THE IMPACT OF DECLINING RESOURCES AND PURCHASE OF SERVICE CONTRACTINGON PRIVATE, NONPROFIT AGENCIES

The increasingly precarious and vulnerable position of the private, no nprofit social service agency in an environment of government contract ing and declining funding has been the subject of a number of articles over the past few years. Nonprofit agencies have been characterized a s being controlled by powerful government agencies that dictate the te rms and conditions of contracts, the types of services to be provided, the methods of delivery, and the price to be paid for services. One w ould expect to find nonprofits anxious to terminate their relationship s with various units of government, and return to a more independent s tatus. That is not happening. If anything, purchase of service contrac ting (POSC) with nonprofit agencies is increasing. This national study of nonprofit agencies explores the impact of declining funding from a ll sources (including POSC), and seeks to determine its impact on clie nts, staff, and organization.