Request for Proposals: Strategic Planning Consultant

Submission deadline: June 15, 2021 

The Community Empowerment Fund (CEF) is seeking an experienced strategic planning consultant to design and facilitate a participatory planning process that will create a 5 year strategic plan for the organization.

About CEF

The Community Empowerment Fund (CEF) is a non-profit organization in Durham and Orange Counties of North Carolina. CEF’s mission is to cultivate opportunities, assets, and communities that sustain transitions out of homelessness and poverty. Our approach combines person-centered support with financial services that pursue equity in order to reduce the racial wealth gap. 

Planning Needs

CEF’s previous strategic plan ended in 2018 and we are looking for an external consultant to complete a strategic planning process that will guide the organization for the next 5 years. This plan should outline CEF’s goals, objectives, and activities and the creation process should engage a variety of CEF stakeholders, with particular weight towards Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) and those with lived experience with homelessness or financial insecurity. Stakeholders include CEF staff, Members, Advocates, board members, and key partners. 

We expect the consultant to participate in planning and development; information-gathering from stakeholders in the form of surveys, focus groups, and/or interviews; facilitation of a staff & board retreat for analysis and distillation into core goals; drafting a plan with input from staff; and a final presentation to CEF’s board. 

A draft timeline for the project is:

August – November 2021:

• In partnership with staff, develop detailed timeline and plan for strategic planning activities
• Identification of CEF’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and challenges
• Review of mission, vision, values
• Create tools for stakeholder feedback

January – February 2021:

• Gather stakeholder input via surveys, focus groups, and/or interviews

March – April 2022: 

• Planning retreat to review findings and identify goals/objectives
• Small groups to draft plan activities

April – May 2022:

• Review, revising, and approval of strategic plan

Consultant Qualifications

We are looking for an experienced consultant who has specifically worked with organizations led-by and serving BIPOC and those with lived-experience with homelessness and/or financial insecurity. 

Response Requested

If you are interested in being considered for this contract, please submit a brief (1-2 page) statement of your qualifications (a resume or bio is fine), your approach to strategic planning, and your proposed fee by June 15, 2021 to donnac@communityef.org.  We will review responses and will schedule interviews for late June or July. If you have any questions, feel free to email Donna Carrington, Executive Director, at donnac@communityef.org

CEF is an equal opportunity employer, and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, LGBTQI identified people, and people with lived experience with homelessness or poverty. 

Applications are due Friday, April 23th at 11:59 PM. 

About the CEF Advocate position:

Advocates are volunteers trained to walk with Members in achieving their goals, often related to housing, employment, or financial independence. Advocates are not experts, but are curious, empathetic, and highly dedicated team players who commit to holding two Advocate hours per week for a minimum of two years. CEF Advocates work 1-1 or 2-1 with CEF Members to  celebrate achievements and provide long-term, relationship-based support through challenges and barriers. The Advocate role is a volunteer position and is unpaid.

Responsibilities

• Work one-on-one or two-on-one with CEF Members towards their goals
• Actively engage in ongoing learning opportunities to grow as an Advocate
• Support the management of office hour operations, including scheduling Member appointments and directing the flow of Member service activity in the office 
• Properly use the CEF Connect database and other systems that help provide efficient and high-quality services to CEF Members, maintaining a high level of confidentiality
• Communicate proactively with staff and volunteer leaders around wellness, attendance, tardiness or other concerns

Qualifications

• Clear commitment to CEF’s mission and eager to commit to the full two years (and more!) 
• Awareness of institutional oppression
• Actively strives for continual learning and reflection
• Resourceful, collaborative and creative problem-solver
• Experience and comfort working with people across abilities, neurological/cultural differences
• A deep understanding of authentic and empowering relationships 
• Possesses many of the skills (active listening, empathy, vulnerability, trust) that are necessary to form relationships with Members
• Flexibility, tendency to take initiative, and a commitment to being a team player
• All majors and career interests are encouraged to join
• Proficiency in Spanish is a plus

Core Advocate Commitment: 

• Attend all sessions of mandatory CEF Advocate Training
  • Fri, May 21, 5-8PM
  • Sat, May 22, 12:30-4:00PM
  • Sun, May 23, 12:30-4:00PM
  • Sat, Jun 5, 12:30-4:00PM
    
• Attend mandatory ongoing learning opportunities (Monthly in DU, 2x/season in CH) 
• Hold two weekly ‘Advocate’ hours for a minimum of two years
• (Durham) Attend a 15 minute pod meeting before every ‘Advocate’ hours shift

Please fill out the application here. Applications have a deadline of April 23rd, 2021. Reach out to Leah Whitehead (leahw@communityef.org) with questions. 

CEF is an equal opportunity employer, and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ applicants.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until the positions are filled.

About the CEF Internship (Durham):

Available Positions:

Full-Time Internship (1 open position)

Duration:	11 weeks
Schedule:	32 hours/week (includes paid lunch)
Compensation:	$10/hour (paid monthly on the last day of the month). Monthly paid sick and vacation leave.
Content:	50% Supporting CEF Members as Advocates and Pod Leaders through 1-1 Member meetings and office support. 50% Working collaboratively with staff on a relevant project that matches their interests, skills, and passion areas. See below for a list of possible project areas.

Note: Vacation leave can be taken at times agreed upon by you and your staff supervisor.

Part-Time Internship (1 open position)

Duration:	11 weeks
Schedule:	15-20 hours/week
Compensation:	$10/hour (paid monthly on the last day of the month).
Content:	75% Supporting CEF Members as Advocates and Pod Leaders through 1-1 Member meetings and office support. 25% Supervision and Team Meetings

Key Dates:

• Summer Intern Orientation: Friday, May 21, 2021- May 24th, 2021
• Internship end: Friday, August 6th

Requirements:

• Interns must be able to start and end on the given dates and attend both full days of summer intern orientation. 
• This is not a remote internship. All applicants must be available to work in-person and abide by the COVID-19 procedures laid out below.
• Full-Time Interns must have no additional major obligations during the summer such that they can fulfill a 32-hour weekly workload
• Non-student community members are encouraged to apply
• Some evenings and weekends may be required (varies week-to-week)

COVID-19 Specific Updates:

• CEF will be following these policies and procedures to ensure a safe working environment for all Members, Advocates, and Staff.
• All Summer Interns are eligible for emergency leave as needed under CEF’s COVID-19 Employee Policy.

General Responsibilities:

• Work one-on-one with CEF Members as an Advocate to assist individuals in gaining income, housing, and financial stability
• Participate in and lead weekly meetings, discussions, and activities
• (Full-Time Only) Work collaboratively on a team, with staff support, to coordinate CEF programs and services in one or more of the following areas (see here for more information):
  • Housing Access & Homelessness Services
  • Advocacy and Organizing
  • Resource Stewardship
• (Full-Time Only) Explore self-directed opportunities for leadership development and community involvement. Examples include attending cultural events and community gatherings with CEF-relevant themes such as justice, healing, trauma, etc.; learning via books, podcasts, and webinars; meditation and mindfulness activities; Spanish lessons; attending trainings or conferences; volunteering at partner orgs; etc.

To Apply:

Learn more about the internship, click here. Complete the application found here. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until positions are filled. Reach out to Leah Whitehead (leahw@communityef.org) with questions.

CEF is an equal opportunity employer, and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ applicants.

Applications are due Sunday, March 7th at 11:59 PM. 

About the CEF Advocate position:

Advocates are volunteers trained to walk with Members in achieving their goals, often related to housing, employment, or financial independence. Advocates are not experts, but are curious, empathetic, and highly dedicated team players who commit to holding two Advocate hours per week for a minimum of two years. CEF Advocates work 1-1 or 2-1 with CEF Members to  celebrate achievements and provide long-term, relationship-based support through challenges and barriers. The Advocate role is a volunteer position and is unpaid.

Responsibilities

• Work two-on-one with CEF Members towards their goals
• Actively engage in ongoing learning opportunities to grow as an Advocate
• Support the management of office hour operations, including scheduling Member appointments and directing the flow of Member service activity in the office 
• Properly use the CEF Connect database and other systems that help provide efficient and high-quality services to CEF Members, maintaining a high level of confidentiality
• Communicate proactively with staff and volunteer leaders around wellness, attendance, tardiness or other concerns

Qualifications

• Clear commitment to CEF’s mission and eager to commit to the full two years (and more!) 
• Awareness of institutional oppression
• Actively strives for continual learning and reflection
• Resourceful, collaborative and creative problem-solver
• Experience and comfort working with people across abilities, neurological/cultural differences
• A deep understanding of authentic and empowering relationships 
• Possesses many of the skills (active listening, empathy, vulnerability, trust) that are necessary to form relationships with Members
• Flexibility, tendency to take initiative, and a commitment to being a team player
• All majors and career interests are encouraged to join
• Proficiency in Spanish is a plus

Core Advocate Commitment: 

• Attend all sessions of mandatory CEF Advocate Training
• Attend mandatory ongoing learning opportunities (Monthly in DU, 2x/season in CH) 
• Hold two weekly ‘Advocate’ hours for a minimum of two years

Please fill out the application here. Applications have a deadline of February 28th, 2021. Reach out to Kristina Smith (kristinas@communityef.org) with questions. 

CEF is an equal opportunity employer, and strongly encourages applications from people of color, persons with disabilities, women, and LGBTQ applicants.