The 2025 CBIZ Pulse Survey, in which respondents shared their outsourcing plans and experiences, identifies those functions most frequently outsourced and highlights the value of partnering with experienced providers. Working with the right experts offers more than just a service — it delivers a partner with specialized accounting, human resources and technology skills, cutting-edge technology and enhanced operational value.
When considering an outsourcing provider, it’s important to keep in mind that, in a competitive and growing industry, only peer-reviewed firms are subject to the accounting industry’s strict standards.
Not-for-Profit Outsourcing Trends in 2025
The Pulse Survey highlights a growing trend toward outsourcing specialized functions, with IT services leading the way, closely followed by financial functions. Survey results illustrate that IT services are the most frequently outsourced functions for cloud and networking services (55% among respondents and with IT service desk assistance the second most common outsourced service at 50%).That makes sense, considering these highly specialized technology-facing departments can be expensive and difficult to manage in-house and the professionals best equipped to serve in these roles often pursue employment with leading technology companies.
The same principle holds true for specialized financial functions, ranked as this year’s third most common outsourced service (30%) by respondents to the Pulse Survey. Like their colleagues in technology, financial professionals require extensive education, training and years of supervised hands-on experience to manage the complexity of not-for-profit accounting. Moreover, workers in these critical areas can pay a high price for mistakes, especially given the high percentage of not-for-profit organizations that are required to seek out a financial audit annually.
With these factors in mind, it’s easy to see why SNS Insider Research projects the outsourcing market to continue growing at 9.22% annually until 2032. The reasoning is clear: companies can use outsourcing providers to benefit from the latest technologies and sophisticated skill sets while minimizing the managerial demands and expenses associated with in-house teams.
Finally, a new consensus is emerging around the value proposition associated with outsourcing. Where the emphasis was once on the cost efficiency of outsourced support, clients now recognize that the dedicated specialists available through outsourcing are often able to produce higher-quality and higher-value work product.
How to Make Outsourcing Work for Your Not-for-Profit
Here are a few practical tips for making the most of outsourcing services.
- Define the Working Relationship: Start by outlining your organization’s specific needs and how outsourcing can help you achieve them. Be explicit in differentiating roles and responsibilities between the outsourced provider and internal staff and draft a formal schedule for check-ins. Engagements evolve over time and frequent conversations will help keep everyone involved on the same page.
- Prioritize Not-for-Profit Experience: Not every outsourcing provider understands the unique needs of not-for-profits, so it’s essential to choose one with relevant experience. Providers specializing in the sector can step in to fill staffing gaps and stay current on regulations, legislation and compliance requirements. Without this expertise, providers may rely on guesswork, which can result in financials that don’t meet GAAP standards — or, in the worst-case scenario, put the organization’s tax-exempt status at risk.
- Enable Access: Ensure the onboarding process gives collaborators easy access to all necessary documents and reports required for their regular tasks. Remote access tools can give them read-only permissions to key files so your internal team doesn’t have to disrupt their workday tracking down and sending information the provider needs to make progress. A streamlined approach saves time and keeps not-for-profit employees focused on high-priority tasks in other areas.
Conclusion
The Pulse Survey offers insights into the not-for-profit sector, where growing regulatory complexity drives more sophisticated technology and financial practices. Organizations embracing outsourcing should follow the tips above to maximize its value.
Connect with us today to learn how our team of outsourced financial professionals can support your not-for-profit’s unique needs with tailored solutions.
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