If the word “merger” sparks fear across your nonprofit boardroom or leadership team, this episode of The NFP CEO Podcast is for you.

Today, we dive into nonprofit mergers, merger strategy for charities, and what it really takes for a CEO to lead a successful organisational merger in the for-purpose sector.

Our guest, Alex Green, has firsthand experience. As CEO of both Arthritis New South Wales and Arthritis Queensland, Alex led the transformation that resulted in The Arthritis Movement - a bold merger driven by strategy not crisis.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why some nonprofit mergers happen from a position of strength, not survival.

Learn how Alex and the Board made the decision to merge, not because they had to, but because they saw an opportunity to scale their impact for people living with arthritis.

The CEO’s critical leadership role during a merger:

From stakeholder management to board engagement and staff communications, Alex shares how non-profit leaders can steer their organisation's through uncertainty.

How to manage board dynamics across federated structures:

Discover the reality of juggling two different boards, multiple committees, and working groups and how Alex navigated governance challenges.

Strategies to manage staff engagement and avoid a culture divide:

Alex shares his approach to preventing an "us vs them" mentality, especially across state-based teams, by focusing on language, leadership presence, and regular communication.

Why measuring staff engagement during organisational change matters:

Hear how Alex replaced the traditional annual staff survey with an AI-driven weekly pulse survey and how it helped track sentiment and morale through the merger process.

CEO wellbeing and managing capacity during a merger project:

Alex offers honest insights on time management, burnout risk, and why a strong executive team is essential when CEOs take on major transformation work.

Key lessons for nonprofit boards considering a merger:

Alex reflects on governance, decision-making, and how both boards stayed focused on mission and beneficiary impact throughout the journey.

"A merger isn’t a sign of failure - it’s a demonstration of ambition, vision, and the drive to do better for your clients."

Are you a CEO, board member, or senior leader in the not for profit or for-purpose sector considering a merger?

This episode offers real-world insights, and leadership lessons to help you make informed decisions and lead with confidence.

Connect with us:

LinkedIn: The NFP CEO: Overview | LinkedIn

Website: thenfpceo.com.au

Michelle Cutler: Michelle Cutler | LinkedIn

Danielle Ballantine: Danielle Ballantine | LinkedIn