Date of Publication: 01/01/2017
Last Reviewed by MLTC: 11/11/2025
Summary:
Companion resources providing comprehensive guidance for land trusts considering mergers, alliances, or other partnership structures. They address board and staff responsibilities, organizational readiness, and lessons learned from environmental nonprofit collaborations.
Documents:
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A Board Member’s Guide to Mergers (Alfredo Vergara-Lobo, Jan Masaoka & Sabrina L. Smith; 12/31/2012)
Outlines fiduciary duties, governance implications, and communication strategies for land trust boards evaluating merger opportunities.
Document: merger_toolkit.pdf -
An Introduction to Mergers for Land Trusts (Land Trust Alliance; 01/01/2017)
Explains the motivations and mechanics of mergers among land trusts, including strategic benefits, process steps, and considerations for organizational readiness and due diligence.
Documents: sl_spr18_feature_3_mergers_1.pdf & mergers-publication_1.pdf - Creating an Environment for Success: Mergers and Other Partnership Structures for Environmental Nonprofits (Mary Jo Kaplan of Kaplan Consulting, LLC; 01/01/2010)
Draws on case studies of successful environmental nonprofit collaborations, identifying cultural and organizational factors that support effective partnerships and long-term stability.
Document: creating-an-environment-for-success-mergers-and-other-partnership-structures-for-environmental-nonprofits-institute-for-conservation-leadership.pdf