Civic Strength Partners

Accountability Lab, Development Gateway: An IREX Venture, and Digital Public have joined forces to create Civic Strength Partners, a partnership matching service and support network for organizations navigating moments of change. Whether exploring strategic partnerships, mergers, or legacy planning, we work alongside peers to make these journeys clearer and less daunting. Our approach is rooted in thoughtful accompaniment, offering resources, expertise, and space for organizations to make decisions and shifts that strengthen their resilience. Together, we listen, learn, and share while helping chart the next steps in service of a thriving social change ecosystem.

Services

Social Change Organizations

Around the world, many nonprofits are facing a funding crisis with mounting pressures. Leadership changes, political shifts, and shifting priorities add to the uncertainty. Too often, organizations are left to navigate these transitions alone — without the resources, support, or time they need. This can put valuable knowledge, tools, and community trust at risk.

Since early 2025, CSP has engaged with hundreds of organizations around the world exploring partnerships, mergers, and other transformations — helping them preserve what matters most while positioning for what’s next.

At Civic Strength Partners (CSP), we walk alongside organizations in these challenging times. Transitions take many forms: renewal, merger, or sometimes closure. We believe that in all cases, the process can be done with care, integrity, and responsibility — ensuring that knowledge, people, and communities are not left behind.

We do not provide direct funding, but we offer hands-on guidance, expertise, and connections to help organizations make confident choices about their future.

What We Offer

Matchmaking

We connect organizations with potential partners that share their mission and values. This includes identifying and introducing organizations ready to explore collaborations, mergers, or acquisitions through a safe and structured process.

Transition Preparation Support

We work with organizations to prepare for major changes with clarity and foresight. Our support includes:

• Assessing readiness for change
• Defining an organizational North Star and envisioning a purpose-driven future
• Developing strategies for leadership succession and long-term sustainability
• Strengthening legal, organizational, or digital resilience
• Planning responsible exits from programs or communities
• Preserving and sharing unique knowledge, data, and tools
• Supporting thoughtful wind-downs and closures when they are the most responsible path
  

Merger Accompaniment & Implementation

We accompany organizations through the practical and emotional work of merging. This includes facilitation, coordination with technical experts (legal, HR, financial), and ongoing support to ensure the merger process is mission-driven, equitable, and sustainable.

If you’re seeking funding or other types of support, our Toolkit includes links to helpful alternatives.

For Partners

As the development sector shifts and organizations transition, there is a growing number of networks that are providing communal workspaces, professional services, and infrastructure support to ease these shifts. Efforts range from amplifying strategic knowledge and advice to offering job listings and recruitment support networks. As we expand our work, we’re building a peer learning space that fosters shared knowledge and solidarity.

CSP Connects:

• Peer organizations for mutual support
• Thought leaders interested and invested in organizational transformation
• Scholars, practitioners and academics tracking impacts on the development sector
• Organizations and/or networks engaged in public health, justice, governance, security, data and technology, and human resources.

For Service Providers

Organizational transitions are complex and require a variety of expertise and resources. CSP is creating a large partner and referral network of ecosystem support partners and individuals with technical expertise that bring resources, specialist knowledge, ideas, and experience. We’d love to work with professionals who are focused on supporting high-integrity, high-impact options for aligned organizations.

CSP Engages:

• Service providers for strategy creation and mission alignment
• Market and landscape analysis experts
• Revenue and business modelling firms
• Financial and forensic accountants
• Technology licensing and data governance support
• Digital and data archives and sustainability modeling

For more information, visit: