An umbrella organization is an association of (often related, industry-specific) institutions, who work together formally to coordinate activities or pool resources. In business, political, or other environments, one group, the umbrella organization, provides resources and often an identity to the smaller organizations. Often in this kind of arrangement, the umbrella organization is to some degree responsible for starting the groups under its care. Compare to franchises and subsidiaries. Franchising (from the French for free) is a method of doing business wherein a franchisor licenses trademarks and tried and proven methods of doing business to a franchisee in exchange for a recurring payment, and usually a percentage piece of gross sales or gross profits as well as the annual... In business, a subsidiary is a company controlled by another company or corporation. ...

There may be many reasons for establishing/joining an umbrella organization;

• The ability to carry out activities which could not be accomplished alone, due to
  • Economies of scale;
  • A better pool of experts and experience;
  • Shared apprenticeship and exchange of know-how;
• A sense of community and support that makes people and corporations derive utility from multilateral and shared activities;
• An increased brand/public awareness.

... A brand is a collection of images and ideas representing an economic producer; more specifically, it refers to the concrete symbols such as a name, logo, slogan, and design scheme. ...

Example organizations

• AFL-CIO
• European Good Templar Youth Federation
• The Japan Association for Charitable Organizations (JACO),
• The National Retail Federation
• The Public Health Training Network
• Transport for London
• United Jewish Communities
• Yamaguchi-gumi
• Canadian Hockey League
• Mujahedeen Shura Council

American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, commonly AFL-CIO, is Americas largest federation of unions, made up of 53 national and international (including Canadian) unions, together representing over 9 million workers. ... The European Good Templar Youth Federation is a non-governmental umbrella organisation gathering European youth temperance organisations. ... The National Retail Federation is the worlds largest retail trade association, with membership that comprises all retail formats and channels of distribution including department, specialty, discount, catalog, Internet, independent stores, chain restaurants and grocery stores as well as the industrys key trading partners of retail goods and services. ... Transport for London (TfL) is a local government body responsible for the transport system throughout the City of London and Greater London in England. ... The United Jewish Communities (UJC) is an American Jewish umbrella organization representing 155 Jewish federations and 400 independent Jewish communities across North America. ... The Sixth Yamaguchi-gumi (Japanese: 六代目山口組 Rokudaime Yamaguchi-gumi) is Japans largest and most famous yakuza organization. ... The Canadian Hockey League is an umbrella organization for three North American Major Junior A Tier I hockey leagues for players of 15 to 20 years of age. ... The Mujahideen Shura Council first announced its formation on 15 January 2006, in a statement posted on Hanin Net (jihadist website). ...

See also

• Umbrella brand
• Umbrella term
• Umbrella fund
• Umbrella school