#MergerMondays: foundations + nonprofits

Across the country, something powerful is happening—nonprofits and foundations are taking a step beyond collaborating and deciding to merge. These aren’t moves made out of urgency or scarcity. They’re bold, strategic choices to combine strengths, simplify operations, and unlock new possibilities for community impact.

In New York’s Hudson Valley, the Rockland Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of Orange & Sullivan have announced plans to merge. If approved by the state attorney general, the newly unified foundation will operate under a fresh name with a reimagined board and brand. Together, they aim to expand regional impact and deepen support for the communities they serve.

In New Orleans, two longtime neighborhood anchors—the 18th Ward and Trinity Community Center—have come together with the support of the Greater New Orleans Foundation’s Mergers Fund. Their union creates a single hub for youth sports and workforce development, backed by strong infrastructure and shared purpose. It’s a win for local families and a model for what’s possible when organizations lead with vision.

And in Belmont, Massachusetts, a unanimous vote sealed the merger between the Friends of the Belmont Public Library and the Belmont Library Foundation. The newly combined group will streamline operations, clarify donor engagement, and launch a new Major Gifts Committee to strengthen fundraising for years to come.

What stands out in each of these stories is the intentional blending of funding power with community presence. These aren’t just mergers between organizations—they’re mergers between vision and infrastructure. Whether it’s a foundation with regional grantmaking muscle or a neighborhood group with deep local roots, the decision to join forces reflects a shared belief that alignment isn’t enough—structure matters too.

There’s something deeply hopeful about that. These mergers reflect courage, clarity, and a long view of what community work can be. That’s exactly the kind of leadership we love to celebrate on these impactful #MergerMondays.

Read more about each of these exciting mergers here:

https://hudsonvalleypress.com/2025/04/23/planned-merger-announced/

https://bizneworleans.com/foundation-supports-merger-in-the-18th-ward/

https://belmontvoice.org/pending-membership-vote-library-friends-and-foundation-to-merge/