Request for Proposals (RFP)

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFP): STRATEGIC PLANNING SERVICES

Issued By: CJ Grace
Taos Community Foundation
115 La Posta Rd.
Taos, NM 87571
Date: January 15, 2025

Introduction:

For 30 years, Taos Community Foundation (TCF) has served as a trusted partner in philanthropy, connecting the generosity of donors with the need of the community and nonprofits in Taos and western Colfax counties. Our mission is to improve the health, wellbeing, and vibrancy of our community.

We steward charitable funds and award grants and scholarships locally. TCF seeks to amplify the good in our region. Through the generosity of donors, we’ve grown to manage over 200 charitable funds worth more than $22 million. These funds enhance the quality of life in northern New Mexico, providing perpetual support for nonprofits, student scholarships, and community program resources.

TCF is a tax-exempt public charity with a primary purpose of building a permanent source of charitable funds, and advancing philanthropy by assisting individuals and families, foundations, nonprofit agencies, groups and businesses, in achieving their individual philanthropic goals and objectives through charitable giving. TCF funds are professionally managed and invested to provide perpetual assets over time. Additionally, TCF participates in community groups and engages in dialogue with partners to help define common goals and address need in the community. Donors created these funds to enhance the quality of life in northern NM. TCF serves these funds by managing the investment, encourag ing and supporting donations, overseeing grants/scholarship cycles, and managing the due diligence and government requirements (state and federal).

TCF is at an exciting point. We’re eager to grow our relationships and deepen our impact. To do this, we’re beginning a strategic planning process to chart TCF’s course for the next three to five years. The purpose of this RFP is to find a skilled consultant to guide us in this effort and help us co-create a roadmap for sustainable, equitable, and impactful philanthropy in northern New Mexico.

Scope of Work:

The selected consultant will help TCF develop a strategic plan to guide our growth and deepen our impact through understanding where and how TCF needs to focus its resources (what TCF needs to do more of and less of). A response to this RFP will describe the consultant’s proposal to develop a strategic plan that identifies clear goals, actionable strategies, and a timeline for implementation.

We envision the process taking place in three stages.

Pre-planning: Research and assess TCF’s current operations and opportunities for growth including significant community input from board, staff, donors, nonprofits, grantees, and community including the Pueblos of Taos and Picuris.

Strategic Planning: Develop a clear and actionable plan with input from TCF’s board, staff, donors, nonprofits, grantees, and community including the Pueblos of Taos and Picuris.

Implementation & Evaluation: Recommendations to ensure the plan is implemented effectively and evaluated for success.

The plan should explain what TCF does and reflect TCF’s commitment to:

• Engaging our stakeholders
• Developing community relationships
• Building trust, transparency, and partnerships
• Amplifying impact and our ability to serve donors, nonprofits, students, and the larger community

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience in strategic planning, including nonprofits and community foundations
• Strong facilitation skills to lead engaging discussions with diverse groups
• Expertise in data analysis and community engagement
• A commitment to equity and inclusion

Proposals may approach this process using expertise and experience to create a strategic fit for TCF in facilitating a strategic planning process resulting in a strategic plan, including considerations for board development and community transparency.

Please clearly address robust engagement of TCF stakeholders: board, staff, agency partners, women’s giving circle, grantees, area nonprofits, and the larger diverse community including Taos and Picuris Pueblos and others in the process.

TCF will provide data and reports as needed by fund types, grants made, scholarships, and revenue. Additionally, the plan should build upon input from TCF stakeholders and other community data points.

Proposal Requirements:

The RFP response will provide detailed information about the proposed strategic planning process, including a list of the following steps:

• How it will be executed
• Who will be involved
• What the expected work product will be
• Any associated deliverables
• Cost

Proposals should be responsive to the project description above and provide information regarding potential:

1. Board Development and training
2. Development of a consensus-based decision-making model

Please explain what processes, resources, and time commitments will be used to complete the work. Including examples of similar projects completed in the past, how those projects were executed, and what the key findings were, explaining similarities and differences between sample projects and the TCF project, including the rationale for why the differences will occur. Please include a copy of other finished products as attachments in your response to this RFP. Provide a list of references and a list of staff and their experience/expertise who will be associated with this project.

You can submit a proposal with additional components to add value to the baseline proposal or you may propose up to three service levels and deliverable options with separate prices for each. The fees suggested in the RFP process are for discussion purposes and will not be considered final. TCF asks that these estimates be made in good faith and represent the best estimate of cost.

The proposal may be no longer than 8 pages in 12-point font. Examples of prior work and other exhibits are not included in that page limit.

Scoring Rubric:

Scope of Work (who, how, what, deliverables): 20
Cost: 17
Related Experience & Expertise: 17
Community Engagement: 17
Board Development: 17
Prior Strategic Plan Sample: 12

Timeline:

• RFP Issued: Wednesday, January 15, 2025
• Deadline to submit questions: January 22, 2025
• Proposal Deadline: February 12, 2025
• Tentative Start Date: Spring or Summer 2025

Criteria for Selection:

TCF will select the proposal based upon which one will deliver the highest quality deliverable at the best value. Proposals will be initially reviewed and scored by a selection committee designated by the Executive Committee. Finalists will be invited to an interview with TCF.

Submission Instructions:

Proposals must be submitted by February 12th, 2025 at 5:00PM MST.

Submit Via Email to:

CJ Grace, CEO
Taos Community Foundation
cjgrace@taoscf.org
Subject Line: RFP – Strategic Planning Proposal

Submit Via Postal Mail:

CJ Grace
C/O Taos Community Foundation – Strategic Planning Proposal
115 La Posta Ste. A. Taos, NM 87571

Terms and Conditions:

TCF reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and is not obliged to award the contract to the lowest bidder. Any costs incurred with the proposal will not be reimbursed by TCF. This RFP does not constitute an offer to contract.

Ownership and Confidentiality:

All intellectual property will become the property of TCF. All data remains the sole property of TCF. The consultant shall agree to keep information related to this process in strict confidence, including, but not limited to, the terms of the contract and any confidential business information or proprietary information that has been gathered on this project. If the bidder deems any material submitted to be proprietary or confidential, the bidder must indicate this in the relevant sections of the response.

Conflict of Interest:

The bidder must disclose any possible conflicts of interest that may result from the award of this contract or services provided under this contract. Except as otherwise disclosed in the proposal, the bidder affirms that to the best of their knowledge there is no actual or potential conflict between the bidder, a bidder’s team member working on the project or its family’s business or financial interests and the services provided under this contract. In the event there is a change in either interest or the services provided under the contract, the bidder will inform the Community Foundation regarding the possible conflicts of interest, which may arise as a result of such change and agrees that all conflicts shall be resolved to the Community Foundation’s satisfaction or the bidder may be disqualified from the RFP.

Right to Reject/Cancel:

TCF has the right to reject any and all responses received in response to this RFP and to cancel this RFP at any time.

Closing Submission Date:

Proposals are due by 5:00 pm on Wednesday, February 12th, 2025

Inquiries – Please submit responses and direct any questions to:

CJ Grace, CEO
cjgrace@taoscf.org
Taos Community Foundation
115 La Posta Rd. Ste. A
Taos, NM 87571

We appreciate your interest in working with TCF and look forward to receiving your proposal!