“Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary.” Martin Luther King, Jr.
Overview
At The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC), we believe in the power of connecting people, ideas and resources to benefit all who live and work here. TFEC leverages our local knowledge and love of place to bring together community-minded donors and diverse nonprofit grantees to catalyze change in disaster response, health and human services, education, the environment, arts and culture and animal welfare.
TFEC serves a five-county region and oversees $200 million in assets. Over the past five years, TFEC has granted more than $37 million and raised over $42 million to support key community priorities such as education, healthcare, the arts, social services, environmental sustainability and economic development.
As we assess our diverse, changing community, we recognize the need to update our philanthropic model to better meet the needs of our 5-county region. To that end, we are embarking on an exciting journey towards a visionary future where TFEC is a key philanthropic voice for investing in community and climate resilience, equitable opportunities, and solutions to historic social challenges, while amplifying the rich diversity of the people who live and work in our 5-county region.
As we look toward the year 2026 and beyond, we recognize the need for a comprehensive and transformative strategic plan that will serve as our guiding compass and mission direction to inspire lasting and durable change within our community.
Scope of Services
TFEC seeks a qualified and experienced consultant or consulting firm to guide the development of a renewed organizational vision and three to five-year strategic plan. The process should address key priorities and challenges, leverage community strengths and align with TFEC’s values and mission.
The scope of work includes:
- Situational Analysis: Conduct a thorough analysis of TFEC’s internal capacity and the external landscape in our five-county region to identify key trends, challenges and opportunities.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Engage internal stakeholders (staff and board) and external voices (community leaders, nonprofits, donors, fundholders, foundation/government partners) in an inclusive, participatory process.
- Vision and Mission Facilitation: Guide TFEC through a process to determine whether refinement or a full revamp of our mission and vision is appropriate.
- Strategic Goal Development: Collaborate with TFEC leadership and stakeholders to define clear, measurable strategic goals that align with our refined mission and vision.
- Implementation Roadmap: Develop a detailed roadmap outlining steps, timelines, and resource requirements for implementation. At the consultant’s discretion, this may include tools such as dashboards, templates, or annual action plans.
- Monitoring and Evaluation Framework: Propose a method for tracking progress and success metrics over time to support the formation of TFEC’s annual operations plan.
To help guide your proposal, we want to be clear about the scope and expectations for this project. The strategic plan should focus on TFEC as a whole. It is not meant to cover our special initiatives or regional foundations. While programs like the Fund for Women & Girls, the Early Learning Investment Initiative and the Emerging Philanthropists Program are important, they are not the focus of this planning effort. The final plan will be public-facing, but TFEC will create any summaries or materials for outside use. All final deliverables must be submitted by December 31, 2025. Proposals should include a list of all deliverables with short descriptions. We are not providing a set budget. Instead, we ask applicants to submit a proposal that reflects the needs and scale of a community foundation like TFEC.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
At TFEC, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable environment in all aspects of our work, including the selection of contractors. We believe that a diverse team brings valuable perspectives that enhance the quality of our work and contribute to a more just and equitable community.
As such, we encourage proposals from all qualified individuals and organizations, including those from historically underrepresented and marginalized groups. We value the diversity of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, ability and experience. We are dedicated to ensuring that our contractors reflect the diversity of the community we serve, and we actively seek to create a welcoming and inclusive space in all our engagements.
We will prioritize candidates who demonstrate a strong commitment to DEI principles and who can create a space where all voices are heard and respected.
By working with TFEC, contractors agree to adhere to our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, helping us build a stronger, more vibrant community for all.
Proposal Submission Guidelines
Proposals should include the following components:
- Introduction: Overview of the consultant or firm, including relevant experience working with community foundations, philanthropic entities or nonprofit organizations.
- Methodology: Description of your proposed approach to strategic planning, including methods for data collection, facilitation and engagement.
- Timeline: A proposed schedule and milestones. The project must be completed by December 31, 2025.
- Budget: A comprehensive cost breakdown, including all fees, travel, and additional expenses. Please provide line-item pricing, especially for mission/vision facilitation and optional services.
- Deliverables: A list and short description of all deliverables that will be provided.
- References: Contact information for three professional references for similar projects.
Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated on the following 75-point rubric:
| Criteria | Points | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Experience and Expertise | 10 | Strong experience in strategic planning, especially for foundations or mission-driven organizations. |
| Regional Understanding | 5 | Familiarity with the dynamics, challenges, and opportunities in TFEC’s five-county region. |
| Approach and Methodology | 10 | Clear, effective, and inclusive planning process with innovative stakeholder engagement. |
| Scope and Alignment | 15 | Understanding of TFEC’s goals and ability to meet expectations with a realistic and thorough approach. |
| Timeline and Capacity | 10 | Ability to meet the project deadline with a feasible and adaptable timeline. |
| Values Alignment and Equity Practices | 15 | Demonstrated commitment to equity, community voice, and inclusive practices. |
| References | 5 | Strong, relevant references from previous clients. |
| Cost | 5 | Reasonable and competitive pricing for the scope and quality of services provided. |
Submission Instructions
Please submit your proposal electronically to:
Kirk C. Demyan
Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
kdemyan@tfec.org
Timeline
- Intent to apply is due by June 5, noon
- Questions will be accepted from June 6 – June 11
- All questions and answers will be made public
- Answers will be provided no later than June 13, at noon (on this webpage)
- The Application deadline is June 20, 2025, at noon, late submissions will not be considered
- The tentative selection date is Friday, June 30
Intent to Apply
Questions and Answers
TFEC welcomes questions from prospective applicants about this request for proposals. Questions will be posted publicly on this page as they are received and answered. All applicable questions will be shared along with their responses to ensure equal access to information for all interested parties.
To submit a question about this proposal request, please email Kirk Demyan at kdemyan@tfec.org and Shannon Mohar at smohar@tfec.org.
Email Instructions:
- Subject line: Strategic Planning RFP Question – [Your Organization Name]
- Body of email: Include your name, organization, contact information and clearly state your question. If your question relates to a specific section of the RFP, please reference it.
Thank you for your interest in partnering with TFEC to help shape a strong and meaningful path forward for our organization and the communities we serve.
