From capacity crunch to confident growth
Learn how Resilia transformed Press Pass NYC from founder-dependent operations into a sustainable organization, by building fundraising systems, documenting institutional knowledge, and empowering strategic leadership through coaching and peer learning.
Press Pass NYC works to amplify student voices and inspire civic engagement specifically by helping New York City public schools start and sustain student journalism publications.
01
About
Press Pass NYC provides high school students with the opportunity to develop journalism skills, and connect with mentors in the field. Too many New York City public schools lack the resources to sustain student journalism programs; opportunities that are more common in private schools. This inequity means that countless students miss the chance to develop civic awareness, writing skills, and pathways into media careers.
Founded by Lara Bergen in 2021, an educator with a passion for amplifying student voices, the organization has grown into a trusted resource for students exploring careers in media. Beth Fertig later joined as Executive Director at the end of 2024, bringing professional journalism experience and complementary leadership skills.
Lara Bergen
Founder
“You don't know how to find everything, absorb everything and retain everything.
It's just been so nice to know you're not bothering your coach, but also that that's what it's there for. They can put everything in context for you, and we can move at our pace instead of the pace of a program.”
02
Challenges
When Beth came on board, Press Pass NYC was already making an impact through its programming, but much of the work relied mainly on the personal capacity of Lara as founder, as well as the mentors, board members, and other individuals supporting their day-to-day work.
There were few formal systems to ensure sustainability, and both Beth and Lara were weighed down from managing multiple roles and wearing many hats. Around this time, through funding from The Pinkerton Foundation, they also started their Resilia journey.
Key Challenges
Capacity
crunch
Lack of bandwidth to balance program delivery with pursuing funding.
Fundraising
gaps
Need for stronger systems in grantwriting, impact tracking, and donor stewardship.
Knowledge
bottleneck
Overreliance on individual expertise instead of documented, shareable processes.
Leadership
overload
Limited delegation left core leaders stretched thin and unable to focus on strategy.
03
How Resilia Supported Growth
Beth and Lara’s engagement with Resilia focused on building stronger systems to sustain Press Pass NYC’s growth. Through 1:1 coaching, on-demand courses and Academy resources, as well as Community forums and peer learning opportunities, they were able to:
Academy
Turn institutional knowledge into shareable tools by using Resilia templates and to create living documents, guides, and notes that could be revisited and built upon.
Coaching
Practice intentional delegation by mapping out roles and identifying what tasks could be handed off, moving beyond “just doing it themselves” into building a culture where others contribute meaningfully.
Strengthen fundraising capacity by refining messaging for both community audiences and grant applications, ensuring their story resonated across diverse funder groups.
Enhance their event planning by incorporating Resilia’s tools and insights, which helped them successfully host a major community event that engaged students, teachers, and potential supporters.
Community
Explore donor cultivation strategies that emphasized building long-term relationships rather than relying on one-time gifts.
Beth Fertig
Executive Director
“The Resilia fundraising series that we were invited to was just transformative, because it put everything in one place of what I need to learn as a new nonprofit development person.”
04
Results
With systems in place and stronger leadership processes, Press Pass NYC is positioned to expand programming, scope new funding opportunities, deepen partnerships, and create more openings for student journalists. Their ongoing work with Resilia continues to provide a strategic partnership as they scale their impact.
Increased leadership confidence
Empowered with knowledge and confidence, Beth and Lara feel more capable of guiding the organization strategically rather than reactively. Confident in identifying opportunities that align with their long-term vision for growth and sustainability.
Enhanced fundraising readiness
With Resilia, Beth and Lara worked to refine their messaging to clearly convey Press Pass NYC’s mission, impact, and unique value to both community supporters and potential funders. This included tailoring language for grant applications, donor cultivation, and broader community outreach.
Greater confidence in telling their story
Beth and Lara now have tools and frameworks to articulate the organization’s goals, successes, and needs in ways that resonate with funders and partners.
Stronger event execution
Utilizing Resilia planning frameworks and improved team coordination, Press Pass NYC was able to successfully deliver a major community event. Helping to serve as a platform to engage supporters and potential donors.
Tips for Success
Make time for strategy
Even with full schedules, set aside dedicated time to review resources, attend 1:1 and peer sessions, and document your notes so you can revisit them later. Beth and Lara blocked out time for Resilia courses and used those notes as living guides for their work.
Document as you go
Don’t wait until “things slow down” to write down processes, contact lists, or key learnings. Building institutional knowledge in real time means you won’t lose momentum when team members shift roles or new people join.
Play to your strengths
Divide responsibilities based on skills and expertise rather than habit. For Press Pass NYC, this meant Lara focusing on educational programming and student relationships while Beth took the lead on editorial quality and partnerships.
Refine your message
Practice telling your organization’s story as if the listener knows nothing about your work. Start with the problem, then explain your solution and the impact. This approach makes grant applications and donor pitches more compelling.
05
Mission
Press Pass NYC is helping schools launch and sustain student publications, and by pairing students with professional mentors, the organization ensures that young voices from across the city are heard and valued, at a time when youth voices are needed most. They equip teachers, schools, and students with the resources, training, and confidence to launch and sustain journalism programs
The result is both immediate and long-term impact: students report on the issues that matter to them, schools embed journalism into their culture, and communities benefit from more informed, civically engaged young people.
Teacher Training and Support
Educators participate in the Journalism Teacher/Advisor Fellowship Program, access curriculum resources, and receive professional development, office hours, and stipends to strengthen their journalism programs.
School Resources
Partner schools gain access to production tools, consulting, professional guest speakers, and even journalism-related field trips, helping schools build sustainable newsroom cultures.g
Student Opportunities
High schoolers join the Student Journalism Leaders Fellowship, attend the Student-Editor Summer Bootcamp, and take part in monthly workshops and conferences. They also publish their work through an online showcase, amplifying youth voices citywide.