Risk and Resilience: A Practical Guide for Nonprofit Leaders

Let’s be honest—most of us don’t love talking about risk. It brings up worry, uncertainty, and a long to-do list. But the truth is, avoiding the conversation doesn’t make the risks go away. Your mission is too important to leave to chance.

This session is all about helping you face risk with more confidence—and figuring out how to make your organization more resilient in the process. We’ll break down what risk really means (both positive and negative), where it shows up in our organizations, and steps you can take to respond, adapt, and keep moving forward. You’ll get practical tools and simple ways to start these important conversations with your staff and board.

Topics include:

• What and why of risk and resilience
• Risk assessment inventory (you’ll receive a tool to use within your organization)
• Risk bow tie to deep dive into specific risk concerns
• Resilience strategies
• Conversation starters for staff and board

This session is for executive directors, board members, and emerging leaders who want to feel more prepared for whatever comes next. Risk and resilience take a team—let’s get started.

ABOUT THE INSTRUCTOR

Nancy Bacon has helped nonprofits navigate risk and build resilience for over two decades. She has served as an executive director, founding program director, board member, and volunteer since 1996. In addition to developing “Disaster Planning in Nonprofits” and Washington State’s “Safety and Health in Nonprofits” curriculum, Nancy has led initiatives focused on network leadership—a collective approach to addressing complex risks. She currently leads Nancy Bacon Consulting, a practice focused on learning and leadership in the nonprofit sector. She also co-founded the Nonprofit Learning Center and the Nonprofit Radio Show podcast to ensure accessible learning for small and rural nonprofits.