Request For Proposal (Rfp) - Senior Major Giving Consultant

I. CIVIC OVERVIEW

Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) is an international nonprofit with offices around the world working to improve protection for civilians caught in conflict zones. Our mission is to support communities affected by conflict in their quest for protection and strengthen the resolve and capacity of armed actors to prevent and respond to civilian harm. Our Theory of Change goal is to bring about a significant reduction in conflict-related civilian harm. We are advocates who believe that no civilian caught in conflict should be ignored and are advisors who provide practical solutions to preventing and responding to civilian harm. Learn more at civiliansinconflict.org.

CIVIC is present in conflict zones and key capitals throughout the world. We collaborate with civilians to bring their protection concerns directly to those in power, engage with armed actors to reduce the harm they cause to civilians, and advise governments and multinational bodies on how to make life-saving and lasting policy changes. Headquartered in Washington, DC and The Hague, Netherlands, CIVIC employs 110 staff members worldwide with an on-the-ground presence in countries including Iraq, Yemen, Mali, Niger, Kenya, Nigeria, Ukraine, Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic. CIVIC's in-country programs are supported by regional and thematic program teams, advocates, and technical advisors with the additional support of senior management, operations, and administrative staff.

II. PROJECT DESCRIPTION

Center for Civilians in Conflict (CIVIC) is seeking proposals for a Senior Major Giving Consultant to advise CIVIC's major giving efforts, focusing on increasing and retaining CIVIC's major donor portfolio. While CIVIC has built credibility in securing multiyear grants from institutional donors, CIVIC lacks a healthy proportion of its funding from individual donors. Therefore, CIVIC's priority for 2022 is to grow our individual donor base (focusing on major donors) to 1. Increase unrestricted funding, 2. Diversify funding streams, and 3. Grow our influence among strategic individual partners to support our mission.

The selected provider will work closely with the Individual Giving Manager to advise and execute a strategic plan for growing major giving in accordance with the 2021-2023 Development Strategic Plan. This will include proposing and advising strategies to grow the current major donor pipeline through relationships with key donors and board members, events, campaigns (such as the 20th CIVIC Anniversary in 2023), and prospecting/cultivation/stewardship activities. This requires a highly participatory approach with multiple engagements with CIVIC staff with regular, on-going engagement with the Individual Giving Manager.

The selected provider will be expected to work closely with the CIVIC team, particularly the Individual Giving Manager, and report to the Director of Development. The award will be given to the candidate who can advise both a high-level strategy to grow CIVIC's major giving donor pipeline and provide regular support in the nuanced challenges of major giving as they arise.

III. SCOPE OF WORK

1. Scope of work

This scope of work will require the following primary activities:

• Initial scoping discussion with the Individual Giving Manager, Development Director and Executive Director to understand the current landscape of challenges and goals set forth in CIVIC's Development Strategy.
• Review current major donor pipeline and major giving strategies to determine realistic goals and growth projections for 2022-2023, present findings to Individual Giving Manager and Development Director.
• Based on determined goals and growth projections, work closely with the Manager of Individual Giving to develop a strategy to achieve goals in 2022 and in alignment with the 2021-2023 Development Strategy.
• Assess internal and external capacity for a 2023 20th Anniversary Campaign, including a possible gala. Present findings to the Development team and provide recommendations.
• Meet regularly with the Individual Giving Manager to execute the major donor strategy and provide regular guidance on challenges that arise, such as reviewing donor proposals or cultivation strategies.
• Provide regular prospecting strategies, including strategies to roll in qualified new prospects to the Individual Giving Strategy.

2. Deliverables

• Analysis of current major donor pipeline, with recommendations for 2022 goals and projected growth for 2022-2023.
• 2022 Major Giving implementation plan with a timeline for execution.
• Assessment for a 2023 20th Anniversary Campaign, with recommendations for a gala or large-scale event.

3. Location

This consultancy will be remote and based on Eastern time. Preference will be given to those with experience working with major donors in New York, DC, and the Bay area, with additional preference given to those with demonstrated success expanding into UK and European markets.

4. Timeline

This consultancy is expected to work regularly with the Individual Giving Manager until at least December 31, 2022. The timeline of deliverables will be agreed upon after the consultant is selected.

IV. TECHNICAL AND/OR CONTRACTOR REQUIREMENTS

Successful applicants for this role will have the following qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience consulting international NGOs and their fundraising strategies, with a specific focus on major giving.
• Experience assessing organizational readiness for a 20th Anniversary Campaign and/or Gala.
• Demonstrated success in advising organizational expansion into new markets of major giving (East Coast, West Coast, Europe, UK).
• Understanding of major giving in the international human rights, peacebuilding, humanitarian, and other related NGO sectors.
• Demonstrated experience both devising high-level strategies to achieve projected growth and providing day-to-day support in executing the strategic plan.
• Demonstrated experience working in a team and cross-cultural environment.
• Excellent communication and writing skills in English.

V. PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS

To be considered, proposals must be submitted via email to Kayla Slagter - Individual Giving Manager at kslagter@civiliansinconflict.org.

The proposal must include and follow the following format:

1. INTRODUCTION - summarize relevant experience supporting similar organizations, including your general philosophy of fundraising, and growing major giving portfolios.
2. SAMPLE(S) - provide examples of working with similar organization that illustrate your approach to growing major gifts through strategy and execution.
3. APPROACH - outline of how you would structure your approach to both presenting the deliverables and providing ongoing support to the Manager of Individual Giving (ex. Are you a single consultant? Do you represent a firm that provides additional support?)
4. SCHEDULE - outline a suggested work plan with relevant dates in addition to the scope of work above (e.g., milestones and payments).
5. BUDGET - include a breakdown of fees. Provide estimated level of effort (LOE) for the activities included in the work plan.
6. CONTACT INFORMATION - list your point of contact and whether this will remain the same throughout the project. Include name, title, phone, email address.

VI. SELECTION CRITERIA

Proposals received will be evaluated by CIVIC on the following selection criteria:

• Demonstrated experience in successfully growing individual giving programs for NGOs with an emphasis on major giving (40%);
• Proposed product/service (20%);
• Proposed price (25%);
• Ability to meet the expected timeline for completing the project (based on overall quality of proposal) (15%).

VII. QUESTIONS/INQUIRIES

Contact Kayla Slagter, Individual Giving Manager, at kslagter@civiliansinconflict.org.

Employment Type: OTHER