There is far more potential in nonprofit M&A, partnerships or alliances than many realise. In this 90-minute webinar, we will show you what a successful deal is really like on the inside and how both parties can benefit immensely.

We will also explore the many reasons a merger, acquisition, partnership or alliance can fail, including these common mistakes:

• A lack of knowledge and guidance on how to evaluate a potential deal and structure it so that it is well integrated.
• The respective Boards are not properly aligned or distrustful of one another.
• The compatibility of the two organisations is overlooked in favour of short term gain.
• Using M&A as a tool to climb out of financial distress or plug a leadership vacuum.
• Ignoring the different cultures of the two parties or failing to address brand stewardship.

Like all major business decisions, Directors and Executives should have the best level of preparation and the best information available to them before considering alternative strategies in this space.

This webinar will demonstrate the entire ‘courtship’ process, from first engagement to final integration, using case studies, real life current examples, practical insights from those who have been through the process, and specific guidelines that can be crafted to meet your unique needs.

This webinar will show you:

• How to think about mergers, partnerships and alliances as growth strategies, even if your organisation has a small ‘footprint’.
• What areas to focus on when conducting due diligence on a potential merger partner to capture the most possible value and ensure there are no nasty ‘surprises’.
• How to protect the interests of the people and communities you serve during the process.
• The right way to successfully unify two or more organisations after M&A has taken place.

Drilling down into partnering, alliances, mergers, acquisitions

What do we mean by these terms and where most people go wrong when thinking about M&As.

Introducing the six step framework for mergers and acquisitions (M&A)

1. The right strategy: 

• Assessing your strategic direction while identifying partners who could complement your mission, strategy and culture.
• The twenty (or more) essential questions for a Board to agree upon before looking for M&A options.
• Considering & assessing multiple options at once

2. The right information

• Initiating a term sheet for the 'due diligence' process, and subsequent negotiations.
• Deciding whether external advisors or experts should be involved in the process.
• Defining a potential integration plan, in advance of signing the deal.

3. The right timing

• Determining when to initiate contact, or when to wait to be approached.
• Determining your sense of urgency and judging their opposite party's sense of urgency.
• Understanding the risks of not acting soon enough (short case example).
• Determining when to consult stakeholders like staff, volunteers, supporters, funders and communities.

4. The right price

• Assessing the value of each opportunity to your organisation, even if there is no purchase price involved.
• Assessing the purchase price if this is relevant.

5. The right conditions 

• Ensuring the deal reflects the best interests of the people and communities you serve
• Defining what is not negotiable for your organisation, as custodians of a nonprofit
• Can/should the deal survive stringent conditions to safeguard the interests of key stakeholders?

6. The right integration

• Planning strategies for integration as soon as you identify a potential partner (especially before signing the deal)
• The role for leadership from Board and executives, as well as others
• Twelve common pitfalls for nonprofits after merger deal has occurred
• Setting up an integration team and the integration plan