Sue Benua,
Treasurer,
Ninety-Nines
How she uses Cheddar Up
- Membership dues & fees
- Hosts scholarship fundraisers
- Annual events & luncheons
- Tracks challenge fundraising efforts
Cheddar Up user since
January, 2024
NUMBER OF COLLECTIONS
7
TOTAL COLLECTED
16K+
(and counting!)
Taking Off with Organization
Before Cheddar Up, the Eastern New England Chapter of the Ninety-Nines relied on a mix of paper forms, checks, and manual record-keeping. Members had to print registration forms, find a stamp, mail everything in, and wait for confirmation. For Sue, who manages finances for both her chapter and section, this meant piles of paperwork and hours spent sorting through details.
As part of an international network of women pilots, the Ninety-Nines are constantly on the move — hosting fly-ins, pancake breakfasts, luncheons, and outreach programs. Managing money and information efficiently became critical to keeping their chapter focused on what matters most: camaraderie, scholarships, and inspiring the next generation of pilots.
“Our organization had previously run on paper. Forms needed to be printed and mailed, checks came in the mail, no credit card options. Cheddar Up allows people to enter their own information and choose whether to pay by credit card or check. This streamlines processing and reduces errors.“
Sue Buena,
Treasurer, Ninety-Nines
A Clear Flight Plan
Sue discovered Cheddar Up through another aviation group and instantly recognized how much easier it could make her job. Unlike PayPal and Stripe, which only process payments, Cheddar Up offered her a way to collect dues, donations, and event registrations all in one place.
Cheddar Up’s customizable collection pages gave Sue the ability to share links in newsletters, display QR codes on their website, and encourage donations through challenge fundraisers. Instead of building fees into event pricing, she could simply pass them along to payers or offer the option to absorb them — making everything more transparent and user-friendly.
It’s not just about payments. Cheddar Up gives us flexibility- event sign-ups, form collection, even letting members choose if they want to pay by check.
Sue Benua,
Treasurer, Ninety-Nines
Streamlined Fundraising & Events
One of the group’s signature events is their Fly-In Pancake Breakfast. In the past, managing donations and keeping track of who was coming was cumbersome and relied heavily on members printing the form, filling it out, and mailing it with a check. Sue often had to cross-check spreadsheets, emails, and handwritten notes just to make sure she knew how much had been raised and who was attending.
- Collect donations directly through their collection page
- Track RSVPs & guest numbers in real-time
- Share the event with one simple link or QR code
- Offer flexible payment options, including checks
Not only does this save time, it also improves the experience for supporters. Instead of mailing forms or scrambling to bring cash, attendees can register and donate in minutes. For Sue, this means less back-and-forth and more confidence that nothing slips through the cracks.
It’s also made challenge fundraising simple. In one case, a member pledged $1,000 if the group could raise the same amount from others. With Cheddar Up, they quickly set up a page, shared it through their newsletter and social channels, and could easily track progress toward the goal.
“We’ve got a QR code on our website, links in our newsletter, and it all points people right to our Cheddar Up page,”
Sue Benua,
Treasurer, Ninety-Nines
Before you go
Want to see how Cheddar Up can help your organization the same way it did for the Eastern New England Chapter of the Ninety-Nines? Get started today!
