Charity merger law?

[cassa333]

Hello,

I hope this is the right section for this so here goes.

The charity I am chair of (and a trustee) is looking to merge with a much larger charity. Our names are similar and confussion does occure (believe it or not even amongst our own members...)

They raise maybe a couple of million every year and we raise maybe 20,000 a year.

They deal mainly with research, training and the refubishment of a large NHS unit. We deal mostly with the patient welfare (monetary payments) and support (through shared experience) and buy small piece of medcal equipment for home use as well as help in equiping a small section of the unit with 'comforts' (TVs kitchen facilities etc.)

In essence our aims are broadly similar but they don't have the express facility to help people directly as we do. They see us as helping to soften their image so to speak and broadening their appeal.

Now after all that my question is... Do you think it reasonable or right that we ask for their aims or possibly their constitution to be changed to include what we do?

I have loads of other questions but will leave them as I don't want to get bogged down.

Thank you.
Carol

[Barmaid]

Yes, I do think it reasonable to include your own aims. However, I would be inclined to consult a specialist on charity law - failure of certain gifts (for instance legacies) can occur depending on the type of organisation you are at the moment (unincorporated association or corporate). The merger will need to take into account provision for gifts and donations which might otherwise fail. You may have to keep the original charity going as a "shell".

I'd be inclined to contact the Institute of Legacy Management (www.ilmnet.org) - they have a number of corporate partners who specialise in charity law.

[cassa333]

Thankyou Barmaid, I shall look that up.