On November 19, 2025, Civic Strength Partners and Storyteller Consulting hosted a webinar, “Restructure, Reduce, Renew”, where we discussed how nonprofits can survive the current moment and preserve the work. During the webinar, panelists discussed their experiences helping social change organizations navigate complex transformations.

Too often, nonprofits face tough transitions alone and without the support, resources, or time they need. Decisions are not strategic but made under pressure. This can put valuable knowledge, tools, and community trust at risk.“In my work with nonprofits, I see organizations still trying to do everything, or just cutting back at the edges, slicing here, slicing there,” noted moderator Rajesh Mirchandani, CEO and Founder, Storyteller Consulting. “It’s valiant, because so much needs to be done, but is it strategic? And is it sustainable?”

But practical solutions do exist — including partnerships, mergers, restructuring, and more. As Cheri-Leigh Erasmus, Co-CEO at Accountability Lab, described, “I think there are a lot of opportunities and benefits that this brings about…it’s not the way we wanted to come to this opportunity, but there’s an opportunity here to think about things that I think we should have been considering before January of 2025…And now we’re forced to rethink how we work together.”

Josh Powell, CEO at Development Gateway: An IREX Venture, agreed. “This is certainly not the way we would ever want this to happen, but I think it is galvanizing something that we could collectively turn into some positive elements in terms of deeper collaboration, in terms of better exchange of knowledge and skills, and more efficiency.”

Another positive, noted Rachel Huguet, Senior Officer for Partnerships at the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, is the potential for greater local and community-centered approaches. “The Hilton Foundation has been trying to lead the charge of locally led development for years now, along with the former Administrator of USAID and others. And so in this moment of absolute crisis, there is an opportunity to rebuild in a way that is more effective and more community-centered.

Participants continued to discuss concrete steps organizations and individuals can take to work through these challenges and approach potential solutions. The conversation included how to build a knowledge management ecosystem; how to approach boards, leadership, funders, and staff with changes; questions to ask and pitfalls to avoid when considering mergers and partnerships; and how to stay positive in increasingly difficult circumstances.

A recording of the webinar is available to watch here. For additional information about the work of Civic Strength Partners to support social change organizations plan strategically for transitions, please visit our website at www.civicstrengthpartners.org.