Request for Proposals (RFP): Strategic Planning Consultant
- La Paz Chattanooga
- Sep 5
- 3 min read
Introduction La Paz Chattanooga invites proposals from qualified consultants to facilitate and develop a strategic plan that will guide our organization through the next three years. Our goal is to sustain our current momentum, strengthen internal structures, and set ambitious yet achievable goals that position La Paz for impact into 2027 and beyond. Background La Paz Chattanooga is the leading Latino nonprofit organization in the region, dedicated to empowering and engaging Chattanooga’s Latino population through advocacy, education, and inclusion. Each year, La Paz serves thousands of individuals and families while partnering with community institutions, local government, and businesses to build a more inclusive Chattanooga. Having completed a community needs assessment in 2023 and expanded our programming, leadership, and partnerships, we now seek a structured, forward-looking plan to maximize our impact, strengthen internal capacity, and respond to emerging challenges in funding, policy, and community needs. Purpose of the RFP The purpose of this RFP is to identify and engage a consultant/consulting team with expertise in nonprofit strategic planning to lead La Paz Chattanooga through a collaborative process that:
● Builds on our 2023 community needs assessment.
● Aligns organizational priorities with sustainable growth.
● Incorporates measurable goals and stretch outcomes.
● Strengthens internal structures to support external change.
● Produces a clear, phased roadmap to guide the organization through 2029, with a finalized long-term plan beginning in 2027.
Scope of Work
The selected consultant will be expected to:
1. Assess Current Organizational Landscape
○ Review community needs assessment data, existing programs, and ROI.
○ Identify external threats (federal, state, and local policy; funding etc).
○ Assess internal capacity, governance, leadership, and operations
2. Facilitate Stakeholder Engagement
○ Engage board, staff, clients, and partners through interviews, surveys, and other feedback methods.
○ Use this input to build consensus around Organizational Priorities – programmatic, financial, governance.
3. Develop Strategic Plan
○ Define measurable goals and strategies under the three categories.
○ Integrate both sustainability priorities and bold, stretch goals.
○ Provide tools for implementation (dashboards, evaluation measures, accountability structures).
4. Support Implementation Readiness
○ Facilitate at least one joint board/staff workshop.
○ Recommend governance and operational alignment strategies.
○ Deliver a clear roadmap with indicators for success.
Deliverables
● Final 3-5 year strategic plan (2027–2029).
● Executive summary for board and external partners.
● Implementation roadmap with measurable indicators.
● Recommendations for building organizational capacity.
Proposal Requirements
Interested consultants should submit proposals that include:
● Cover letter with summary of interest and qualifications.
● Approach and methodology for strategic planning.
● Proposed timeline and work plan.
● Budget, including fees and anticipated expenses.
● Examples of similar projects and references from at least three nonprofit clients.
● Bios of consultant(s) who will lead the project.
Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated on:
● Demonstrated experience in nonprofit strategic planning.
● Ability to integrate community input and organizational data.
● Quality and feasibility of proposed methodology.
● Evidence of successful facilitation with diverse stakeholders.
● Cost-effectiveness and overall value.
Timeline
● RFP Release Date: September 5, 2025
● Proposals Due: October 6, 2025
● Selection/Interviews: October and November
● Consultant Selected: November 21, 2025
● Project Start: January 2026
● Strategic Plan Completed: July 2026 Submission
Instructions
Proposals should be submitted electronically in PDF format to:
Stacy Johnson
President and CEO
La Paz Chattanooga