Social Value Blog

Making Nonprofit Collaboration a Foundation Strategy: The Lodestar Foundation

Submitted by Jean Butzen on December 17, 2008 - 10:37

Making Nonprofit Collaboration a Foundation Strategy: The Lodestar Foundation

In my recent Internet wanderings, I came across the work of a fascinating foundation which devotes much of their giving to support nonprofit mergers and partnerships. It's called The Lodestar Foundation, and their president, Lois Savage, kindly agreed to be interviewed for this blog posting.
Mission Plus Strategy: How did the Lodestar Foundation decide to support nonprofit collaborations as a major component of their philanthropic strategy? 

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"A Trip Down Merger Lane"

Submitted by Jean Butzen on November 9, 2008 - 08:40

"A Trip Down Merger Lane"

Today’s economic troubles have taken me down memory lane. It was just after the economic turmoil following 9/11 that my own nonprofit came to terms with deciding to seek a merger for our organization. I was the president of a supportive housing corporation in Chicago that wanted very much to grow.

"Part 2: More on Why Hawaiian Nonprofits Said 'Aloha' to Distinctive Merger'

Submitted by Jean Butzen on September 17, 2008 - 09:16

"Part 2: More on Why Hawaiian Nonprofits Said 'Aloha' to Distinctive Merger'

In August, I wrote a blog entry about three nonprofit in Maui, Hawaii who came together through a merger announced in June of this year: Maui Youth & Family Services, Aloha House

Hawaiian Nonprofits Say 'Aloha' to Merger, in their Own Distinctive Way

Submitted by Jean Butzen on August 8, 2008 - 08:01

Hawaiian Nonprofits Say 'Aloha' to Merger, in their Own Distinctive Way

 I am a strategic re-structuring consultant and I love to collect stories about nonprofit mergers and partnerships. Daily I find cases in my in-box from all over the country, and most are so run-of-the-mill that they are not distinctive enough to write about in my blog, but today I have one that is.

60 Ways to Leave your Merger Partner or When a Board Just Can't Say 'I Do'

Submitted by Jean Butzen on March 26, 2008 - 03:54

60 Ways to Leave your Merger Partner or When a Board Just Can't Say 'I Do'


I collect lots of stories from the web about nonprofits that have successfully completed mergers, but only rarely do I find stories about two nonprofits that fail so miserably at a merger attempt that it makes the news. One such case came to my attention last month and makes for a great opportunity to talk about all the reasons people leave their merger partner.