Outsourced HR for Small to Mid-Sized Nonprofits
Clear, equitable, sustainable people systems, delivered by a trusted HR partner who gets the unique needs of small and mid-sized nonprofits.
From your first hire to scaling across states or the globe, we meet your nonprofit where it is and grow with you.
Find the Right Outsourced HR Support
-
For nonprofits becoming employers or formalizing HR for the first time.
You may be:
Hiring your first employees or growing beyond a small team
Unsure which policies, systems, or compliance steps you actually need
Creating job descriptions, onboarding, or performance expectations for the first time
Feeling the weight of “we need HR, but don’t know where to start”
Outsourced HR services include:
HR foundations audits and people systems assessments
Core policy and handbook development (equity-centered and compliant)
Hiring and onboarding process design
Job descriptions, role clarity, and early career path frameworks
Compliance setup and risk review (state and federal)
Benefits and total rewards strategy (non-transactional)
What this helps you achieve:
Clarity, compliance, and confidence as you grow your team. -
For growing nonprofits that need consistency, structure, and manager support.
You may be:
Adding managers or new layers of leadership
Updating outdated or inconsistent policies
Struggling with uneven performance expectations or communication
Wanting to support managers without hiring a full HR team
Outsourced HR services include:
Policy refreshes and compliance tune-ups
Performance review and feedback systems
Engagement surveys and staff listening strategies
Manager toolkits and HR-aligned training
Employee relations advisory (performance issues, documentation, terminations)
HRIS selection, implementation, or optimization
What this helps you achieve:
Aligned teams, supported managers, and systems that actually work day-to-day. -
Scale with Strategic HR Leadership
For nonprofits navigating complexity, growth, or organizational change.
You may be:
Expanding programs, teams, or geographic reach
Managing multi-state HR compliance
Experiencing culture or engagement challenges
Preparing for leadership transitions or restructuring
Outsourced HR services include:
Fractional HR leadership and strategic oversight
Workforce planning and organizational design
Succession planning and job architecture
Board-facing HR support (ED transitions, people reporting)
Culture and organizational health assessments
Change planning and communication support
What this helps you achieve:
Senior-level HR guidance to support your next stage of growth. -
Get Support for Transitions & Projects
For nonprofits needing short-term or specialized HR support.
You may be:
Between HR hires or covering a leave
Launching a new initiative or redesigning a people system
Navigating a sensitive or time-bound HR situation
Needing experienced HR leadership—quickly
Outsourced HR services include:
Interim HR Manager, Director, or fractional leadership support
Project-based HR work with defined scope and timelines
Organizational restructuring or role redesign
Benefits, onboarding, or policy redesign projects
Phased or flat-fee engagements aligned to budget and urgency
What this helps you achieve:
Immediate relief, expert execution, and continuity during change.
How Outsourced HR is Delivered
Flexible engagement models designed for nonprofit realities.
Alchemy People Solutions partners with nonprofits in different ways depending on what they need now, and how that may change over time. Engagements typically fall into one of three models.
Ongoing strategic HR partnership without a full-time hire.
Defined scope, clear deliverables, and a set timeline.
This model provides experienced HR leadership when an organization needs immediate support or additional capacity.
Interim or fractional leadership is often used when:
There is a gap between HR hires
An HR leader is on leave
The organization is navigating restructuring, growth, or change
Senior-level HR support is needed on a part-time basis
Support may include serving as an Interim HR Manager or Director, stabilizing people operations, managing risk, and keeping HR systems moving forward during periods of transition.
Interim or Fractional HR Leadership
Retainer-based support works best for nonprofits that want consistent, trusted HR guidance woven into day-to-day operations.
This model often includes:
Fractional HR advising and strategic oversight
Ongoing policy, compliance, and employee relations support
Manager guidance and performance management support
Workforce planning and organizational design input
Board-facing HR support and leadership transitions
Coordination with external partners such as benefits, legal, or finance
Retainers provide continuity and flexibility—allowing priorities to shift month to month while maintaining a steady HR presence.
Project-Based or Phased Support
This model is ideal when a nonprofit needs help with a specific HR initiative or wants to make progress in manageable stages.
Project-based and phased support is commonly used for:
HR foundations audits and people systems assessments
Policy development or handbook redesign
Hiring, onboarding, and performance system design
Culture or organizational health assessments
Engagement surveys with analysis and recommendations
Organizational restructuring, role clarity, or succession planning
Work is scoped upfront with clear deliverables and timelines. For larger or more complex initiatives, projects can be broken into phases so organizations can move forward at a pace that fits their capacity and budget.
Monthly Retainer Support
Hands-on HR leadership during transitions, growth, or coverage gaps.
A Values-Driven Approach
All outsourced HR services are grounded in equity, clarity, and care. We design people systems that support both organizational effectiveness and human wellbeing, without adding unnecessary complexity or burden.