Area Boys & Girls Clubs affiliates merge

After a year of sharing services, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast and Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay announced a strategic merger Tuesday. The consolidation creates one of the largest nonprofit after-school providers in Florida and marks one of the most significant Boys & Girls Clubs mergers nationwide

The newly formed organization, set to unveil its brand identity by June 30, 2025, will serve an expanded area encompassing Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. This merger builds upon a shared services agreement that has been in place since November 2023, when the two chapters united under one President and Chief Executive Officer, Freddy Williams.

Williams said the impact of the pre-merger collaboration has been so significant, that what was intended to be a five-year sequential plan has been green-lighted to move forward due to its success.

“As we aligned the organizations closer, we started serving more kids faster because we were able to retain staff more effectively by having shared HR functions; we were able to have better financial reporting to see how which clubs and programs were generating efficiencies and results,” Williams explained. “That then led to marketing and helping us tell our story a little bit better, which then led to creating the business case for fundraising, which allowed us to raise additional dollars. After one year of a shared services agreement, we hit an all-time high for the number of kids served between both organizations.”

According to data from the organizations, since the shared services agreement began, daily attendance has risen to 3,000 children and teens across 42 locations. An additional 30,000 youth have been reached through outreach and specialized programming in areas such as opioid prevention, emotional wellness, nutrition and workforce development. The organizations also opened seven new club locations with two more opening in the next 60 days.

With an annual operating budget of $23 million, the merged organization is poised to expand its network of Clubs and introduce innovative programming. Williams noted that by pooling their resources, they’ve been able to expand access and provide new experiences to kids throughout Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough Counties.

The merger also brings together the board of directors for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast and Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay.

“Bringing our two organizations together feels like a natural step forward for all of us,” said Elizabeth Constantine, Board Chairwoman for Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast, in a prepared statement. “We’re united in our passion to help kids thrive, and this merger means we’ll have even more tools and resources to make a real difference in their lives. By joining forces, we’re building a foundation that will support young people across our community, opening doors to opportunities that help them feel seen, supported, and excited about their futures.” 

The merger has received endorsement from the national organization. Jim Clark, President of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, called the decision “a historic and visionary step” that sets a powerful example for regional collaboration. Williams told the Catalyst that the success and efficiency of this merger will be used as a blueprint for other clubs throughout the country.

“This merger is about so much more than just combining two organizations,” said Edwin Narain, Board Chairman for Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay, in a prepared statement. “It’s about making sure every child in our community has a place where they feel they belong and can dream big. Partnering with Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast allows us to reach even more young people and offer them the guidance and encouragement they deserve. Together, we’re stronger, and we’re ready to do whatever it takes to help these kids build bright, fulfilling futures.” 

Williams said both organizations will retain their workforce and by merging operations, hope to provide more opportunities for staff to move into specialized positions in the future.

“Someone that may not want to lead an actual center as a Club Director can now have an opportunity to be a program expert in workforce readiness or sports or literacy,” Williams added. “That allows them to get greater career mobility within a larger organization. As we’ve expanded our programs, it’s allowed us to create more career pathways for our staff.”

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