Open Problem 11

The Fragmentation Question

Is the charity sector over-fragmented, and when do mergers, shared services or coordination layers improve outcomes?

Status: open
What would count as progress

Comparative evidence on outcomes before and after consolidation or coordination, across several fields.

Why it matters

Fragmentation is easy to see and hard to judge. A plural sector experiments more. A fragmented one may waste more. The answer probably depends on the field.

Where to start

Nonprofit mergers, shared back-office services and collective-impact coalitions all leave records. Outcome data before and after is the missing piece.