Should groups consolidate?

Considering the limited revenue available to non-profits and the incredibly limited resources available to animal rescue groups, should the many independent rescuers be working to consolidate their efforts and would we be more effective if we merged our operations?


Less groups = less duplication of services + less overheads and stronger organisations with conceivably more ‘clout’ in both fundraising and advocacy. Grant makers tend to favour groups effectively using resources and who appear to be above ‘turf wars’. And with more members from more backgrounds comes an expansion of knowledge and capacity.

So should we all become one?

Well, first we have to realise that not all duplication is bad. We live in a democracy where anyone can start a business, be it non-profit or commercial. This is great as it allows the consumer (or service beneficiary and financiers) to choose exactly whom they want to support. And groups live or die by their performance keeping everyone striving to be better, smarter and more efficient.


Its called healthy competition.


Sometimes, there are express reasons why groups can’t work together; from irreconcilable differences in ideology, to simple disharmony among certain personalities. This doesn’t mean each or any group is undeserving, but simply that life isn’t always neat, or people compatible.


Also, nuances between groups often allows for better coverage for a particular service. In rescue one group may specialise in rescuing small dogs, other groups have a policy of focusing on older pets and others may have capacity to help foster mums with newborns. In this case, consolidation to a ‘one size fits all’ approach may actually see special needs pets fall outside ‘standard’ parameters and be disadvantaged.

So when SHOULD we work together?

In short: wherever possible!


Just because we don’t want to merge our identities, doesn’t mean we can’t help each other in our missions. In fact, as groups who use public funding we have an ethical obligation to use our resources as effectively and efficiently as possible, be aware of other groups working in similar areas and actively seek out compatible groups to engage in facilitated discussion about causes, rather than any operational differences.


Collaborating in a mature fashion with other groups with shared values, can lead to huge advances in innovation, capacity and make the industry as a whole more effective.

But isn’t it risky?

Looking outside your group and joining forces with another is a risk. But in today’s market not taking risks is a much bigger one;

There are the fear-mongers who find reasons not to make progress. They have an audience because they promise to lower risk. What they never mention is the monster of risk they create: stagnation. These are hard times. It may be that some nonprofits are going to fold in the coming months or years. I don’t know which ones those will be, but I can tell you which ones they won’t be: It won’t be the inventive, adventurous, full-speed-ahead organizations. Get rid of your fear-mongers and charge ahead.

While not always easy, the benefits of a symbiotic working relationship, based on mutual respect can be enormous. And very much worth the risk.