Collaborative Working

New - Collaborative working to generate income

This new publication introduces different ways of working with other organisations to generate income. Subjects covered include fundraising events, joint trading, payroll giving through consortia, legacy giving and appeals.

Case studies illustrate voluntary and community sector experience of joint fundraising activities.

• Read Collaborative working to generate income 

What is collaborative working?

Collaborative working within the voluntary and community sector - also known as joint or partnership working - covers a spectrum of ways that two or more organisations can work together. Options range from informal networks and alliances, through joint delivery of projects to full merger. Collaborative working can last for a fixed length of time or can form a permanent arrangement.

What these options have in common is that they involve some sort of exchange, for mutual advantage, that ultimately benefits end users.

Read more about what collaborative working involves

"...all charities should consider seriously and imaginatively whether there are ways in which they could do more and better for their users by working together."
Charity Commission, Collaborative Working and Mergers (RS4) 2003

In recent years, interest in collaborative working has been growing, driven by the sector's drive for effectiveness and efficiency, government policy and public opinion.

Collaborative working: the wider picture

"Greater understanding of collaborative working will make the voluntary sector even more effective and improve services for beneficiaries."
Stuart Etherington, NCVO Chief Executive

Collaborative Working Team

We offer good practice information and advice to help voluntary and community organisations make decisions about whether and how to work collaboratively. We aim to support informed decision-making and raise awareness of the range of collaborative working options, although we focus on more formal, long-term arrangements.

See our Frequently asked questions.

Support

The Collaborative Working Team is supported by

• The Tudor Trust, and
• The Vodafone UK Foundation

Collaborative working at NCVO has been supported by

• The Baring Foundation
• The City Bridge Trust
• The Dulverton Trust
• The Lloyds TSB Foundation, and
• The Sylvia Adams Charitable Trust