupta | @deca.aarushi | Foothill DECA, CA
Recruitment isn't just about putting up flyers anymore. DECA chapters are finding new ways to show students what the organization can offer: from hands-on outreach to showcasing the experiences and skills that come with being a member.
So, what’s actually working? Let’s hear from three California DECA chapters that are growing their membership and the strategies making it happen.
Foothill DECA, a chapter with 140+ members, takes a different approach: show students what they’re missing. By highlighting travel, conferences, friendships, and real-world skills, the chapter shows students that DECA is more than competition. As President Tyna Chhabra explained, “A lot of our membership growth this year has come from the excitement around DECA that already exists at our school.”
Foothill builds on that excitement through DECA-affiliated classes, word-of-mouth promotion, events and incentives, and hands-on experiences such as its Tri-Valley Mini Conference. They also give freshmen opportunities to join and participate before they can take DECA classes, helping build a community of students who stay involved for years.
At Olympian DECA, recruitment focuses on using multiple channels, including social media, word of mouth, school news, and events like Club Rush, to consistently promote DECA and reach new students.
Connor Du, Founder and President of Olympian DECA, shared, “We also prioritize giving our members real-world experiences that make DECA more than just another school club.” One example is their Food Fair, where members treated the event like a real business by considering pricing, marketing, and logistics before reflecting on what worked afterward. Instead of just telling students what DECA can offer, show them. Create hands-on experiences that allow members to apply business concepts, take on real responsibilities, and see how DECA connects to the real world.
For West Ranch DECA, recruitment began by going directly to students. The chapter visited every entrepreneurship class on campus to introduce students to DECA and get them excited in person. Hannah Kow, President of West Ranch DECA, said, “This year, our membership growth came down to one thing: engaging with the entrepreneurship classes. We visited every section and got members excited about DECA in person, instead of through flyers/videos.”
Instead of waiting for students to find DECA, take DECA directly to them. Identify your target market and present to classes where students are most likely to be interested, such as business, entrepreneurship, marketing, finance, and economics courses.
Harker DECA starts the year strong by creating buzz around the chapter and welcoming new members into the DECA community. The first weekend of school, the chapter hosts DECA Launch, which brings together students and parents for a department-wide kickoff. This year, the event drew such a large crowd that the venue exceeded its maximum capacity. As the year continues,
Harker DECA builds its presence across campus through DECA and CTE Month, collaborations with other clubs, and engaging events.
“Throughout the year, we continue to advertise our chapter to the school community,” shared Abby Sachse, Harker DECA’s Co-CEO, highlighting events like Hustle for Muscle, a volleyball tournament supporting MDA.
Across these chapters, one thing is clear: successful recruitment starts with making DECA visible, engaging, and meaningful to students. Whether through social media, hands-on experiences, classroom outreach, or events, chapters can turn interest into membership by showing students what DECA has to offer.
