From Dugouts to Deception: How Fund Mismanagement Exploits Youth for Personal Gain

When it comes to American Legion Baseball, few moments are more magical than watching young athletes step up to the plate, not just in games but in life. Baseball teaches discipline, teamwork, and resilience, the kind of lessons that stay with young athletes long after they

leave the field.

But behind the cheers and crack of the bat, there’s a story that should make every community member pause: the mismanagement and comingling of funds in fundraising efforts.

As dedicated supporters of student-athletes, we are driven to expose the darker aspects of American Legion Baseball and the conduct that has undermined the integrity of sports programs designed to empower the youth in our community. This issue extends beyond our locality—it's a warning for communities everywhere.

A Game of Shadows: Where is the Money really going?

When young athletes must pay to participate in the very program that state they are here for service over profit, we should all take pause.

In Lincoln, Nebraska, a question into fundraising practices uncovered alarming irregularities. A fundraising campaign by a Coach of an American Legion Baseball Team raised over $4,200 using another non-Profits Tax ID without proper authorization. Families and donors gave their hard-earned money, believing it was destined to support the youth athletes of the American Legion Baseball Program. Instead, it landed in unspecified accounts with no oversight or accountability.

Nonetheless, the story doesn't end there. Evidence reveals a troubling overlap between funds allocated for Lincoln Public Schools (LPS)-affiliated baseball programs and those for independent, non-LPS baseball programs, such as American Legion Baseball. This blending of funds — the practice of merging money from different sources or programs into shared accounts — has blurred financial lines and raised significant accountability issues, including the risk of embezzlement. It seems that the Nebraska Department of the American Legion and the organizations claiming to support the American Legion Baseball Program have refused to undergo an audit by a qualified external firm. Instead, both LPS and the Nebraska Department of the American Legion are prioritizing special interests, focusing on profit over service, and retaliating against those who refuse to conform.

How can donors be assured that their contributions are benefiting the intended programs?

What would motivate community members to donate to programs that lack oversight?

What type of individuals takes money from children and resorts to name-calling instead of being open when questioned?