A Quick Briefing
Context and Background
Generally, small and medium sized Non Profit Organizations (NPOs) struggle to invest in a proper corporate services model and structure. In order to achieve “Operational Excellence”, organizations need to invest in things such as comprehensive a Accounting System, HRIS (Human Resources Information System), other Tools and Technology to facilitate and automate business processes and on top of it all, invest in qualified staff in different operational areas including finance, admin, HR, and governance. These challenges create a road block to excel and achieve efficiency and effectiveness.
Another issue facing the sector is the scarcity of a “one stop shop” for groups that would like to start a non for profit organization. From the legal requirements to registering as a Canadian NPO to how to smoothly run the startup phase, groups and Human Rights activists struggle to have an easy kick start.
What is the problem that we’re trying to solve for? What are we trying to change or create?
Traditionally, corporate services is a term known mostly in the for profit sector, many NPOs don’t like to use this term. Back office support though is another traditional term (in both sectors) that is widely used in the NPOs world. However, the term back office sounds as if these services are less important than the core mission of any organization. A group of innovators and change makers are working to change this narrative, and alnawa is no different!
alnawa would like to change the image of “outsourcing”. What we’re offering is a “Business Partner” that has the expertise, knowledge, experience and the capacity to advise, support and co-create a sustainable operating model that enables greater focus on the core mission objectives especially at times of start up, scale up or scale down.
What are we are offering through this Social Enterprise?
Our offering to the Canadian NPOs and Global Organizations will include a suite of services that will address many challenges that are facing NPOs leaders in managing and operating their organizational resources efficiently and effectively in order to deliver on their mandate.
We are providing an innovative solution where groups and social change leaders can benefit and have access to high quality financial and operational management expertise who can accompany them on their trajectory. This trajectory could be to scale back to stay relevant/more cost effective; or to scale up to expand/grow; or to maintain the current size, but with a better quality of strategic financial and operations management.