MERGERS & ACQUISITIONSStronger together, on purpose.
Sometimes the most faithful move is not to go it alone. If two congregations or nonprofits serve the same community, working together may help resources go further. But pressure alone is not a good reason to merge. We help your board weigh the choice, with a clear report, an honest recommendation, and a plan for bringing the work together if you decide to proceed.
The FABRIC model.
FABRIC is six simple questions to help you decide whether joining together is right—and what it would take to do it well.
- F
Fit
Do we belong together? We look at your missions, how each organization works, the communities you serve, and the people who support you.
- A
Alignment
Can we walk together? We talk through your vision, values, faith, and how decisions are made.
- B
Benefits
What do we gain? We look at shared running costs, stronger programs, reaching more people, and savings to draw on when needed.
- R
Risks
What could go wrong? We name concerns about money, legal responsibilities, working together, and community trust early—not after the vote.
- I
Integration
How do we actually combine? We plan how staff, finances, day-to-day work, and different ways of doing things will come together after the decision.
- C
Communication
How do we keep everyone’s trust? We help you keep congregations, donors, staff, and neighbors informed clearly and honestly at every step.
Four steps, in order.
We agree on the work during a discovery call. The pace depends on your organizations and the decision you need to make.
- STEP 01
Explore
Private first conversations to explore whether working together could make sense.
- STEP 02
Assess
We work through all six FABRIC questions, talk with people, review the finances, and learn how each organization works.
- STEP 03
Decide
A clear report and honest recommendation to help your board decide what to do.
- STEP 04
Integrate
After the decision, we help plan how to combine the work and support you through the first year.
Boards weighing a real decision.
Boards and executive leaders of congregations and faith-based nonprofits considering a merger, consolidation, transfer of property or other assets, or formal strategic partnership. Especially when shrinking resources, overlapping work, or a new opportunity makes going it alone the riskier choice.