When Mergers Don't Go As Planned: One Degree's Story of Organizational Transformation

What happens when a nonprofit merger doesn't unfold the way you expected? Rey Faustino, Founder and CEO of One Degree, shares the story of merging his tech-driven nonprofit with another organization—and the lessons learned along the way.One Degree uses technology to connect low-income families with critical community resources. When Rey decided to pursue a merger to accelerate growth, he discovered that cultural integration, financial realities, and change management were far more complex than the deal itself.In this conversation, Rey opens up about navigating a merger and unmerger, and keeping the community at the center when everything else felt uncertain. His honest reflections on what worked, what didn't, and how he's grown as a leader offer valuable insights for anyone leading through organizational change.What You'll Learn:Why Rey believed a merger could accelerate One Degree's missionThe cultural and operational challenges that emerged post-mergerHow financial difficulties forced tough decisions about staffingWhat it takes to maintain community focus during organizational upheavalRey's perspective on leadership, empathy, and navigating changeConnect with Rey: One Degree: https://about.1degree.org/