Mergers
When should charities merge? Is merging always a sign of failure? What are the advantages of merging? What are the risks?
The unprecedented challenges from coronavirus will have thrown these questions to the front of many people’s minds. We don’t think merging is anything to be scared of. The important thing is that they should be the result of strategic thinking, and not a damage limitation exercise.
Different charity merger models offer a range of options. And with the right strategy and approach, you can boost your scale and performance, achieving significant social impact.
We’ve been researching how mergers could help charities achieve their mission. If you’re considering a merge as part of your strategy, our consultants can help you ask the right questions to decide whether merging is the right approach and how it should be handled.
Featured resources on charity mergers
Let’s talk mission and merger
Merger has a negative reputation in the charity sector. It shouldn't. This research, based on interviews with 50 charities, has found that mergers can be a powerful tool achieving more for causes. It sets out the different models of merger available, dispelling the myth that mergers are always takeovers and makes clear recommendations to charities, funders and regulators to enable more mergers to happen.
Let’s talk mission and merger
Reflections from Iona Joy, Head of Charities, as we launch new research on merger in the charity sector.
There’s more than one way to merge a charity: Part 1
Charity mergers are a divisive topic—viewed by some as a silver bullet, others as taboo. But both camps often overlook the myriad of reasons mergers can happen, and the form such consolidation takes.
There’s more than one way to merge a charity: Part 2
We need to improve the health of our conversations about mergers. Here Oliver Carrington talks through the different types of mergers that can help a charity at various stages of its development, giving real-world examples along the way.
‘Talking about merging isn’t itself a risk’
Organisations often only go public on mergers once the bumps have been ironed out and the deal is done. But this makes it very difficult for others to learn from the process. We recently spoke to the CEOs of two charities who are considering a merger, and are bucking the trend by talking about it openly. Read what insights they have to share.
Making mergers work: the role for charity trustees
NPC’s briefing paper for trustees following our seminar exploring the process of charity mergers.
Let’s talk mission through mergers: A discussion for trustees
This briefing paper outlines the advice and recommendations from the panel at NPC’s Clothworkers’ seminar on how mergers can help charities achieve more impact for their beneficiaries.
Latest updates
Can mergers help us rebuild from Covid-19?
Despite the benefits associated with pooling your resources and collaborating on charitable services, we have not seen a significant increase in charity mergers this year. Here's how properly resourced mergers can help us rebuild from Covid-19.
Should charities collaborate or merge to maximise their potential?
At last month’s NPC ignites conference, a panel of experts from charities and funders discussed whether working together meant formal and informal collaboration or if mergers were the best way to maximise resources for causes.
Let’s have more collaboration and less merger
Ahead of his appearance at NPC Ignites, Duncan Shrubsole, Director of Policy Communications and Research at Lloyds Bank Foundation argues that talk of mergers in the social sector is detracting from the value of collaboration.
When (not) to merge a charity
Our research has found many positives for charities from mergers but they're not always appropriate. Thinking about when they aren't helps us to understand the range of collaboration options that are available to charities.
Let’s talk mission and merger
Merger has a negative reputation in the charity sector. It shouldn't. This research, based on interviews with 50 charities, has found that mergers can be a powerful tool achieving more for causes. It sets out the different models of merger available, dispelling the myth that mergers are always takeovers and makes clear recommendations to charities, funders and regulators to enable more mergers to happen.
Let’s talk mission and merger
Reflections from Iona Joy, Head of Charities, as we launch new research on merger in the charity sector.
What role for mergers in federated charities?
A structure that that benefits from its diversity can still make use of consolidation argues Richard Litchfield, Chief Executive of Eastside Primetimers.
‘Talking about merging isn’t itself a risk’
Organisations often only go public on mergers once the bumps have been ironed out and the deal is done. But this makes it very difficult for others to learn from the process. We recently spoke to the CEOs of two charities who are considering a merger, and are bucking the trend by talking about it openly. Read what insights they have to share.
There’s more than one way to merge a charity: Part 1
Charity mergers are a divisive topic—viewed by some as a silver bullet, others as taboo. But both camps often overlook the myriad of reasons mergers can happen, and the form such consolidation takes.
There’s more than one way to merge a charity: Part 2
We need to improve the health of our conversations about mergers. Here Oliver Carrington talks through the different types of mergers that can help a charity at various stages of its development, giving real-world examples along the way.
When two become one: Mergers—an insider’s view
Charity mergers are often viewed as a last resort at the brink of closure, rather than as a smart strategic move made from a position of strength. Having experienced a merger first-hand, Oliver Carrington highlights the positive side of the process, arguing that there should be more of them happening in the voluntary sector.
