Potential Merger between the Thoreau Society and Thoreau Farm Trust
The Thoreau Society is considering a merger with the Thoreau Farm Trust and we hope you will share with us your questions, concerns, ideas, and hopes related to this opportunity.
Our two organizations have always been closely aligned. Key members of the Thoreau Society, especially Joe Wheeler, led the movement to preserve Thoreau’s birth house, and since then our partnership has deepened—including a shared executive director. Our two organizations complement each other, and a merger would broaden our reach and amplify our work while gaining some welcome efficiencies. Please send your thoughts, questions, ideas, and other feedback to rebecca@thoreaufarm.org.
Each organization is currently able to evaluate a merger from a position of strength, not vulnerability. This allows us to think beyond the practicalities of organizational survival and focus instead on the possibilities that a merger provides for achieving greater long-term sustainability and reaching for bigger goals.
Please consult the FAQ sheet for more details about this ongoing process and current discussion:
Please review this At-a-Glance chart for more information on each organization.
Please mark your calendars for one or more of our Open Forums to discuss the potential merger:
June 10 at 7 pm (eastern) on Zoom
In-person at the Annual Gathering
July 9 at 1 pm at Thoreau Farm
July 12 at 12 pm at Trinity Episcopal
July 13 at 1 pm at Thoreau Farm
We are hoping that this phase of the discussion is community-powered and vision-inspired. We encourage you to share your thoughts freely and often with us.
We recognize that this is a challenging time for communities across the U.S. and around the world, and we are deeply aware of the privilege we have to operate in relative safety. By merging organizations, we could free up resources and actively pursue goals that have too often remained stuck in discussion. However, we know we can’t do everything at once. That’s why we’re seeking your input—through our Open Forums, your emails, and your comments—to help us identify the most urgent priorities for this moment, the long-term goals you envision for us, and whether you believe a merged organization is the best path forward.