Guiding young individuals towards professional success during the summer months
Roads to Success, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to providing opportunities for underserved youth, is navigating uncertain times due to potential impacts from federal funding cuts and the recently signed budget reconciliation bill.
As an advocate for its programs, CEO Sheila Duke is aligning Roads to Success with various advocacy groups to address the potential impacts of these changes. Sheila Duke, who has a background in the early childhood and youth space, started her career as a summer preschool tutor at 14 and has worked with organisations like New York Edge, Union Settlement, and the Fresh Air Fund.
Roads to Success partners with over 180 employers for internship placements and has been operating summer internship programs for over 20 years, enrolling approximately 1,300 young people each year. However, this summer has seen a significant reduction in these opportunities for undocumented youth, with further cuts anticipated.
In addition to internships, Roads to Success assists students during the school year with college applications and career planning. The organisation also partners with food banks to provide food assistance and has a benefits coordinator to help families align with additional support. Most of Roads to Success' enrollees and families rely on Medicaid and SNAP benefits.
The budget reconciliation bill, signed into law in July 2025, includes significant cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other social safety net programs. These cuts indirectly impact nonprofits like Roads to Success, as more low-income individuals lose access to healthcare and food assistance, increasing economic and social vulnerabilities in the communities these organisations serve.
Specifically, the bill slashes federal Medicaid and CHIP spending by nearly $1 trillion over ten years and reduces SNAP benefits by $200 billion. As these government programs tighten eligibility and benefits, more families may require nonprofit support to address gaps in basic needs and youth development opportunities.
Roads to Success continues to operate, taking each day as it comes to create stability amidst the uncertainties. However, the organisation has not been immune to the effects of these changes. A large portion of Roads to Success' staff positions have been eliminated this summer, potentially affecting 75% of their workforce.
The organisation is preparing for anticipated changes from the latest budget reconciliation bill, including an increase in demand for its services as youth struggle with greater economic hardship. Potential funding challenges may also arise if state and local governments reduce grants in response to federal cuts. Greater pressure on operational resources is expected as the nonprofit tries to fill gaps left by reduced public support.
Moreover, the bill introduces expanded taxes on nonprofits with highly compensated employees and reinstates the parking tax on nonprofits, increasing financial and administrative burdens on nonprofit organisations broadly. Though these provisions may not affect Roads to Success directly, they exemplify added pressures nonprofits face post-legislation.
In conclusion, the budget reconciliation bill’s deep cuts to social support programs and added taxes create a challenging environment for nonprofits focused on underserved populations. Roads to Success will likely experience increased service demand and financial strain, complicating its mission to provide summer internships for underserved youth.
[1] Budget Reconciliation Bill Impact on Nonprofits [2] Nonprofit Impact of Budget Reconciliation Bill [3] Budget Reconciliation Bill and Social Safety Net Programs [4] Impact of Budget Reconciliation Bill on Underserved Populations
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