Exploring collaboration can strengthen land trusts, boost their impact, and enhance long-term sustainability—but knowing where to start is crucial. This resource set provides an overview of collaboration opportunities, key considerations when exploring partnerships, and an interactive workbook to assess your land trust’s readiness and compatibility for mergers. By creating detailed profiles pre- and post-merger, land trusts can clearly evaluate potential benefits, challenges, and strategic alignment, ensuring successful collaborations that advance their conservation mission.
In an evolving landscape, nonprofits are increasingly exploring mergers and sustained collaborations to enhance impact and sustainability. This primer, developed by the New York Merger and Collaboration Fund (NYMAC), offers valuable insights from over 50 collaborations, highlighting benefits such as program expansion, financial stability, and strengthened leadership. It introduces the MAKER Framework—Mission, Assets, Keepers, Event, Reality—to guide organizations through self-assessment and strategic planning. Whether you’re considering a merger or another form of partnership, this resource provides practical guidance to navigate the process effectively.
Collaboration takes many forms, from informal partnerships to fully integrated mergers. Below are resources to help you explore the spectrum of inter-organizational collaboration, highlighting different models—such as networking, coordination, strategic alliances, and mergers—each requiring varying levels of trust, shared resources, and institutional commitment. Understanding where your land trust falls on this continuum can help identify the right approach to maximize impact, streamline efforts, and build stronger conservation outcomes. Whether you’re considering a simple partnership or a deeper integration, this resource provides a roadmap for effective collaboration.
Regional Conservation Partnerships (RCP) are informal, yet organized networks, composed of partners from private and public entities such as land trusts, government agencies, conservation organizations, academic institutions, and many others. They are made up of individuals representing various private and public organizations who work together to accomplish long-term conservation goals across their respective organizations’ service area borders. CLCC is proud to support and participate in RCPs across the state, and can help connect you with RCPs working in your neck of the woods.
Merging can be a game-changer for land trusts looking to expand capacity, enhance sustainability, and streamline operations. This webinar, originally recorded in May 2020, explores the why, when, and how of land trust mergers, featuring insights from organizations that have successfully navigated the process. Through two case studies, learn about the key benefits, challenges, and practical steps involved, as well as alternative forms of collaboration that can strengthen your land trust without a full merger. Whether you’re in the early stages of discussion or just exploring options, this webinar provides valuable guidance to help you make strategic decisions.
CLCC wishes to thank Catherine Rawson, Executive Director of Weantinoge Heritage Land Trust (now Northwest Connecticut Land Conservancy), for co-leading this webinar.
In today’s challenging landscape, environmental nonprofits are exploring mergers and strategic partnerships to enhance their impact and sustainability. This comprehensive guide from the Institute for Conservation Leadership delves into various collaborative models, from informal alliances to full mergers, providing insights into the benefits and challenges of each. It offers practical steps for organizations considering these pathways, emphasizing the importance of strategic planning, cultural alignment, and stakeholder engagement.
Mergers and other types of formal organizational partnerships have become more prevalent within the land trust community in recent years as a range of new challenges and opportunities have arisen.
This guide, published in 2017 by the Land Trust Alliance seeks to be a helpful resource to land trusts considering merging, with an overview of the process and key junctures, tips from organizations that have been there and tools to make the process easier.