The Road to Merger Success for Nonprofits

Course Description

Navigating the pathway to merger for nonprofits is like putting together a fantastic puzzle. When successful, it results in a phenomenal achievement with lasting impact, but when one piece is missing, the original vision and goal remain unrealized. In this engaging seminar, explore the critical steps along the pathway to successful merger, including often overlooked but essential pieces of the puzzle. You will start by determining if you should consider a merger. In some cases, it will be clear that other types of partnerships and alliances may be just as or even more beneficial. From there, you will learn how to identify the best potential partners and know which factors can derail a merger before it even starts. Finally, you will learn how to assess and negotiate a merger. Throughout, we will examine vital lessons learned from both mergers that worked and those that didn’t. Leave prepared to take a refreshed look at the sustained collaborations you enjoy today and those that may enhance your impact or sustainability tomorrow.

Principles

• Signs the time is right to consider merger
• Deciding the collaborative structure to meet your needs
• Critical and sometimes overlooked steps in the process
• Understanding the legal framework
• Assessing partners and negotiating agreements
• Lessons learned from successful – and unsuccessful nonprofit mergers

Syllabus

1. The tumultuous nonprofit landscape
2. Spectrum of possibilities: collaboration, strategic alliances, and merger
3. Legal considerations and due diligence examinations
4. Steps in the merger process
5. Assessing potential partners and negotiation of essential agreements
6. Lessons learned from successful – and unsuccessful nonprofit mergers

Instructor

Gregory Nielsen, Esq.