CASE STUDY
MOuntain Sun Community School
Client Since: 2013
Industry: Education / Nonprofit
Location: Brevard, North Carolina
Website: mountainsunschool.org
Instagram: @mountainsunschool
Mountain Sun Community School is a Montessori-inspired, nature-based independent school serving children ages 3 through middle school. Rooted in whole-child development, community, and outdoor learning, MSCS needed marketing and communication systems that truly reflected its values.
Kayla Leed has been part of the Mountain Sun story for more than a decade.
Consistent Enrollment Interest
Marketing efforts helped sustain a full waitlist for multiple class levels.
Increased Fundraising Revenue
Year-end campaigns routinely exceeded goals, with one campaign hitting 125% of target in just 10 days.
Brand Cohesion
Developed a cohesive voice, visual identity, and storytelling framework aligned with the school’s values.
Longevity & Trust
Served as the school’s marketing lead for over 10 years, becoming a trusted extension of the leadership team
Website Growth
In 2021, we rebuilt the school’s website from the ground up, transforming it into a central enrollment and community resource.
Website Traffic Growth:
2021: 4.6K visits
2022: 12.8K visits (+178%)
2023: 11.8K visits
2024: 14.1K visits (+20%)
2025: 14.6K YTD (+9%)
Results:
4× overall traffic growth since the rebuild
Consistent year-over-year increases in visibility
Traffic spikes aligned with Kayla’s return in 2023
Social Media Presence
Kayla built Mountain Sun’s social media strategy from scratch.
Current Reach:
Instagram: 1,100+ followers
Facebook: 1,300+ followers
What Changed:
Fully organic growth
Nature-based, Montessori-aligned storytelling
Seasonal campaigns that reflect school culture
A visual presence families genuinely connect with
Fundraising & Community Partnerships
Kayla plays a key behind-the-scenes role in Mountain Sun’s fundraising ecosystem.
Community Partners Program:
Created and managed by Kayla
Generates $12,000–$20,000 annually
Provides predictable, recurring revenue
Strengthens local business relationships
Event Fundraising Support:
Marketing and communications for major school events
$50,000+ raised annually alongside staff and volunteers
Full support including branding, email campaigns, social promotion, and event materials
Email Marketing Performance
Kayla writes and designs all major school communications, including newsletters, admissions messaging, and fundraising announcements.
Email Results:
60%+ average open rate (well above the nonprofit average)
Strong click-through engagement
High trust and consistent parent response
Results at a Glance
Today, Mountain Sun Community School has:
A modern, high-traffic website
A cohesive brand rooted in Montessori and nature
An engaged and growing online community
Exceptionally strong email engagement
A sustainable Community Partners fundraising program
Clear, trusted communication systems that support enrollment and growth
Mountain Sun’s digital ecosystem exists because it was intentionally built—and continues to thrive because it is thoughtfully maintained.