REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Fundraising Consultant
About Foundation for Louisiana
Foundation for Louisiana (FFL) is a social justice philanthropic intermediary founded in 2005 as the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation (LDRF) to support philanthropic investment in Louisiana’s recovery following hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Our founders quickly recognized that the centuries of violence and discrimination behind the disparities, made clear to the rest of the world by the 2005 hurricanes, would take generations to address and transitioned LDRF from a spend-down foundation into Foundation for Louisiana. FFL pursues its vision of a Louisiana in which all people are free, respected, and loved by working with Louisiana’s greatest strength – our people – to address longstanding inequities that have shaped life outcomes for the most underrecognized people and communities. Our programs grew in response to these needs, and today FFL focuses on racial justice, climate justice, criminal-legal reform and transformation, and economic justice.
Since its inception, FFL has invested $55 million in more than 250 mission-critical nonprofit organizations working across the state towards building a more just Louisiana. As a social justice philanthropic intermediary, FFL’s work unapologetically advances racial justice. The foundation engages communities in both program co-design as well as its grant-making process to expand opportunities and move Louisiana towards a more just future.
Foundation for Louisiana is continuing our ambitious and bold endeavor to transform the ways in which racial equity and racial justice are thought about and addressed in Louisiana by launching our second phase of the Truth, Racial Healing and Transformation (TRHT) framework with support from W.K. Kellogg Foundation. FFL is committed to advancing racial healing, equity, and justice in the state of Louisiana, focusing on New Orleans and Baton Rouge for the implementation of the TRHT framework. Both cities have different goals and objectives based on the political context, socioeconomic needs, opportunities, strengths and struggles in each location. The fundraising consultant will help FFL resource the TRHT initiative as well as our broader Racial Justice program.
FFL Request
FFL invites applications from experienced fundraising consultants to conduct prospect research, develop and write grant proposals, and develop a three-year program fundraising plan. The selected consultant will work closely with FFL’s TRHT, finance, and development staff under the direction of the Vice President of Programs. This is a one-year contract with a maximum budget of $35,000.00.
Core Activities and Deliverables
- Develop a three-year TRHT and racial justice program fundraising plan towards a goal of securing $500,000 in programmatic and general operating funds
- Conduct prospect research to identify 15 potential funding opportunities to support the build out the Truth, Racial Healing, & Transformation (TRHT) and broader Racial Justice program
- Prepare and submit a minimum of five funding proposals with a target success rate of at least 50%
- Coordinate with FFL staff via regularly scheduled meetings, email, and Slack for progress updates, needs assessments, and coordination
Desired Skills, Competencies & Experience
- At least five years of work experience as a professional fundraiser in the non-profit sector, preferably for social justice organizations
- Alignment with FFL’s core values of community wisdom, commitment, integrity, and courage
- An understanding of and commitment to anti-racist and anti-oppression practices and the ability to translate that into resource raising approaches
- Demonstrated experience with narrative development that centers racial and social justice from an assets-based approach
- An understanding of the regional and national social justice funding landscape and funding trends
- Understanding of or ability to rapidly gain context regarding the historic and current funding disparities in the South versus other regions of the United States
- Exemplary writing, editing, and proofreading skills including the ability to craft a compelling narrative
- The ability to successfully manage multiple priorities to ensure timely submission of materials and meet deadlines
How To Apply
Proposals should include the following:
- Primary contact person and contact information
- Background information on organization or consultant
- Detailed scope of work outlining accomplishment of the core activities listed above, including estimated costs or fees for service
- Names and relevant background information for individuals (including primary contact) who would be assigned to work with FFL
- Examples of past work, including at least one successful (i.e., funded) grant proposal
- Two professional references for fundraising work
Proposals should not exceed 10 pages, excluding attachments.
Evaluation Criteria
- Familiarity with fundraising in social justice contexts with an emphasis on racial justice organizations
- Depth of background/experience
- Degree of alignment to FFL’s mission and core values
- Clearly stated rate/fees
Deadline
5PM Friday June 23, 2023. Proposals received after the deadline will not be considered. Unfortunately, we are unable to give individual extensions to this deadline.
Proposals should be submitted to program co-leads Corey Himes, chimes@foundationforlouisiana.org, and Wankeeta Jackson, kjackson@foundationforlouisiana.org.
We encourage proposals from people with disabilities and are available to discuss reasonable accommodation for any applicant who may need them to facilitate submission. To inquire about accommodation, please email the address listed above or call FFL at (225)326-7016. Please refrain from making phone calls for any reason other than to request application accommodation.
Equal Opportunity Employment Policy
Foundation for Louisiana aspires towards freedom for all Louisianans and aims to create a fully inclusive and affirming workplace for all people. We welcome and encourage proposals from people who have been involved with the criminal legal system.
Foundation for Louisiana follows an equal opportunity employment policy and employs personnel without regard to race, creed, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender expression, age, physical or mental ability, veteran status, military obligations, criminal justice background, and marital status.
This policy also applies to internal promotions, training, opportunities for advancement, terminations, outside vendors, members and customers, service clients, use of contractors and consultants, grant partners, board members and dealings with the public.