Self-Guided Course

Basics of Resource Management & Budgeting

Effective Main Street leadership starts with clarity and confidence. But for many new leaders, managing resources—especially budgets and time—can feel overwhelming. This course is designed to change that.

You'll gain practical tools to manage your Main Street organization's financial and non-financial resources more intentionally. From building your program's annual budget to understanding how time, people, and trust play a role in your leadership capacity, this course will help you move from reaction to strategy.

Time: 30 minutes Skill Level: Starting Formal Learning: 100 points

A group of four event staff wearing neon yellow safety vests stand under a white canopy tent labeled “www.downtownsykesville.com,” talking with a woman in a blue shirt. Behind them, a few people sit at an outdoor café table eating and drinking, and a dark gray building façade frames the scene. — Sykesville, Maryland. Photo by Downtown Sykesville Connection.

What You Will Learn

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Describe what resource management means for Main Street leaders and why it matters.
Draft a simple, strategic annual program budget using a provided template.
Recognize time, volunteers, trust, and capacity as key resources to manage alongside funding.
Reflect on which resource area you want to strengthen next as your leadership grows.