Digital Communications Contractor

Description

Purpose

The Center for Nonprofit Excellence (CNE) is seeking proposals from qualified individuals or firms to implement a social media strategy and provide ongoing support for digital communications including video and online publications to help achieve the goals of CNE’s 2021 Strategic Communications Plan as listed below. Currently CNE’s digital communications responsibilities are spread among several staff with no clear lead.  Consequently, as a result of limited staff capacity and ability to focus on these tools in a cohesive and strategic way, the social media platforms and digital publications have not been utilized as robustly as desired to achieve communication goals.

The successful bidder will work closely with CNE staff and the strategic communications consultant to develop and implement the specific details and logistics for digital communications.  The digital elements of the communication efforts are expected to build awareness, excitement and engagement with the CNE brand using unique opportunities offered by each platform.

The initial time period of this contract will be for six months beginning as soon as possible (target start date no later than February 15, 2021), with an option to review and extend for an additional six months based on mutual agreement.

Background

The Center for Nonprofit Excellence (CNE) operates with the mission to strengthen nonprofits to realize the potential of our communities.

With a passion for performance, CNE provides education, consulting and resources to create strong leaders, effective managers and healthy collaborators.  We lead by example and we are always learning, always teaching to ensure that nonprofits have the tools they need to be competent, operate with integrity and maximize their impact.  We succeed when nonprofits do good work better.

We believe in the power of collaboration, and invest our time, expertise and resources to promote collaboration, which empowers a more efficient and effective nonprofit sector, and we actively seek our own strategic partnerships to leverage this work.  We succeed when we help nonprofits clear obstacles to collaboration, and identify and address systemic challenges that impede their success.

We honor the potential of nonprofits, and advocate for a strong, independent nonprofit sector.  We respect and nurture the sector so it can do the important and challenging work of creating a social safety net, promoting civic engagement, protecting the environment and enriching us through arts, education and culture.  We succeed when nonprofits are recognized for their economic impact, perceived as effective agents of change and engaged with community partners to solve real problems and enhance our lives.

Strategic Communications Goals

CNE is finalizing its 2021 Strategic Communication Plan, with the following goals articulated:

1. To support and amplify CNE’s philanthropic efforts, including special events like Philanthropy Day and ongoing donor recruitment and retention, including evidence of fiscal soundness and strong organizational management
2. To advance the goals and objectives of the strategic plan when it is finalized (mid 2021 anticipated)
3. To clearly and compellingly articulate CNE’s unique value proposition to the social impact sector, making the case for why our brand – we build community – is relevant and urgent to all our stakeholder groups in the current and anticipated uncertain/challenging environment
4. To actively demonstrate diversity, equity and inclusion in our communications efforts through stories, voices, visual images, and other dynamic platforms
5. To communicate consistent overarching messaging that unifies and supports CNE programming throughout all regions where strategic partnerships are in place

Scope of Work

The successful bidder will provide these services across approximately 5 hours per week (work to be completed remotely with expectation for regular meeting/consultation virtually for the foreseeable future):

1. Develop and implement overall digital communications strategy in partnership with CNE staff and communications consultant to further organizational strategic communication goals including assisting with building story bank and related visual imagery.
2. Manage social media editorial calendar to align with overall communication calendar to ensure timely publication.
3. Work collaboratively with CNE staff on content and refreshing/reformatting of the organization’s digital platforms and publications as needed, including providing graphic design elements as required.
4. Ensure digital content is engaging, up-to-date, relevant, and supports the mission, objectives, and values of CNE, including content creation/editing in some instances.
5. Monitor social media engagement and help define key performance indicators for each communication platform.
6. Additional publications assistance may be requested as an add on to this contract at the agreed upon hourly rate.

Additional Requirements

1. Familiarity with and understanding of the regional nonprofit sector and social impact work in general.
2. Demonstrated commitment to the mission, vision and values of CNE as exemplified in past work products.
3. Desire to build and engage CNE Membership and other stakeholders through genuine, thoughtful, and interesting content and conversation for a range of audiences.
4. Collaborate with CNE staff and strategic communications consultant to implement social media strategies in support of the overall strategic communications plan.
5. Draft e-communications for a variety of audiences in conjunction with CNE staff
6. Design engaging, accessible, and mobile-friendly digital communications to a variety of audiences.

Submission

Submittals are due by 5 pm on Wednesday, January 20.  Submittals should be provided in electronic form and directed to Ian Coppage at rfp@thecne.org.

Compensation

The compensation for the project will be approximately $75 per hour for up to five hours per week.

Submittal Requirements

In order to express your interest and qualifications to be considered for the contract described in this RFP, please provide the following information at a minimum:

1. Agency/Individual background and experience, including specific experience in the social impact sector
2. Brief overview of services provided
3. Testimonials from previous clients (at least 3)
4. Sample work and results from the same, including elements that demonstrate graphic design experience
5. Details about the specific staff that will be working on the contract including social media/digital publication training and certifications they’ve undergone
6. References
7. Strategic framework on how you will help CNE achieve our objectives including your project management approach and strategy
8. Commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in how you approach your work
9. Financial proposal
10. Terms and conditions

Selection Criteria

Submittals in response to this RFP will be evaluated according to the following criteria:

• Overall suitability, professionalism and compatibility of the proposal
• General agency/bidder experience and capability
• Demonstrated success in implementing digital communications services for social impact sector organizations including graphic design and use of evolving technology to reach non-traditional audiences
• Experience in diversity, equity and inclusion in your project experience
• Experience in working collaboratively with staff and other consultants on a cohesive organizational communication strategy
• Cost and budget requirements

Contact Information

If you have any questions about the RFP or CNE in general, please contact Ian Coppage at icoppage@thecne.org.

About CNE

CNE provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.  This applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, leaves of absence, compensation, and professional training.

CNE is committed to building a team that values diverse perspectives, inclusive policies, and equitable practices.  Candidates of all races, ethnicities, nationalities, religions, genders, sexual orientations, ages, and abilities are encouraged to apply.