Collaboration, Strategic Alliances and Merger Resources

There are many reasons why a non-profit organization might consider a merger. The most important factor that you should consider when contemplating a merger is whether or not your nonprofit’s mission will be better accomplished through this change. Throughout the process, you should obtain feedback from stakeholders as well as professional advisors and attorneys when necessary.

Articles & Reports on Non-profit Collaboration

• Bringing Nonprofits and Funders Together
• Collaborative Learning: Lessons from our Capacity Building Fund
• The Role of a Weaver: Creating Results on Community Issues
• Shared Services and Space: An Update from L.A.

Links on Non-profit Merger

Web Resources

• NeighborWorks
  • Davis, John Emmeus. 2002. Bridging the Organizational Divide: The Making of a Nonprofit Merger. NeighborWorks Publication.
    A case study detailing the merger of two housing development corporations in Nashua, New Hampshire
• The Chronicle of Philanthropy
  • Dickey, Marilyn. “Making a Merger Go Smoothly for Nonprofit Workers”.
    Discusses the reasons behind nonprofit mergers and the implications that mergers have on nonprofit staff members
• The Internal Revenue Service: Information on Mergers
• The James Irvine Foundation
  • La Piana, David. 1998. Beyond Collaboration: Strategic Restructuring of Nonprofit Organizations.

Publications

• Fieldstone Alliance Publications
  • La Piana, David. Nonprofit Mergers Workbook Part I: The Leader's Guide to Considering, Negotiating, and Executing a Merger.
  • La Piana Associates. Nonprofit Mergers Workbook Part II: Unifying the Organization after a Merger.
• CompassPoint Publications
  • Vergara-Lobo, Alfredo, Jan Masaoka, and Sabrina Smith. The M Word: A Board Member's Guide to Mergers.

Project Profiles on Non-profit Collaboration

• Michelle Brophy: System Change Champion
• The Role of a Weaver: Creating Results on Community Issues
• Saving NOP: A Case Study
• Wall-less Organizations: A Case Study

Videos on Non-profit Collaboration

• What are the benefits of nonprofits working collaboratively?
• What needs to be in place for collaboration to succeed?
• How important is the process of collaboration?

TSNE Services

Third Sector New England’s Organizational Transitions Practice can help you clearly see the choices in front of you by assessing and analyzing organizational data.

We can help you scenario plan around various choices. We can then facilitate the organization’s strategic decision-making processes. And we can help you move from decision to action by designing and supporting implementation of next steps.