The Better Together Fund seeks to drive large-scale social change by supporting nonprofits that come together to integrate their organizations as a way to maximize impact.
A nonprofit merger (or similar transaction) can be a unique strategic lever that requires imagination, time, trust, strategic thinking and a rigorous due diligence process. BTF brings targeted multi-phased funding, field knowledge and funds for skilled advisors who can make an otherwise daunting strategic option more accessible and manageable.
How we define Integrated Organizations
Integrated organizations:
have board iinvolvement and endorsement, and
preserve, expand or improve efficiency or services to constituents, and
change the way participating organizations do business for the long-term through one of these four transaction types.
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is a business arrangement where two or more organizations create a new entity to pursue a specific project or business activity. Each partner contributes assets and shares risks and rewards.
Example: A group of health clinics creates a joint venture to launch a care transformation program and decrease hospitalization rates.
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in this arrangement, one organization (the parent) owns a majority stake in another organization (the subsidiary). The parent company has control over the subsidiary but each remains a separate legal entity.
Example: A larger child welfare agency absorbs a smaller, community-based agency to achieve greater administrative efficiencies and expand their program offerings and cultural competency, while maintaining the independent brand and identity of the smaller agency.
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involves the transfer of assets—like property, equipment, or intellectual property—from one organization to another. This can be part of a merger, acquisition, or other restructuring.
Example: A housing developer lacking the financial reserves to maintain and subsidize its properties, transfers properties and their accompanying contracts to other housing providers.
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occurs when two or more organizations combine to form a single new entity. This is often done to expand reach, reduce competition, or achieve greater efficiency.
Example: Two peer youth development organizations merge during an executive transition, as a means of achieving a smooth succession plan, strengthen fundraising capacity, and achieve administrative efficiency.
Where We’ve BEEN
Since inception in 2017, BTF has awarded 120 grants worth over $6,700,000 to 83 unique collaborations, representing 300+ organizations. Approximately 40% of funded collaborations were mergers, and the remaining 60% of collaborations were other forms of formal collaboration such as shared services, shared space, or long-term joint programming or coordinated strategy. In 2024, BTF decided its resources would be most impactful by focusing exclusively on mergers and similar integrations
Success for BTF
1. Big ideas. Multiple organizations create significant impact doing together what they could not have done individually.
2. Efficiency. The region’s nonprofit sector is strengthened by aligning complementary strengths and resources.
3. Exploration only. We’re even excited by organizations that explore coming together formally and strategically elect not to. They’ll move on with a better understanding of the landscape and their unique roles.
4. The new norm. Conversations become more routine at the board and leadership level about considering formal collaboration as a way to solve problems and have more impact.
Success for BTF GRANTEES
Collaborations funded by BTF have witnessed remarkable outcomes, including:
• greater innovation or new approaches to programs
• growth of existing programs to reach more people
• new funding sources
• launch of new projects that organizations could not have completed by themselves
• greater efficiency by sharing resources
• policy wins at the state level
• increased capacity to meet the demands of the served population
• development of community assets
• improved service quality
• improved organizational culture
• improved talent attraction and retention