How Pittsburgh Northstars Simplified Payments

From Overwhelmed to Organized

When Elaine Davis stepped up as treasurer of the Pittsburgh Northstars, she didn’t expect the role to be so involved. “The treasurer was leaving and nobody was stepping up… I said I would do it and did not realize how involved it was going to be,” she shared. Managing payments across multiple gymnastics programs, levels, and timelines quickly became overwhelming.

That’s when she turned to Cheddar Up. Recommended by other board members, it offered an easy way to create recurring payments for athlete assessments. Parents could “set it and forget it” at the start of the season and Cheddar Up handled the rest.

One Platform, Multiple Uses

Elaine used Cheddar Up for more than just assessments. Uniform payments were managed separately, ensuring athletes received gear only once payment cleared. “Until they pay in full, we don’t give them the uniform. So I need to be able to track that quickly,” she explained.

She also began experimenting with online pre-orders for team merchandise, making it easier to plan inventory and avoid overbuying. And thanks to the Group Page, families had a single, easy-to-navigate hub for all payments and updates.

Time-Saving for Everyone

Recurring payments helped reduce late fees and manual tracking, and they made life easier for both families and volunteers. While some families still prefer checks, Elaine appreciated being able to offer flexible options.

With less time spent chasing down balances, the club could focus more on community; like their annual Nerf war or pizza night for the boys’ team.