Our two local nonprofit organizations, which for more than a quarter century have worked independently to serve at-risk, vulnerable and underserved individuals and families, today announced plans to form a strategic alliance that will, at once, broaden and strengthen the ability of each to serve the people of Philadelphia and the Mid-Atlantic Region. ACHIEVEability and Mission First Housing Group, when combined, will manage more than 2,500 homes for low-income populations, including veterans, elderly and the disabled, and single-parent and homeless families, throughout the Greater Philadelphia region, and elsewhere in the Middle Atlantic states.

The integration of two organizations with robust histories and shared values is an opportunity to leverage the property management and operational expertise of Mission First with the social service, event management and fundraising capabilities of ACHIEVEability. In coming together, the two organizations combine ACHIEVEability’s legacy of differentiated social service outcomes with the financial strength and real estate expertise of Mission First. In addition, Mission First’s larger footprint will allow ACHIEVEability to eventually expand with services to more families while maintaining the focus on its home base in West Philadelphia. The union also is aligned with Mission First’s growth strategy for real estate, services and infrastructure. This alliance will enable both organizations to better serve their communities and families.

Our boards of directors signed a memorandum of understanding last week. It is anticipated that the strategic alliance will become official before the end of the year. At that time, ACHIEVEability will become a member of the Mission First family, with the executive director of ACHIEVEability becoming a member of the Mission First leadership team. At the same time, members of that team will join the ACHIEVEability board of directors. The ACHIEVEability name and model of providing quality social services to those in need will remain unchanged.

In a nonprofit and affordable housing environment where scale matters, we expect this alliance will prove to be a model of collaboration that will be the gold standard for nonprofit organizations across the region.

Walter M. Kubiak			Susan Patton
CEO, Mission First Housing Group			Interim CEO, ACHIEVEability
Harry G. “Skip” Dittmann			Timothy Thornton
Board Chair, Mission First Housing Group			Board Chair, ACHIEVEability

Click here for more information on this alliance between Mission First and ACHa.

For more information about ACHIEVEability, go to www.achieveability.org.