Merging for Impact: Navigating Consolidation to Sustain the Social Sector
With the drastic reduction in overseas development assistance (ODA), many organizations face an existential crisis as funding disappears. Instead of allowing brilliant, high-impact organizations to collapse, the sector must explore mergers, collaborations, and strategic partnerships to cut redundant costs, preserve expertise, and maximize efficiency. But how can organizations navigate this process effectively while maintaining their missions and centering local actors in decision-making?
This discussion will explore the realities of mergers in the social impact space—how CSOs can consolidate to remain sustainable, what best practices exist for merging while maintaining impact, and how partnerships and consortia can shift power to local actors. Participants will examine real-world examples of successful mergers, discuss strategies for scaling with purpose, and share insights on harmonizing efforts to strengthen collective impact while reducing duplication.
Key Questions:
How can mergers and collaborations help organizations survive the current funding crisis while strengthening impact?
What are the key challenges and best practices for navigating mergers in the social sector?
How can partnerships and consortia be structured to shift power to local actors and improve efficiency?
What role do funders play in incentivizing or supporting mergers and collaborations?
How can organizations retain intellectual property, expertise, and mission alignment while merging or consolidating?
This session will offer a critical conversation on the role of strategic consolidation in preserving and strengthening the social impact sector, ensuring that vital work continues despite funding cuts.
Session Co-Leaders:
Alison Naftalin – Founder & CEO of Lively Minds, scaling low-cost, parent-powered early childhood development programs in rural communities.
Blair Glencorse – Co-CEO of Accountability Lab, an activist and global expert on governance and accountability.
Jenny Groot – Incoming CEO of PEAS, driving the scale-up of high-quality, low-cost education across rural Uganda, Zambia, and Ghana.
Joshua Powell – CEO of Development Gateway: An IREX Venture, leading digital and data-driven solutions for development in health, agriculture, and education.
Liz Jarman – Independent consultant and former CEO of Living Goods, a mission-driven leader with 30+ years of experience in systemic change across African health systems.
Seth Cochran – Founder of The Sidebar, Operation Fistula, and Impact Intel, a social impact entrepreneur uniting people to drive lasting change through innovation and data-driven solutions.