Innovative Partnership Brings Human Resources Support to Greater Washington Area Nonprofit Organizations

The Center for Nonprofit Advancement announced today the addition of human resources support to its Back Office in a Box (BOB) program. BOB is a suite of high-quality administrative services made available at a reasonable cost to Center member nonprofit organizations throughout the Greater Washington region including the District of Columbia, Northern Virginia and Montgomery and Prince George’s counties in Maryland.

The newest service offering, BOB Human Resources, is designed to help nonprofit leaders maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of their organizations. BOB HR was developed in response to the needs of the region’s nonprofit sector and the Center’s nearly 800 member organizations.

“Nonprofits are a critical part of our communities and a high functioning human resources program helps them to recruit, develop and retain the talent they need to meet their missions,” said Center CEO Glen O’Gilvie. “BOB HR brings high-quality support that nonprofits cannot adequately function without. This partnership expands further on our 30 year history of bringing quality goods and services to member organizations at a reasonable cost for all”

BOB HR is powered by Nonprofit HR Solutions and RAFFA, P.C. Their teams of expert nonprofit human resources professionals are highly skilled in areas of recruitment, human resource compliance, and performance and compensation management. Examples of service offerings include: policy development, HR compliance audits, compensation reviews/management and employee performance management design.

“The Center for Nonprofit Advancement has a long history of serving the needs of nonprofit organizations across the region. The creation of BOB HR meets a critical yet largely unmet need within the local community,” said Lisa Brown Morton, president and CEO of Nonprofit HR Solutions. “We are excited to be part of this unprecedented initiative to provide high quality HR services to nonprofit organizations.”

“Employees are an organization’s greatest asset, and ensuring that they get the attention and support they deserve is the wisest investment management can make,” said RAFFA, P.C. Founder and CEO Tom Raffa. “We are delighted to partner with the Center in their effort to help nonprofits more effectively address their HR functions which are so critical to their success.”

Taproot Foundation’s 2007 survey of more than 250 nonprofits found that fewer than 25 percent had even one dedicated human resources employee. Follow-up interviews suggest that even when nonprofits can name one or more staff members working on human resources, they are often referring to a role that is more transactional than strategic. The strategic human resources functions—those that ensure the effective recruitment, retention, development and organization of employees—are often overlooked.

Click here to learn more about BOB Human Resources.

About the Center for Nonprofit Advancement
The Center for Nonprofit Advancement strengthens the capacity of nonprofit organizations throughout Greater Washington, D.C. The Center directly partners with nearly 800 nonprofits helping them achieve their missions through training and technical assistance programs, networking, advocacy and group buying power.

About Nonprofit HR Solutions
Nonprofit HR Solutions is the nation's only full-service consulting firm dedicated exclusively to meeting the human resources needs of nonprofit organizations. Since 2000, Nonprofit HR Solutions has worked exclusively with the nonprofit sector, generating results for organizations supporting advocacy, health and human services, arts and culture, education, the environment, faith-based missions and more.

About RAFFA, P.C.
Working with thousands of nonprofit organizations across the United States over its 25 year history, RAFFA understands the particular needs and culture of nonprofits. Employing over 200 experts in HR and IT outsourcing, accounting, audit and tax, employee benefits, consulting and other financial services, RAFFA delivers meaningful, practical and affordable solutions that enable nonprofits to focus on advancing their missions.

New Report Shows Nonprofits Could Benefit from Outsourcing

From the Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation:

"The current economic situation has only intensified the ever-present need for executives of small and mid-sized nonprofits to find effective ways to reduce overhead costs. According to a new report released today by the Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation and the Management Assistance Group, 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 Meyer Foundation grantees; 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 identify alternative back-office services that could strengthen operations, relieve pressures on executive directors and lead to greater efficiencies, particularly in this difficult economy.

"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 often are not well suited for serving small to mid-sized organizations, many of which are complex and have significant unmet needs.
• There is great 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.
  

'Our previous research revealed the importance of management infrastructure and administrative support in preventing leadership burnout and turnover in nonprofits,' says Meyer Director of Programs Rick Moyers, referring to the Foundation’s 'Daring to Lead 2006' report. 'There is an urgent need for innovation in how small and mid-sized nonprofits handle their back office functions, and increased use of outsourcing can help address that need.'

"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. It also proposes a framework for evaluating outsourced back-office services."

Click here to download the report and three-page executive summary.