A Guide to Further Building, Managing, and Using Nonprofit Reserves in 2026

Summary

Reserve funds can provide nonprofits with critical flexibility, stability, and breathing room during periods of uncertainty and change, but many organizations still struggle with how to build, use, and manage them effectively. This 90-minute session will help nonprofit leaders understand the role reserves play within a broader financial strategy and capital structure, while providing practical tools to guide decision-making around reserve size, use, investment, and governance.

Participants will gain actionable frameworks for determining reserve needs, developing strategies to build and sustain reserves, and creating policies that support long-term financial resilience. Staff and board teams are encouraged to attend together.

Participants will learn, among other things:

How to think about your overall capital needs and where reserves fit into these
How reserves can differ (both in structure and purpose) from other forms of capital, like endowments and liquid unrestricted net assets
How to determine the dollar amount you need for reserves and develop strategies for building (and maintaining) these reserves
How to develop board-approved policies that outline the roles and processes for managing, using, and replenishing reserves over time

Summary

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