A community of experienced professionals from diverse industries and backgrounds focused on helping social sector leaders to build the capacity and impact of their organisations.
Funded from a variety of sources including income from Eastside People and donations, the goal of the Foundation is to help young people better understand and engage with organisations in the not-for-profit sector.
We operate as a community of professionals with shared values and a shared ambition to help social sector leaders build the capacity and impact of their organisations.
Our central office team are passionate about providing management, finance and back-office functions so that we can deliver an excellent service to clients.
Find out about our brilliant group of highly skilled and experienced individuals who are passionate about using their skills and knowledge to bring about social change.
While our consultancy team is full, we are keen to recruit new consultants with experiences where our team is under represented. Applications from individuals from the global majority, who are disabled or represent the LGBTQ+ community are welcomed. The more inclusive and diverse we are, the better our work will be.
The 22-23 Index of Charity Mergers (Good Merger Index)
Record low numbers of charity mergers despite charities struggling with increasing demands and costs.
Only 48 mergers between 96 organisations recorded during the 2022/23 Good Merger Index (GMI) Research period.
The 10th edition of the Good Merger Index (2022/23) the review of merger data across the charitable sector in England and Wales was launched on 7th February 2024. While demand for charities’ services is growing at an ever-increasing rate, many face existential threats due to rising costs, falling funding and deceasing donations. In addition, ahead of the Spring Budget in March, charities have asked the Chancellor for additional support to protect the immediate and longer-term financial health of the sector.
Watch the launch event recording to hear a summary of the report findings and an informative and educational Q&A session.
Our launch panel who all had recent experiences of charity mergers, partnerships and closures were:
Paul Townsley Chief Executive of Humankind Charity supporting people to achieve their goals & make positive changes for better-connected communities which is merging with Richmond Fellowship this year.
Report Summary:
Over the last 12 months, Eastside People has seen a 70% rise in the number of enquiries from charity leaders looking for expertise in managing and delivering merger and partnership projects. Despite all this activity, however, the GMI research found that there were only 48 successful mergers between 96 organisations during 2022/23, 6% fewer than the previous year and 37% down on 2020/21, the lowest number since the GMI started with the year 2013-14 and a tiny proportion of the total industry1.
Key Charity Merger Stats:
The number of mergers recorded (48) and the total number of organisations involved (96) is the lowest since we started the Good Merger Index with the year 2013-14
Approximately £32m of income was collectively transferred from one charity to another which is 78% lower than the average over 10 years of £146m
As a whole, the data illustrates that the total number of mergers in this period fell by 6% from the previous year and by 37% from 2020-21
Despite a slight rise in the number of mergers involving smaller organisations, there has been a more significant fall in the number of mergers involving larger organisations – lower than any previous year
The total income of the organisations involved in mergers was £483 million This is a rise of £17 million from the previous year
The 20 largest mergers represented £30.9m of income and 98% of the total financial value transferred, significantly lower than the 2021-22 figure of £77.1m
There were only 4 mergers of equals during 2022-23 (the merger of similar-sized charities)
The proportion of transferee (receiving organisations) in surplus remained at a more typical level of 64% giving them a more suitable position to take on the risk of a merger. This figure is significantly higher than it was in the year 2020-21, which could reasonably be attributed to the impact of the Covid pandemic on charity’s finances.
Despite these findings, Eastside People has seen a 70% increase in enquiries and a 30% increase in merger related projects in the last year.
Note: Financial data is from the year prior to merger and which were completed by 30th April 2023.
Contact us to find out how our team of charity, social enterprise & not-for-profit consultants and recruiters can help your organisation. Call, send an email or complete our simple contact form.
Phone: +44 (0) 203 821 6174
Email: [email protected]