Mergers

Two or more organisations may decide to combine and form one organisation for a variety of reasons. This can be influenced by a combination of both external and internal factors such as pressure from funders, stakeholder opinion or a move towards improved services for users. A merger is not a decision to be taken lightly or quickly and mergers are not the solution in many cases. Organisations can and do successfully work together for mutual gain while retaining their own individual nature. However, in some situations mergers can be a positive move towards:

• a better use of resources
• improving and strengthening the organisations involved

Case study

Cumbria CVS represents the first merger of all the district CVS in one county into a single delivery agency. Read an overview of the process, pressures, drivers and critical success factors that underpinned the Cumbria CVS story.

Resources

• A guide to literature on mergers for voluntary and community sector organisations, London Housing Federation, Dec 2006
• Key findings on voluntary sector mergers, IVAR, Sep 2003
• Mergers: A Legal Good Practice Guide and and accompanying research report, Charity Law Unit, Liverpool University, Jan 2001
• Due Diligence, NVCO, Dec 2006