ROAD TO RESILIENCE
Lead with confidence
Linda Tam
Finance Committee Member, NEW
For too long, much of the nonprofit and social sector has been shaped by chronic underinvestment. We’ve been asked to do more with less, to compete for limited resources, and to operate in conditions of ongoing uncertainty and constraint.
What might it look like to move beyond survival and toward stability and resilience?
Road to Resilience is a learning space for people working across the social sector – program leaders, managers, organizers, and administrators – who are responsible for stewarding resources and budgets, often without formal training or prior experience in financial leadership.
Here, you’ll build practical financial skills and confidence: understanding core finance principles, strengthening budgeting processes, and communicating financial information clearly to different audiences. Together, we’ll cultivate approaches to resource stewardship that are rooted in equity, transparency, and long-term sustainability, so you can lead with clarity and resilience.
Registrations for the 2026 Road to Resilience cohort will be open from March 2, 2026 (03/02/2026) until May 14, 2026 (05/14/26) Click the link below to join our newsletter and stay updated on the next cohort opportunity!
Why ROAD TO RESILIENCE and why NEW?
Stronger systems and processes enable leaders to advance their missions. Yet, economic upheaval keeps revealing that our nonprofits’ are financially vulnerable. Road to Resilience offers financial leaders the acumen and abundant mindset nonprofits to thrive.
“I greatly enjoyed going through the Road to Resilience program. I gained many practical tools as well as a better sense of my own relationship with money. The Road to Resilience program was also an excellent way to network with other professionals in similar roles as mine, who continue to be helpful resources when questions arise.”
Tracy Kapusanski, HATW ( Hands Across the Water)
Megan Featherstone
Program Manager for Financial Services, NEW
THE ROAD TO RESILIENCE EXPERIENCE
Road to Resilience is a collaborative, cohort-based learning experience for people working in nonprofits who are responsible for managing resources in complex and uncertain times.
Through three, in-person sessions, participants learn alongside peers, share real-world challenges, and build practical financial skills that strengthen organizational stability and long-term sustainability. Each session blends dialogue, applied learning, and reflection, with ongoing participant feedback shaping the program along the way.
In Road to Resilience, you will:
- Strengthen your understanding of nonprofit finance fundamentals, including financial reports, budgeting, and internal controls.
- Learn to communicate financial information clearly, transparently, and with confidence.
- Build connections with peers while sharing experiences and practical wisdom.
SESSIONS
Financials Made Simple: Understanding and Using Key Reports
Thursday, May 21 (05/21/26), 9:00am – 12:00pm
In today’s uncertain funding landscape, understanding and communicating financial information is more important than ever. In this session, you’ll get hands-on with key financial statements including balance sheets, statements of activity, cash flow reports, and budget vs. actuals, learning where the numbers come from and how they are generated.
We’ll explore basic accounting practices, the purpose of each report, and how to apply them in ways that support equity and transparency across your organization. Using sample statements, you’ll practice interpreting and presenting data clearly so staff, board members, and partners understand the big picture and their role in it.
By the end, you’ll feel more confident using financial information to strengthen organizational resilience and equitable decision-making.
Building a Budget for Impact
Thursday, June 11 (05/11/26), 9:00am – 12:00pm
A strong budget is a key tool to strengthen your organization’s resilience and plan for a sustainable future. In this interactive session, you’ll learn how to build a flexible, inclusive budgeting process that aligns resources with priorities and centers equity in financial decision-making.
Using historical data, projections, and real-world examples, you’ll practice creating a strategic budget tailored to your organization’s needs. You’ll also receive a customizable budgeting template and guidance for applying these practices in real time.
By the end, you’ll feel confident using your budget to communicate financial priorities and strengthen your organization’s long-term stability.
your Financial Foundation: Policies, Internal Controls, & Accountability
Thursday, June 25 (05/25/26), 9:00am – 12:00pm
Strong financial policies and internal controls build trust, reduce risk, and strengthen your organization’s long-term sustainability. In this interactive session, you will explore practical approaches to creating and adapting internal controls and financial policies that fit your organization’s size, structure, and mission.
Using real-world examples and customizable templates, you’ll learn how to protect resources, stay compliant, and operate with integrity, all while centering equitable practices in decision-making.
By the end, you’ll have concrete tools and strategies to strengthen your organization’s financial foundation.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I know if Road to Resilience is right for me and my nonprofit?
Road to Resilience is designed for people working across the social sector, including program leaders, managers, organizers, and administrators, who are responsible for stewarding resources and ready to strengthen their organization’s financial resilience and long-term sustainability.
We can only accept one participant per organization, and your organization must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit located in Southeast Michigan.
You’re a good fit for Road to Resilience if:
• You manage one or more aspects of your organization’s finances, and
• You have little to no formal training in nonprofit finance, whether that involves creating budgets, tracking transactions, presenting reports, or explaining how funds are used.
• We recognize that financial stewardship comes in many forms. Your title may not reflect traditional finance responsibilities, but your role in guiding resources is essential.
If you’re ready to build confidence, deepen your understanding, and connect and share best practices with peers, this program is for you.
*Across all our Learning Communities, we prioritize diverse and inclusive cohorts, centering voices historically excluded or marginalized due to race, sexual orientation, ability, gender, age, and more. Your identity is valued, not as a checkbox, but as a vital part of building equitable and resilient organizations.
How much does Road to Resilience cost?
We offer a tiered fee structure to honor everyone’s unique financial situation.
The true cost per person is $1,700, but thanks to NEW’s subsidies, you can choose a fee of $1,000, $500, $250, or another amount that fits your budget. Your payment helps cover facilitators’ time, program planning, and session materials (including snacks!) so we can keep Road to Resilience high-quality and accessible to all.
We encourage applicants to seek organizational sponsorship.
When and How Can I Register?
Registration for the next cohort of Road to Resilience opens Monday, March 2 (03/02/26) at 9:00 AM and closes Friday, May 1 (05/01/26) at 9:00 AM. The link will be available on the NEW website.
What's the schedule for 2026?
| Budgeting in Action |
Thursday, May 21 (05/21/26) 9:00am – 12:00pm |
| Best Practices & Common Financial Pitfalls |
Thursday, June 11 (06/11/26) 9:00am – 12:00pm |
| Your Financial Foundation: Policies, Internal Controls, & Accountability |
Thursday, June 25 (06/25/26) 9:00am – 12:00pm |