Merger Consolidates Staffing of Cancer Support Organizations

In 2009, when the national offices of The Wellness Community and Gilda’s Club merged to become the Cancer Support Community, each local affiliate remained a separate nonprofit organization. The Cancer Support Community Philadelphia (CSCP) and Gilda’s Club Delaware Valley (GC) were two Pennsylvania affiliates with similar missions, programs, service areas and funders. When CSCP’s executive director retired, the entities began discussing a merger. In addition to providing strong executive leadership for the merged organization and saving costs by eliminating an executive director salary, the union strengthened the entire organization’s staffing through their complementary departmental competencies. The merger also serves as a model for other Cancer Support Community affiliates considering mergers. The SeaChange-Lodestar Fund for Nonprofit Collaboration provided a challenge grant to fund one-time expenses related to the merger.

Grant Information

Grant Amount: $12,000

Year Granted: 2014

Grantee: Cancer Support Community Philadelphia (CSCP)

Location: PA - Pennsylvania

Grantee Website: Cancer Support Community Philadelphia (CSCP)