Strategic Alliances: Collaborations, Partnerships, and Mergers
“If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” African proverb
Nonprofit organizations are experienced at working together collaboratively. Partnerships between organizations can have substantial benefits such as amplified community impact, increased service ability, enhanced visibility and accessibility, and operational efficiency.
The term “strategic alliances” is a catch-all that can run the gamut from collaborations to more formal alliances like administrative consolidation, joint programming, or corporate integrations like mergers.
We are putting together our Winter 2025 workshop schedule. To stay informed of upcoming webinars, subscribe to our newsletter. Learn more about collaborations, partnership, and mergers and how IntegralOrg can be of help.
IntegralOrg Blog Series
Fair Weather or Stormy Waters: Making Choices Amidst Uncertainty, January 22, 2025, Mike Grogan. "There is little doubt that storm winds are blowing these days in the nonprofit sector and that we are in turbulent waters. Two questions we need to ask as we head into 2025 will help us decide whether facing the storm directly or changing direction is the wise choice: “Is it a squall on the horizon or is it a storm?” and “How prepared is our organization to withstand the inclemency?”
When It's Time to Say Goodbye, February 26, 2025, Mike Grogan. "Winding down a nonprofit should not be viewed as a failure. Most if not all nonprofits will have to face this question in one way or another at some point. Saying goodbye in the right way should entail ensuring the legal compliance aspects of the process are well attended to, but also it should be about celebrating the work that has gone into building the organization and honoring the commitment of those who have served."
The Legal Steps to Properly Dissolve your Nonprofit Society, March 31, 2025. Kristina Graburn (Roberts), Associate, Miller Thomson LLP and C. Yvonne Chenier KC, Legal Counsel, IntegralOrg. "What should happen when a nonprofit intentionally makes the difficult decision that it is time to close its doors for good? Can it simply stop with annual corporate maintenance and allow itself to be struck from the Register? While this will certainly happen eventually, failing to follow proper legal processes in dissolving a nonprofit creates loose ends and potential liabilities for the board, especially if the organization is a registered charity."
Watch past events!
Click below to watch a workshop - or for workshop recordings, slides, and resources, watch on demand.
Beyond Collaborations Series: Strategic alliances for nonprofits
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
Strategic alliances create an opportunity for more formal and long-term collaboration, while retaining the independence of each organization. This way of working with other organizations can increase organizational efficiency, broaden or deepen the range of services and programs and disperse the risks and benefits of revenue-generating ventures. This session focuses on ways to come together without changing the legal structure of either organization. Watch the video or access the on-demand workshop package with recording, slides, and resources.
Beyond Collaborations Series: The process and possibilities of a nonprofit merger
Wednesday, October 2, 2024
This session presents an overview of the theory and process of strategic alliances from collaboration to formal alliances and corporate integrations. It also delves into the motivations, opportunities, and challenges involved in the $50 million merger of Calgary SCOPE Society and Care Human Services, facilitated by IntegralOrg. In this webinar, Ryan Geake, the CEO of Calgary SCOPE Society tells the story of this remarkable achievement. Watch the video.
Let's Get Together: Exploring strategic alliances for nonprofits
Thursday, December 14, 2023
Strategic alliances can run the gamut from mergers, amalgamations, and consolidations to administrative consolidation, joint programming, and collaboration. Successful partnerships can amplify community impact, increase service ability, enhance visibility and accessibility, and ultimately create a sustainable, healthy organizations. This 90-minute workshop covers the spectrum of strategic alliances from mergers, amalgamations, consolidations, administrative consolidation, joint programming, collaboration; how to choose the right form of partnership for your goals and incorporation status including helpful decision tools to take with you; and the phases of partnership negotiations and the typical stumbling blocks organizations may encounter. Watch the video.