A new study tackles the on-going conversation about whether nonprofits can save money and improve services by combining or outsourcing backoffice operations.

Small to mid-sized nonprofits have always struggled to meet their needs for the administrative and professional services that support their core program work. Often referred to as "back–office" needs, these services have typically included:
• Finance and administration
• Human resources
• Information technology

Experts interviewed for this study confirmed the Meyer grantee survey findings that:

• HR issues almost always poll highest in polls of most needed back–office services.
• Finance and IT are the most in–demand services for outsourcing by small nonprofits.
• Development and fundraising assistance by outside firms is in great (and increasing) demand.

 http://www.meyerfoundation.org/downloads/Outsourcing-FullReport.pdf