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About this blog
Expert advice
- Merge Minnesota: Nonprofit Merger as an Opportunity for Survival and Growth
- PPT Presentation: Nonprofit Strategic Restructuring - What Smart Power Strategies Make Sense for Your Organization?
- Bibliography on the Topic of Nonprofit Strategic Restructuring
- Nonprofit Mergers: An Assessment of Nonprofits' Experiences with the Merger Process
- The Merger Proposal: Before you Say "I Do" Why Nonprofits Should be Wary of Merging
- Nonprofit M&A: More Than a Tool for Tough Times
- Prepare Your Nonprofit Organization to Meet the Collaboration Challenge: Worksheets
- Nonprofit/Nonprofit Collaboration in Boston: A Barr Foundation Report
- The Aspen Institute Research Highlights on Nonprofit Collaborations
- "Merge to Advance Mission," by Jean Butzen, published in Board Source, Nov/Dec, 2007
Resources to borrow or purchase
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Mission + Strategy Consulting Practice
About Jean Butzen
One-Line Bio
Jean Butzen is a former nonprofit CEO who now uses her 30+ years of experience to offer consulting -- and to publish this blog -- on values-driven mergers, partnerships, and management for nonprofits.
Biography
Jean M. Butzen
Mission Plus Strategy Consulting
847-866-0197
jean@missionplusstrategy.com
I have been a leader in the nonprofit sector for more than thirty years, having worked in community organizing, nonprofit supportive housing, and homeless and affordable housing policy.
I was the founding Executive Director of Lakefront Supportive Housing in 1986. At Lakefront, I took a brand new nonprofit and made it into the largest supportive housing provider in the Midwest, with 1,000 units of housing and services for homeless adults and families in four Chicago neighborhoods, an annual combined budget of $16M, assets worth $60M, and a staff of 200 people.
In 2005, after analyzing the funding environment for nonprofits like Lakefront, I initiated and led a merger of the organization with Mercy Housing, Inc., based in Denver (downloadable Word document), which resulted in leveraging Lakefront's premier supportive housing model into the Mercy network.
In 2006, I launched Mission Plus Strategy Consulting. I focus on strategic restructuring strategies such as mergers, partnerships, and alliances for delivering social value.
Most of all, I believe that Mission + Strategy = Social Value, and that nonprofit business strategy is underutilized in achieving mission. I hope to help change that with this blog and with my work in consulting.
Here are links to pages about my consulting capabilities, a list of clients and some testimonials, and media coverage.
Awards + Recognition
+ Chicago Sun-Times series, “100 Most Influential Women in Chicago,” Named "Fourth Most Powerful Woman in the Nonprofit Sector,” 2004
+ Leadership Greater Chicago, 2001 Distinguished Fellow and Fellow, Class of 1995
+ Arthur Morgan Award, Antioch College Alumni Association, 2000
+ Outstanding Achievement Award for Community Leadership, YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago, 1994
+ 40 Under 40 Award, Crain’s Chicago Business, 1992
+ Click here to go back to the main site.
