Shared Services:
A Guide to Creating
Collaborative Solutions for Nonprofits

Available for Purchase Now

What's in the Guide

Based on the best practices of professionals across the nonprofit and philanthropic world, the 84-page guide helps nonprofits build successful shared services program and achieve greater financial stability. The first publication for nonprofit executives looking to create shared services programs, Shared Services is filled with step-by-step guidelines, 10 case studies of organizations who are successfully sharing services, planning tools, sample documents, and more.

What readers say

"If people interested in nonprofit centers purchase this
thoughtful compendium, they’ll learn [from experts] about
opportunities to save themselves and their partners money
and facilitate growth of synergies.  Like all the work of the
Nonprofit Centers Network, this guide is truly well done."
John Powers
Board Member, Alliance for Sustainable Colorado

"I wish there had been a comprehensive guide such as this one
when we began planning our services.  It would have saved
a lot of time, resources, and mistakes!"
Peggy Eagan
Executive Director, Children & Family Services Center

Guide Synopsis

Shared Services: A Guide to Creating Collaborative Solutions illuminates innovative ways nonprofits can do more with less. Shared Services is the first comprehensive guide for nonprofit executives looking to create shared services programs.  Filled with step-by-step guidelines, case studies, and sample documents, Shared Services draws from the experiences of people across the nonprofit and philanthropic world to help you build your own successful shared services program.

Nonprofit organizations now face challenging times. Volatile financial markets are impacting funding opportunities, while demand for services and operating expenses are increasing. For the majority of nonprofit organizations with already limited resources, these challenges indicate a need for a new paradigm. For many nonprofits, the solution comes in the form of collaboration and consolidating their “back office” operations to streamline their efforts. Joint efforts allow nonprofits to share space, technology, and financial and human resources operations. Shared services increase purchasing power and reduce costs, increase operating efficiency and reduce risk, improve access to high-quality services and foster the collaborations that lead to program innovation. Experiences in the private, public, and nonprofit sectors prove these gains are possible when shared services are designed effectively.

Tides and The NonprofitCenters Network have created this guide based on interviews with executives of shared services programs and knowledge we gathered through field research across the United States and Canada. From simple equipment sharing to complex multi-service operations, this guide provides the roadmap to create a successful program.

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Free Sample Case Studies From the Guide

Service Provider Templates

For guide owners who purchased a hardcopy version. Use the code located in your guide on page 53 to download these additional templates for shared services providers.