Elkhorn’s sports teams and activities are known for their sportsmanship and consistent structure, but most people tend to forget about one of the foundational principles of athletic teams: fundraising.
For the past year, schools in the Elkhorn district have been working with a fundraising company called Leading Edge. Its mission is to make raising money more efficient and less stressful for students across the country.
“I was a teacher for years, worked with sports teams and clubs as a teacher, and looked for a different opportunity to work with kids and raise the money they needed,” Leading Edge representative Jared Turbyfill said.“This job came available, and I started working for them.”
Leading Edge has been working with schools nationwide since 2010. They have raised over $120 million in the past six years alone. Turbyfill said this is his third year working for the company, and this is the first full year he has worked with Elkhorn schools.
One of the biggest successes in Elkhorn so far has come from the swim team.
“In Elkhorn, the swim team raised $42,000,” Turbyfill said. He also shared that outside the district, Midland University football raised $89,000 through the same system.
The fundraiser relies heavily on student participation. Athletes help by reaching out to family members, friends, and community supporters who may be interested in donating. For many students, that personal connection is what makes the system effective.
Sophomore Swimmer Olivia Maas, said that she provided around 15 contacts for the fundraiser. She believes the updated system made the process smoother than traditional fundraisers.
“It was good,” Maas said. “I think it worked very well.”
For coaches, the new fundraising model also reduces the time spent organizing sales, going door to door, and counting cash. Instead, donations can be managed more directly and efficiently.
Swim Coach Jay Thiltgen said the program encourages athletes to take responsibility while also making it easier for supporters to contribute.
“I think it’s an efficient way for people to help out if they want to,” Thiltgen said. “It allows the athletes to have a little bit of control, where they have to go out and do a little bit of work, but it minimizes some of the efforts and the processes.”
Thiltgen also said that limitations will be important moving forward.
“I think it will be beneficial, as long as it’s not overused,” Thiltgen said. “At some level there’s only so much money. The pond is only so deep.”
As fundraising continues to be an important part of school athletics, Elkhorn’s partnership with Leading Edge may provide a model for balancing student involvement with modern convenience.
Turbyfill said helping students remains the most rewarding part of his work.
“I love working with kids,” Turbyfill said. “That’s why I got into teaching, and now I get to do it in a different capacity and help them raise the money they need.”