Development Consultant RFP

EMPOWERMENT AVENUE SOCIETY

Request for Qualifications and Proposals

Development Consultant (Institutional Fundraising & Strategic Partnerships)

Issued by: Empowerment Avenue Society

Issue date: August 17, 2026

Proposals due: September 11, 2026

Engagement type: Independent contractor — defined-scope consulting project

Term: 9-12 months

Compensation: $75,000

Anticipated start: October 1, 2026

This Request for Qualifications and Proposals (RFQ/P) is an invitation to submit qualifications and a proposal and does not constitute an offer of engagement. Empowerment Avenue Society reserves the right to amend, extend, or withdraw this solicitation.

About Empowerment Avenue

Empowerment Avenue works to normalize the inclusion of incarcerated writers, artists, and filmmakers in mainstream venues by bridging the gap between them and harnessing this creative proximity as a path to decarceration, narrative change, economic empowerment, and public safety. Our work is led by and centers directly impacted people.

Under the leadership of Executive Director Rahsaan Thomas and our co-leadership team, EA has experienced significant organizational growth and recently adopted a three-year strategic plan designed to strengthen long-term sustainability and expand national impact.

Purpose of This RFP

Empowerment Avenue Society (EA) seeks an experienced Development Consultant to expand the organization's fundraising capacity by cultivating relationships with institutional funders, major individual donors, philanthropic partners, and aligned funding opportunities. The consultant will help position EA for long-term financial sustainability through strategic fundraising, relationship development, and organizational positioning.

This engagement is centered on relationship-based fundraising rather than transactional grant writing. EA is seeking a consultant with an established understanding of the philanthropic landscape—including familiarity with the visual arts and arts-and-culture funding landscape—and demonstrated success building relationships with foundations, institutional funders, and philanthropic leaders. The successful consultant will leverage existing relationships where appropriate, cultivate new funding partnerships, advise organizational leadership on fundraising strategy, and help position EA for sustained institutional investment.

Grant writing and proposal development remain important responsibilities but are secondary to strategic relationship cultivation and institutional fundraising leadership.

Background & Context

Empowerment Avenue Society has entered an important stage of organizational growth. Following the adoption of its 2026-2029 Strategic Plan, the organization is investing in the infrastructure needed to support long-term sustainability, expanded programming, and national impact.

Historically, institutional fundraising has been led primarily by the Executive Director alongside members of the leadership team. As EA continues to grow, leadership seeks to transition fundraising from an executive-driven activity to a strategic organizational function supported by dedicated development expertise.

This consultant will play a key role in helping shape the next phase of Empowerment Avenue's growth by expanding philanthropic partnerships and securing the resources needed to advance the organization's national impact.

EA is simultaneously strengthening its operational systems and data infrastructure. The consultant should be prepared to recommend practical tools and processes that support sustainable development operations while coordinating with broader organizational capacity-building efforts.

With programming situated at the intersection of criminal legal reform, arts and culture, narrative change, and public safety, EA occupies a distinctive position within the philanthropic landscape. The organization seeks a consultant who can effectively communicate this unique value proposition while cultivating meaningful relationships with mission-aligned funders.

Scope of Work

The core of this engagement is expanding EA's institutional fundraising capacity through strategic relationship development, philanthropic engagement, and institutional funding strategy. Grant proposal development supports these efforts but is not the primary purpose of the engagement.

A. Institutional Fundraising Strategy (Primary)

• Develop and implement an institutional fundraising strategy aligned with EA's Strategic Plan.
• Identify opportunities to diversify institutional revenue.
• Advise leadership on philanthropic trends, funding priorities, and positioning.
• Recommend strategies to strengthen long-term fundraising sustainability.

B. Philanthropic Partnerships & Relationship Cultivation (Primary)

The consultant will:

• leverage existing professional relationships, where appropriate and consistent with ethical fundraising practices, to expand EA's visibility and institutional funding opportunities.
• Identify, cultivate, and steward relationships with new foundations and institutional funding partners.
• Develop and execute cultivation strategies that move prospective funders from initial engagement to funding opportunities.
• Coordinate introductions, meetings, presentations, and follow-up communications between EA leadership and prospective institutional funders, major donors, family foundations, and philanthropic partners.
• Advise the Executive Director and leadership team on relationship-building strategies, philanthropic engagement, and institutional positioning.
• Represent EA professionally in philanthropic settings, conferences, and networking opportunities when appropriate.
• Maintain an institutional relationship pipeline and cultivation calendar.
• Cultivate relationships with major individual donors, donor-advised funds, philanthropic advisors, and family foundations aligned with EA's mission.
• Identify opportunities to expand EA's network of philanthropic champions, ambassadors, and strategic supporters.

C. Grant Development & Proposal Management

• Research grant opportunities aligned with organizational priorities.
• Prepare LOIs and proposals.
• Coordinate proposal development across leadership.
• Prepare budgets with operations.
• Submit applications.
• Prepare reports.

D. Development Infrastructure

• Build a proposal library.
• Improve grants calendar.
• Recommend CRM improvements.
• Improve tracking.
• Create reusable fundraising assets.

E. Executive Development Advising

• Serve as a strategic advisor to the Executive Director and leadership team on institutional fundraising opportunities.
• Prepare leadership for meetings with prospective funders.
• Recommend engagement strategies for conferences, convenings, and philanthropic networks.
• Advise on organizational positioning to strengthen competitiveness for institutional funding.

Key Deliverables

• Expanded portfolio of qualified institutional funders, major donor prospects, and strategic philanthropic partners.
• New and strengthened relationships with foundations and philanthropic partners.
• Successful cultivation meetings and funding conversations coordinated with EA leadership.
• Institutional fundraising strategy implemented.
• High-quality grant proposals and reports completed.
• Sustainable fundraising systems and development assets established.
• Growth in institutional funding commitments and awarded grants over the engagement.

While grant funding decisions ultimately rest with funders, successful grant awards and renewals are expected outcomes of the engagement.

Consultant Qualifications

The ideal consultant will demonstrate:

• A proven record of cultivating and securing significant philanthropic investments from institutional funders, family foundations, donor-advised funds, and major individual donors.
• An established network of relationships with foundations, family foundations, major individual donors, donor-advised funds, philanthropic advisors, or other funding partners, or demonstrated success building those relationships.
• Expertise in arts and culture funding landscape
• Demonstrated success opening doors, cultivating program officers, and positioning organizations for long-term institutional investment.
• Experience advising executive leadership on fundraising strategy and institutional positioning.
• Strong grant-writing and proposal development skills.
• Experience building sustainable development systems, fundraising infrastructure, and institutional funding pipelines.
• Exceptional communication, relationship management, and strategic thinking skills.
• Alignment with EA's mission and values.

Engagement Terms

Independent Contractor Relationship

The consultant will determine the sequence, methods, and professional judgment used to complete the work. EA will identify desired outcomes and provide organizational information but will not direct the day-to-day manner or means of performance. The consultant may determine their own work schedule provided agreed-upon deadlines and deliverables are met. Nothing in the engagement creates an employment relationship, and the consultant is responsible for their own taxes, insurance, and business expenses. EA and the consultant will execute a written independent-contractor services agreement prior to commencement.

Period of Performance

The engagement is anticipated to begin on or about September 28, 2026, for an initial term of nine to twelve months, with specific milestones and dates to be finalized in the services agreement.

EA and the selected consultant will conduct periodic performance reviews to assess progress toward agreed-upon deliverables, pipeline development, proposal submission cadence, grant outcomes, and any adjustments needed to support successful completion of the engagement.

Depending on organizational needs, funding availability, and mutual interest, EA may consider future opportunities for continued engagement. Nothing in this RFP should be construed as a promise or guarantee of employment.

Budget & Compensation

Compensation: Up to $75,000, depending on the proposed scope of work and engagement structure.

Respondents may propose an hourly, monthly retainer, milestone-based, or blended fee structure, provided the total proposed compensation does not exceed $75,000.

Proposal Requirements

Please submit a proposal (PDF preferred) that includes:

• A resume and cover letter.
• A description of your institutional fundraising philosophy and approach.
• Examples of fundraising successes, including institutional grants, major gifts, family foundation support, or other philanthropic investments, including the role you played and measurable outcomes.
• A summary of your experience cultivating relationships with foundations, major individual donors, philanthropic advisors, family foundations, donor-advised funds, and other funding partners. (No confidential names are required.)
• Two grant writing samples.
• A proposed 90-day engagement plan.
• Three Organizational references.

Respondents are not expected to disclose confidential funder relationships but should describe the breadth of their institutional fundraising experience and the types of philanthropic networks in which they have successfully worked.

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated on the following weighted criteria:

Institutional fundraising success 25%

Demonstrated success cultivating and stewarding relationships with institutional funders and major donors. 25%

Strategic fundraising approach 20%

Familiarity with the visual arts and arts-and-culture funding landscape 10%

Grant-writing quality 10%

Cost and overall value 10%

Submission Instructions & Timeline

RFP issued: August 17, 2026

Proposals due: September 11, 2026, 11:59 PM PT

Interviews: Week of September 14, 2026

Selection & notification: September 28, 2026

Anticipated start: October 1, 2026

General Terms & Conditions

• This RFP does not obligate EA to select any respondent or to enter into an agreement.
• EA may request clarifications, interviews, or revised proposals, and may negotiate scope and terms with one or more respondents.
• EA will not reimburse costs incurred in preparing proposals.
• EA reserves the right to amend, extend, or withdraw this RFP at any time.
• Proposal materials will be handled confidentially and used solely for evaluation.
• Any resulting engagement is contingent on a fully executed independent-contractor services agreement.
• Any selected consultant will be required to execute EA's Independent Contractor Services Agreement, which includes confidentiality, intellectual property, and other standard contractual provisions.

We look forward to your proposal and to partnering on this work.