Deal may merge nonprofits

Two Costa Mesa-based nonprofit organizations that serve residents

with developmental disabilities are considering a merger that would

likely mean a boost in resources and a significant expansion in

programs.

Board members from the Vantage Foundation and Project

Independence, both founded in 1977, are in preliminary discussions

about the potential merger.

The agencies are already united through Debra Marsteller, who was

named executive director of Project Independence in July and who has

headed Vantage Foundation for 25 years. She said joining the two

organizations is a sensible move.

“It would mean we’d be able to offer a broader range of services

to our clients,” Marsteller said. “If we are able to save money

through a merger, there will be more funds available to train staff

and share our expertise.”

Marsteller said the rising costs of running a business have led to

a stagnation in hiring at both nonprofits, and the combined waiting

list is now at more than 100 people.

Combined, there are nearly 200 full-time employees at the two

organizations, but Marsteller said that simply isn’t enough to handle

the client load.

“We can’t get and retain quality staff because of our pay,” she

said. If the agencies shared costs, that would likely change, she

said.

The agencies, which share similar mission statements and inhabit

the same building complex in Costa Mesa, have a history of

collaboration.

Vantage Foundation provides round-the-clock supervision to about

140 people who have severe cases of conditions such as autism and

mental retardation. Employees work with clients on job skills and

social integration.

Project Independence takes on hundreds of clients whose

disabilities are less severe. The organization’s main goal is to

assist locals in job hunting and help them live independently.

Marsteller said among the new programming possibilities is a

workshop that addresses proper nutrition and that helps combat

obesity. She said a merger would also help the organizations provide

support to school-aged children whose parents are disabled.

Vantage Foundation board member Pat Lindner said among the board

members she’s spoken to, there has been unanimous support for the

merger.

“There’s a great interplay between the two already,” Lindner said.

“If we combine the organization, we come out stronger at the end. Our

clients come out stronger.”

Vantage board member Valerie Starn said the concentration of the

organization’s resources will benefit the client’s families by

providing them a place to turn for support.

Marsteller said she is still looking to maintain the

organizations’ separate identities. As far as how the board of

directors would be organized and what type of title a joint agency

would have, Marsteller said nothing has been decided.

She said the organizations are continuing to look at grants and

private funding.

The Vantage Foundation is holding its annual fundraising event,

Late Nite Catechism, at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 21 at Huntington Beach

Library Theater. Tickets are $50 and include wine, food and entry

into a silent auction. For more information, contact (714) 434-7870.