Current Opportunity:

Request for Proposals: Fundraising Consultant

Nanaimo Youth Services Association seeks an experienced and well-qualified fundraising consultant to place on a retainer contract for an initial period of up to one year (with the potential for an additional one or two-year renewal) to develop and execute a fundraising strategy which taps in to government, foundation, corporate and individual revenue sources. The consultant will report directly to the Chief Administrative Officer (“CAO”) of Nanaimo Youth Services Association (“NYSA”). Proposals will be accepted by NYSA until end of business March 15, 2019.

NYSA Background

Nanaimo Youth Services Association is a non-profit organization which has delivered services to young adults in Nanaimo since January 23, 1969. Over this period, the Association has offered a number of services to the region’s youth population.

NYSA currently provides a range of employment-readiness programs to youth including the Employment Keep It! program and ACCESS BladeRunners. These programs are designed for youths aged 16 to 30 who are unemployed, not attending school and who are in need of assistance to overcome employment barriers. In the program, individuals will participate in paid in-class training, followed by paid work experience. Employers who provide work to the youth in the Keep It! program also receive a wage subsidy.

In 1995, NYSA developed a community-based, multi-service One-Stop Youth Centre. The Centre has operated until 2018 when a suitable space for it was unavailable. The One-Stop Centre will be re-opening soon to bring a variety of workshops and programs to the region’s youth.

The Association operates a twenty-two unit complex at 1001 Waddington Road to house 15 to 19 year-old youth, primarily those in the care of the Ministry of Child and Family Development. This building also houses NYSA’s Supportive Living Program which responds to the need for supportive assistance for at-risk youth in the Nanaimo region. Rowe House, a large rooming house in south Nanaimo, was opened in 2012 to provide 14 single affordable housing units with communal kitchen and laundry facilities.

Currently, NYSA has approximately 25 full and part-time employees working in Employment and Training, Housing and Supportive Living programs.

Additional information will be provided upon request and more detail may be found at www.nysa.bc.ca/about-us.

General Scope of Work

NYSA seeks a seasoned fundraiser, with a demonstrated track record in securing funding from Canadian and British Columbian sources. Preferably, the consultant will be based in British Columbia and over the course of the one year consultancy undertake the following tasks:

Phase 1: Prospecting

• Understand NYSA’s work and potential “stories” associated with the organization;
• Identify top prospects, including a diversity of potential revenue sources;
• Provide a detailed report on potential donors and their connection to NYSA’s cause.

Phase 2: Develop Value Proposition and Specific Solicitation Strategy

• Develop value proposition statements for specific prospects;
• Develop necessary solicitation materials, liaise with various NYSA departments for inputs and approval;
• Develop an endowment strategy for the organization.

Phase 3: Relationship Development and Grant/Gift Generation

• In coordination with NYSA’s CAO, secure meetings and meet with potential prospects;
• Build and maintain strong relationships and secure significant grants/gifts.

Preferred Qualifications

Regionally-based consultant, that is available as required for successful execution of the three-phase strategy;

Demonstrated track-record in securing gifts/grants from Canadian national and BC regional sources;

Ability to lead and manage all aspects of work from prospecting through securing significant gifts.

If interested in being considered for this consultancy, please respond to this RFP, with a proposal providing details to the following points of interest by March 15, 2019:

• CV;
• Letter of interest describing why your qualifications are relevant and what your initial approach would be to deliver on Phases 1, 2 and 3;
• Fee proposal.

To Apply

Please submit a brief proposal with qualifications, details of experience/resume, references and rate history, to reception (at) nysa.bc.ca.

Applicants may submit their question(s) in writing to reception (at) nysa.bc.ca.

This RFP does not guarantee or commit NYSA to proceeding with the above described work. Due to the potential for overwhelming response, not all candidates may be contacted.