A Primer on Nonprofit Mergers & Sustained Collaborations - New Report Published by SeaChange Capital Partners
In the first half of 2020, as the long-term impact of the COVID-19 crisis began to take form, many nonprofit leaders, foundations, and others invested in the health of the nonprofit sector wanted to learn all they could about mergers, shared administration, divestments, joint programs, and other types of “sustained collaborations”1 . They believed the worst was coming (they might yet be right), expecting philanthropy and government funding to bottom-out just as community needs reached the highest levels in recent memory. Mergers and sustained collaborations were things to really consider. Crisis promotes collaboration; we want to know we are not alone.
It’s a disservice that we tend to focus on mergers and sustained collaborations when times are tough. Especially, as this report demonstrates, because so many benefits can be achieved when nonprofits have the time, resources, and capacity to thoughtfully plan their work together.
The New York Merger and Collaboration Fund (“NYMAC” or the “Fund”) has made grants to support nonprofits undertaking sustained collaborations since 2012. We’ve had the privilege of working with and learning from NYC nonprofit leaders who have approached collaboration as a tool to increase programmatic impact and/or build stronger organizations. This report is intended to share their lessons and offer guidance to those interested in collaboration...