Brand Refresh and Visual Identity Consultant

This is an exciting and pivotal time at NetHope. As we build upon nearly 25 years of impact, we are boldly growing our visibility, network, and resources to power what comes next. NetHope is seeking a qualified consultant or agency to lead a comprehensive brand refresh and visual identity project grounded in NetHope’s 2024-2030 Strategic Plan that tells our story with clarity, confidence, and reach.

Scope of Work

Project Scope:

This is a highly collaborative engagement. The selected consultant will engage a core internal group of NetHope staff at defined points throughout each phase of the project. The consultant is expected to lead a co-creation process that draws on NetHope's institutional knowledge, subject matter expertise, and sector relationships — engaging both NetHope staff and our broader community through structured working sessions and stakeholder interviews scoped in advance.

The selected consultancy or agency will lead the following:

Discovery & Research

• Conduct a brand audit of existing materials, messaging, and visual identity
• Review the peer landscape
• Facilitate structured working sessions with internal staff, scoped and scheduled in advance
• Conduct interviews with key external audiences
• Synthesize findings into a discovery report with strategic recommendations, presented to NetHope for review

Strategic messaging

• Develop or refine organizational positioning
• Create a messaging architecture that addresses NetHope's key audience segments
• Draft core messaging documents including tagline(s), elevator pitch, boilerplate, audience-specific value proposition statements, and key messaging threads
• Develop a one-pager or brand narrative document for external use
• Share relevant outputs with NetHope's web developer at key milestones to ensure brand and messaging decisions are aligned with the parallel website redevelopment project

Visual Identity

• Present multiple visual identity directions for structured feedback, with at least two rounds of revisions built into the process before a final direction is selected
• Develop a refreshed visual identity system, including logo suite, color palette, typography, iconography, and graphic elements, in collaboration with NetHope's graphic designer
• Ensure accessibility and cross-platform usability, including low-bandwidth environments relevant to NetHope's global context
• Produce a comprehensive brand style guide
• Produce a suite of flexible templates for staff use, including PowerPoint, one-pager, and report templates

Application & Handoff

• Apply the new brand to core templates and produce a suite of flexible templates for staff use, including presentation decks, social media, email newsletter, letterhead, one-pager, and report templates; produce equivalent assets for use in Canva
• Provide all final assets in appropriate formats
• Deliver a brand onboarding session for NetHope staff
• Produce a brand governance document for internal teams
• Share relevant outputs with NetHope's web developer at agreed milestones to support the parallel website redevelopment project

Deliverables:

Phase 1: Discovery & Research

• Kick-off meeting with internal stakeholders
• Staff working session(s) for discovery and input gathering
• Stakeholder interview and workshop synthesis
• Landscape analysis
• Discovery report and strategic recommendations

Phase 2: Strategic Messaging

• Messaging directions presented to internal stakeholders
• Messaging architecture, including audience-specific value propositions
• Core messaging document(s)
• Brand narrative & one-pager

Phase 3: Visual Identity

• Visual identity concepts presented to internal stakeholders (minimum 3 directions); feedback and revisions built in
• Final visual identity system
• Brand style guide

Phase 4: Application & Handoff

• Core templates
• Final assets
• Brand governance and usage guide
• Staff brand onboarding session

Ongoing:

• Progress updates provided to the Chief Philanthropy & Partnerships Officer at agreed milestones throughout the engagement

Qualifications:

• Proven experience leading end-to-end brand strategy and visual identity projects
• Demonstrated experience with global nonprofits in the humanitarian and aid sectors
• Familiarity with network-based or Membership-based organizations is strongly preferred
• Familiarity with digital and technology for social good is a plus
• An understanding of the complexity of multi-stakeholder brands that must speak to diverse audiences across global contexts

Project Timeline:

The total project period is expected to run approximately 2-2.5 months beginning no later than May 2026.

Selection Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated on the following criteria: relevant experience and portfolio quality, understanding of NetHope’s context and approach, team qualifications and capacity, budget and value for investment, references and past client satisfaction.

Selection Timeline

Successful consultant will be selected by middle of April 2026.

General Conditions:

• The selected consultant is engaged as an independent contractor and not as an employee of NetHope. Nothing in this Terms of Reference creates an employment relationship, partnership, or joint venture between the consultant and NetHope.
• This engagement will be coordinated by the Chief Philanthropy & Partnerships Officer, who serves as the sole NetHope point of contact for this engagement.
• The consultant is responsible for determining how the scope of work is performed. NetHope will provide access to relevant information, stakeholders, and feedback at agreed milestones but will not direct day-to-day delivery.
• The consultant is expected to provide their own tools, software, and equipment necessary to complete the scope of work.
• NetHope does not require exclusivity. The consultant may engage other clients during the period of this engagement provided it does not conflict with delivery of agreed milestones.
• All work will be performed remotely and virtually. Scheduled meetings with the NetHope project lead will be agreed in advance and are expected to accommodate reasonable time zone considerations.
• As a global organization, we welcome qualified consultants with diverse backgrounds from locations around the world.
• All contractors must pass an OFAC screening prior to engagement.
• All final deliverables will be the property of NetHope upon final payment.