Announcing Your Merger Publicly: Best Practices for Nonprofits in 2025

As we navigate into 2025, the nonprofit sector continues to witness a significant rise in mergers. This trend, driven by the need for greater efficiency, expanded reach, and enhanced impact, calls for a renewed focus on how these strategic decisions are communicated publicly. Here are updated guidelines and insights to help your organization announce its merger effectively:

1. Acknowledge the Context: Begin by setting the context for the merger. With an increasing number of nonprofits turning to strategic alliances to amplify their impact, it’s crucial to explain the specific reasons and benefits for your merger. Highlight how this decision aligns with broader sector trends and your organization’s long-term goals.
2. Clearly Communicate the Benefits: Articulate the advantages of the merger clearly and concisely. Stakeholders need to understand how the merger will help achieve the mission more effectively. Discuss enhanced capabilities, expanded services, or improved efficiencies. Be transparent about the goals and how they benefit not just the organization but the community it serves.
3. Introduce the New Identity: If the merger results in significant changes like a new name, mission statement, or leadership structure, these should be clearly outlined. Share what’s changing, what will remain the same, and why these decisions were made. This helps in maintaining trust and managing expectations among your key stakeholders.
4. Detail the Integration Journey: Provide insights into the integration process. Mergers are complex, and sharing the thoughtful approach taken can reassure internal and external stakeholders. Discuss how the organizations have worked together to align their cultures and operations, and the steps taken to ensure a seamless transition.
5. Strategic Communication Planning: Plan your communication carefully to avoid surprises that could unsettle stakeholders. Utilize a phased approach where key donors and internal stakeholders are informed ahead of a public announcement. This builds an inclusive atmosphere and prevents feelings of exclusion.
6. Use Success Stories as Examples: Incorporate examples of recent successful mergers within the sector. These stories can serve as a powerful tool to illustrate the positive outcomes of well-executed mergers, providing reassurance and setting a positive tone for the announcement.
7. Engage with Transparency and Respect: Emphasize the importance of transparency and mutual respect throughout the negotiation and announcement phases. Successful mergers often stem from a foundation of shared trust and vision, which should be communicated to all parties involved.
8. Encourage Feedback and Dialogue: Finally, encourage feedback and open dialogue. Mergers can create anxiety and uncertainty. By fostering an environment where questions are welcomed and addressed, you can mitigate concerns and build stronger support for the merger.

As mergers become a more prominent strategy for nonprofits aiming to maximize their impact in 2025, how these mergers are announced can influence their success. By adopting these updated practices, your organization can ensure that its merger announcement is clear, effective, and fosters a positive outlook among all stakeholders.