Shared Back Office Support Launched for Greater Washington Region Nonprofit Organizations

Center for Nonprofit Advancement Continues Efforts To Address Decreasing Revenue and Increasing Demand for Nonprofit Services


The Center for Nonprofit Advancement announced today the launch of Back Office in a Box (BOB), a suite of high-quality administrative services made available at a reasonable cost to nonprofit organizations throughout the Greater Washington region including the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia and Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland. The program, which begins with financial management and accounting (BOB Finance), is designed to help nonprofit leaders maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of their organizations.

Foundation partners supporting the creation and launch of BOB Finance include the World Bank Group and the Community Foundation for the National Capital Region. BOB Finance was developed in partnership with Real Change Strategies in response to the needs of the region’s nonprofit sector and the Center’s more than 800 member organizations.

According to a February Center survey of nonprofits across the region, 42% of nonprofits anticipate that giving will decrease this year. At the same time, more than half (60%) anticipate their organization will experience an increase in demand for services in 2009.

“This is one more resource we are providing for nonprofit organizations to meet the increased demand for services amidst drastic funding cuts,” said Center CEO Glen O’Gilvie. “Our leaders are being forced to do even more with less revenue. High quality financial statements will help inform critical decision making.”

BOB Finance is powered by Easy Office, a team of expert nonprofit finance professionals highly skilled in accounting software, including QuickBooks, and financial management and operational processes specifically designed for nonprofits. Examples of service offerings include: management reporting and financial restructuring, transactional bookkeeping, monthly financial reporting, grant tracking and audit preparation.

“For nearly 30 years, the Center has leveraged its robust membership of more than 800 nonprofits to obtain quality goods and services at a reasonable cost for all,” said O’Gilvie. “The Center has long provided access to group health benefits and retirement plans, liability insurances and an unemployment program. Today we add financial services to this suite of offerings and we will not stop there.”

“BOB is a powerful concept whose time has come. The Center is again leading a trend that is gathering momentum nationwide and we’re excited to be a part,” said Jeff Russell, Easy Office CEO. “Focused back office support can really improve nonprofits’ efficiency, accuracy and effectiveness. Back office administration drains most people and we exist to help them focus on their programs, their missions and their true passions.”

Research shows that there is a tremendous need in the nonprofit sector for improved financial management. Indiana University’s Nonprofit Overhead Cost Study Project reveals that more than 50 percent of nonprofits do not follow the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP); only 16 percent of nonprofits followed the IRS guidelines for properly filing their IRS 990 form; and 50 percent of nonprofits submit inaccurate cost allocations that make their overhead allocations (% program vs. % administration/fundraising) look worse than they really are.

Visit the Center's Web site to learn more.