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 mission
• The cultural and operational challenges that emerged post-merger
• How financial difficulties forced tough decisions about staffing
• What it takes to maintain community focus during organizational upheaval
• Rey's perspective on leadership, empathy, and navigating change

Connect with Rey: One Degree: https://about.1degree.org/