NCCHWA: Building Financial Resilience Through Strategic Planning

When a Community Health Worker (CHW) walks into a home in North Carolina, they bring more than medical knowledge; they bring trust, cultural understanding, and a connection that transforms how communities access care. The North Carolina Community Health Workers Association (NCCHWA) ensures these frontline public health professionals have the certification, training, and advocacy support they need to serve communities across the state. With more than 1,370 certifications issued, NCCHWA is the backbone of a growing workforce that bridges the gap between systems and the people who need them most.

The Challenge

Like many mission-driven organizations, NCCHWA faced a critical juncture when funding cuts threatened its ability to sustain operations and continue its vital work. The organization needed more than just financial management, they required a comprehensive strategic approach to ensure long-term sustainability while maintaining their commitment to certification, training, and advocacy for CHWs across North Carolina.

Our Approach

The INS Group partnered with NCCHWA to develop a comprehensive business plan that would serve as both a roadmap for sustainability and a practical tool for navigating an uncertain funding landscape. Our engagement focused on building financial resilience through data-driven analysis and strategic scenario planning.

Financial Analysis & Assessment

We conducted an in-depth examination of NCCHWA’s financial foundation by:

• Analyzing three years of financial statements to identify trends and unusual budget shifts
• Reviewing current financial health, including cash flow, reserves, and funding gaps
• Identifying fixed and variable costs associated with programs, administration, and fundraising
• Projecting potential cost changes due to inflation, service expansion, and new initiatives

This thorough assessment provided NCCHWA leadership with clear visibility into their financial position and the factors influencing their sustainability.

Strategic Scenario Planning

Understanding that nonprofit organizations must prepare for multiple financial futures, The INS Group developed three distinct budget scenarios, each designed to guide decision-making under different circumstances:

• Pace Scenario – Maintaining the current run rate, this baseline scenario tracks how budgeted funds are being spent over time relative to the plan, ensuring the organization stays on course.
• Stretch Scenario – An upside scenario that identifies growth opportunities when additional funding beyond the baseline budget becomes available, allowing NCCHWA to expand its work and maximize impact.
• Contract Scenario – A downside scenario that deliberately reduces or tightens spending, providing a clear plan for maintaining core operations during periods of funding constraint.

These three-year budget projections equipped NCCHWA’s leadership team with the tools to proactively respond to funding fluctuations while maintaining their mission focus.

The Impact

The comprehensive business plan developed by The INS Group, with its thorough analysis of financial management practices and risk management strategies, ensures NCCHWA is well-prepared to navigate potential challenges while maximizing resources. The plan serves as a roadmap for achieving long-term sustainability, instilling optimism about NCCHWA’s continued meaningful impact in the communities it serves.

“The budget scenarios gave us the confidence to make strategic decisions even in uncertain times,” shared Lupe Avalos, Business Manager at NCCHWA. “Having a clear plan for different funding realities meant we could focus on our mission instead of constantly reacting to financial pressures.”

With clear budget scenarios and a strategic framework in place, NCCHWA now has the capacity to make informed decisions that protect its mission while building toward a sustainable future. The organization is better positioned to weather funding uncertainties while continuing to certify, train, and advocate for Community Health Workers, who play a vital role in North Carolina’s public health infrastructure.