Meyer Foundation Releases Report on Outsourcing
Back-Office Services in Small Nonprofits

The current economic  situation has only intensified the ever-present need of executives of small and mid-sized nonprofits to find cost-effective ways to reduce overhead costs. According to a new report released by the Meyer Foundation and the Management Assistance Group (MAG), outsourcing is a promising strategy for these nonprofits to meet their back-office needs, but there are many barriers that prevent outsourcing success.

The study, "Outsourcing Back-Office Services in Small Nonprofits: Pitfalls and Possibilities," is based on a survey of grantees of the Foundation, interviews with grantmakers, consultants, and a range of back-office service providers, and a review of current literature on the subject. The goal for the collaboration was to survey and identify alternative back-office services that could strengthen operations, relieve the pressures on executive directors, and lead to greater efficiencies, particularly in this difficult economic climate.

Key findings include:

• Outsourcing may not offer short-term cost savings but can offer significant long-term benefits and cost savings.
• Current business models for outsourcing are often not well suited for serving small to mid-sized organizations, many of which are complex and have significant unmet needs.
• There is a significant opportunity for business entrepreneurs with a deep knowledge of and sensitivity to the nonprofit sector and innovative new business models.
• Areas most in need of better solutions include human resources, marketing and communications, and financial planning.
• Barriers that prevent nonprofits from outsourcing back-office services include the inability to find specialized skills at a reasonable cost, lack of time to find and contract with providers, and negative past experience.

The 48-page study offers ideas for grantmakers, back-office service providers, nonprofit executives, and business entrepreneurs as they consider how to better meet the back-office needs of nonprofits and proposes a framework for evaluating outsourced back-office services.

Downloads

• Executive Summary
• Full Report

Learning Opportunities

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Stretching Your Marketing Dollar to the Max
Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington

This Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington workshop will tap into your creativity and present simple and effective strategies for extending your marketing reach with a shrinking marketing budget. Learn more.

Web Analytics Usage Among Government and Nonprofits
Web Content Mavens

This Web Content Mavens workshop will provide a look at the unique challenges and opportunities nonprofit and public sector websites face and how to get more value out of Web analytics to support organizational goals. Learn more.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

We Are Media
Nonprofit Technology Network

This Webinar from the Nonprofit Technology Network explores strategies for building an effective social media platform to support your nonprofit organization. Learn more.

Workforce Wednesdays Professional Development Series

DC Jobs Council

This free series from the DC Jobs Council is intended to address the challenges that workforce professionals who work directly with clients face every day. Each of the 12 two-hour sessions will be facilitated by one or two practitioners with expertise in the topic. Learn more.

Friday, September 25, 2009

10 Keys to Making Good Organizational Decisions 

Center for Nonprofit Advancement

This session will look at the main causes of decision-making errors and how to avoid them. The workshop is for organizational leaders facing complex problems related to strategy, board relations, inter-organizational relations (including relationships with funders), and staff issues. Learn more.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Fundraising in a Challenging Economy

Foundation Center

This free class for fundraising professionals will explore what nonprofits can do to survive, thrive, and succeed during the current economic crisis. Topics will include steps for addressing the economic situation, the impact of the downturn on philanthropic giving, and how to adapt your fundraising methods and strategies in the current economy. Learn more.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Communications Strategies in the Web 2.0 World

Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington

This Cultural Alliance of Greater Washington seminar will teach you how use social media and other Web 2.0 technologies to drive interest in your organization and generate buzz among Web audiences. Learn more.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Intro to Public Policy Advocacy for Nonprofit Professionals

Maryland Nonprofits

This Maryland Nonprofits workshop will explore how to determine appropriate policy issues to pursue, how to manage the public policy effort, how to determine level of involvement and thinking through assets and resources. The program also will include an overview of the policymaking process and what nonprofits can do to influence policy. Learn more.

Links for Nonprofits

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Engaging Audiences is a new report from the Wallace Foundation that explores strategies arts organizations can employ to build audiences and promote long-term organizational health. Learn more. 

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Report Explores Breakthroughs in Shared Measurement and Social Impact

This report from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation highlights 20 examples of social enterprises that have developed innovative and coordinated Web-based approaches to reporting performance, outcome, and impact measurements. Learn more.

All About Stimulus Aid

The following links have information for nonprofits about federal stimulus aid:

The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities offers state-by-state analysis of stimulus spending: http://www.cbpp.org.

The Foundation Center's website has a map detailing stimulus dollars by state: http://www.foundationcenter.org.

Patton Boggs' website has an online publication called No Small Change: The Stimulus Package and its Impact: http://www.pattonboggs.com.

Recovery.gov is the government's official website on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. It includes links to federal recovery grants available on Grants.gov: http://recovery.gov and http://grants.gov.