Building trust for shared services: a model for collaboration between nonprofit reproductive health organizations.

A challenging economy, uncertain political support and evolving health technologies call for innovation, collaboration and fresh thinking for all members of the reproductive health community. Clinical practices in the United States are responding to these challenges by testing and implementing shared support services and information systems, driven by the economic downturn, emergence of electronic medical records, and impending health care laws [1]. Reproductive health nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) support the field through research, guidelines development, education and advocacy. Models for shared NGO services are not as plentiful as they are for clinical service providers. New operational models — including novel partnerships for sharing administrative and other functional services — are promising pathways toward ensuring longer-term sustainability for these organizations. Reproductive health nonprofits face the challenge of meeting their particular mission in service to the field by stretching resources to cover basic and programmatic costs [2]. In 2010, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation awarded an organizational effectiveness grant for a pilot project involving the Association of Reproductive Health Professionals (ARHP), the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association (NFPRHA), and Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health (PRCH). PRCH served as the collaboration's fiscal agent and coordinated the process. The project's primary objectives were to identify a model or models for sharing of administrative services to reduce costs and/or increase capacity, to explore ways to reduce administrative overhead so that resources can be better devoted to programs to the greatest extent possible, and to create a pilot project that could serve as a model for other organizations that may be considering similar partnerships. Intended outcomes for the project included the following: