Nonprofit Merger Case Study: Boundless Readers - Working In The Schools
Formed in 1988 as the Rochelle Lee Fund to make Reading a Part of children’s lives and later reimagined as Boundless Readers, concerned parents honored the work of the late Lee by creating the program to develop in children a love of books and a lifetime habit of reading. Founded by civic activists Joanne Alter and Marion Stone in order to promote literacy and a love of learning, Working in the Schools uses a volunteer-driven, outcomes-based portfolio of programs, including Witsummer in the Parks, Witsummer Early Childhood, Classroom Reading Tutors, Wits Kindergarten, Workplace Mentoring, Mid-day Mentoring, Wits on Campus, and Wits on the Weekend. Both organizations are deeply committed to promoting literacy and a love for learning, Boundless Readers developed a strategic nonprofit merging plan to join with Working in the Schools in pursuit of their shared goal and financial sustainability.
Successfully completing the nonprofit merger in 2015, the plan hinged on the organizations retaining mission integrity and promoting a common culture. The primary and driving goal was to integrate the Boundless Readers' RLTA teacher program with Working in the Schools (WITS) volunteer literacy mentorship programs, creating a holistic and supportive approach to literacy in the classroom. In addition to finding a shared culture, WITS received Boundless Readers’ assets including their $500,000 operating budget. The merging process was both supported and facilitated by the combined boards of directors from Boundless Readers and WITS. Just as many other nonprofit boards are, these two organizations were served by board members with financial, business consulting, and legal backgrounds. These skillsets allowed them to offer pro-bono services to the merging organizations.
The nonprofit merger resulted in more students served and more school administrators working to get WITS programs into their schools. The combined experience of WITS and Boundless Readers makes WITS a comprehensive, desirable, and therefore, more effective program. This new comprehensive program is their Combined Classroom: any group of ten students or more from a single classroom that has an RLTA trained teacher and participates in any one literacy mentorship program. WITS now possess more assets as well as the rich experience and reputation of the former Boundless Readers’ programming. Overall, WITS believes that improved programming and increased funds craft a more holistic approach to their goals.
The organizations note several factors as essential to their successful merger. Boundless Readers cites dedicated and focused board oversight. Additionally, both organizations recognize a conscious effort to put egos aside in order to ensure an organization with a proper cultural fit. While dedication to the process and focusing on finding the best fit possible for Boundless Readers were successful, the Boundless Readers’ board recognizes that the merger search and process should have started at an earlier date rather than attempting to preserve their independence. With the nonprofit merger complete and several years past, it is clear it was successful in creating a better equipped nonprofit and reducing financial and administrative redundancies; WITS has consistently raised revenue above their pre-merger benchmark and slowly increased their assets annually. Not every merger creates windfall success and grand wealth, but with proper strategic planning, nonprofit mergers can create a better organization and nonprofit sector where these organizations are concerned. This results in better and more services which above all else, is the mission of nonprofits everywhere.
Whether your organization is facing financial challenges, looking for change management, or simply seeking a greater return on investment, the team at NMBL Strategies is equipped to offer expert nonprofit consulting. Reach out to us today at info@nmblstrategies.com to learn how we can serve as strategic planning consultants for your nonprofit.