Navigating Non-Profit Mergers Series – Introduction: When Should Nonprofits Start Thinking About a Merger?

For many nonprofits, the question of a merger arises only in moments of crisis, but the most successful mergers happen long before urgency sets in.

The ideal time to begin thinking about a merger is when your organization is healthy enough to explore strategic growth, not when you’re struggling to stay afloat.

1. When to Start the Conversation

Consider beginning merger discussions when you notice:
• Persistent overlap with other organizations serving the same population
• Repeated leadership transitions or succession challenges
• Donor or funder encouragement to explore collaboration
• Difficulty scaling programs or meeting increased demand
• A desire to strengthen operations or expand geographic reach

These signs don’t necessarily mean you should merge, but they signal it’s time to ask the question.

2. Why Timing Matters

Mergers pursued early allow for:

• Thoughtful, mission-driven exploration.
• Stronger negotiating positions.
• Greater funder confidence.
• Less disruption for staff and clients.

Waiting until a crisis limits choices and can shift the focus from strategy to survival.

3. Mission First, Always

At Glick Davis, we advise organizations to start every merger discussion with one question:

“Will this help us advance our mission?”

When the answer is yes, and when both organizations bring strengths that amplify community impact, that’s when merger exploration makes sense.