Nonprofit Mergers

Please note it is not ESC's position that there are "too many" nonprofits or that a merger is a good solution in times of financial distress. Mergers can amplify missions while reducing overhead but many factors have to be aligned for them to work out. These nonprofit resources should help. 

​

ESC's 7 Keys to a Successful Nonprofit Merger

All seven of ESC's Key to Merger Success must be in place for ESC to recommend a merger.

1. Put the mission first.

2. Know your and the other organization, especially the culture.

3. Mutual trust is a must.

4. CEOs & Board Chairpersons of both organizations must actively support merger.

5. Clear goals lead to better outcomes.

6. Mergers require outside experts including consultants, attorneys, and accountants/auditors.

7. Post merger success requires positive staff involvement.

​

Additional Free Training and Resources:

• Presentation on Nonprofit Merger Study by Jean Butzen, Mission, Strategy Consulting https://youtu.be/QHlj0m-7evs (Filed Nov 2019 | Published Mar 2020)

• Internal Revenue Service Guidance and Forms for Restructuring and Terminating a Tax Exempt Organization (Published 2020)

• Mergers as a Strategy for Success Report by the Metropolitan Chicago Nonprofit Merger (Published 2016)

  • Toolkit

• Nonprofit Mergers by Deloitte (Published 2014)

• Success Factors in Nonprofit Mergers by MAP (Published 2012)

• All About Mergers of Nonprofit Org by Jerald Jacobs (Published 2008)

• The M Word - A Board Members Guide to Mergers by Compass (Published 2005)

• More Coming Soon

​

Please support the Executive Service Corps (ESC).

Donors like you make this and all of our resources and community building work possible.

www.SupportESC.org

​