The Influential Nonprofit

Dave LeVan: Surviving a Merger

Episode Summary

Dave LeVan is President and CEO of Water for Good. They transform lives by providing access to reliable water, sanitation, and hygiene in needy communities. He recently led a merger with Lifewater International. Key Takeaways: Successful mergers start as honest conversations about where each organization wants to go and what assets they bring, not as a rushed decision to combine. Fear of change is universal, even among leaders who specialize in transformation, so acknowledging loss, grief, and uncertainty is essential. Over-communicating the “why” behind big changes, long after leaders are tired of saying it, is what finally helps staff, donors, and partners internalize the vision. Honoring history and founders while clearly articulating a new shared identity allows people to see the merger as an evolution, not an erasure. When nonprofits collaborate and share proven models instead of staying in silos, they can dramatically increase impact, sometimes doubling the number of people served without doubling revenue. “People just want to be seen and heard, even more so than they want to be right.” “We don't have to double our revenue to double our impact.” “You need to communicate and communicate and communicate and keep sharing that vision.”- Dave LeVan Reach out to Dave LeVan at: Website: https://waterforgood.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/water4good/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/water_for_good LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidlevan/

Episode Notes

Dave LeVan is President and CEO of Water for Good. They transform lives by providing access to reliable water, sanitation, and hygiene in needy communities. He recently led a merger with Lifewater International. 

Key Takeaways:

• Successful mergers start as honest conversations about where each organization wants to go and what assets they bring, not as a rushed decision to combine.
• Fear of change is universal, even among leaders who specialize in transformation, so acknowledging loss, grief, and uncertainty is essential.
• Over-communicating the “why” behind big changes, long after leaders are tired of saying it, is what finally helps staff, donors, and partners internalize the vision.
• Honoring history and founders while clearly articulating a new shared identity allows people to see the merger as an evolution, not an erasure.
• When nonprofits collaborate and share proven models instead of staying in silos, they can dramatically increase impact, sometimes doubling the number of people served without doubling revenue.

“People just want to be seen and heard, even more so than they want to be right.”

“We don't have to double our revenue to double our impact.”

“You need to communicate and communicate and communicate and keep sharing that vision.”
- Dave LeVan

Reach out to Dave LeVan at:

Website: https://waterforgood.org/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/water4good/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/water_for_good

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidlevan/