Request for Proposals: Proposal Writer At Save the Children

1. Purpose

The National Reconciliation Program (NRP) at Save the Children Canada (SCC) is requesting proposals from proposal writers to provide support in growing its government-funded portfolio. Proposals will be accepted by individuals or organizations. The anticipated length of the contract is 9months.

2. Background

The National Reconciliation Program (NRP) at Save the Children Canada is a national Indigenous child rights program that operates in Canada. NRP recognizes that not all children’s rights are equally realized in Canada. Those that are systemically discriminated against and receive unequal treatment the most are First Nations, Metis, and Inuit children. For children not to exercise their rights prevents them to develop to their full potential. The philosophy underpinning the National Reconciliations Program is informed by former Senator Murray Sinclair, who stated, “Reconciliation will never be achieved so long as one side sees it as a recognition of rights, and the other side sees it as an act of benevolence.” The NRP’s approach to partnerships and programs is consistent with the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child and the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

SCC is currently in the final stages of finalizing its three-year strategic plan. The plan will be finalized for January 2022. Part of the strategic plan is to protect and defend the rights of Indigenous children including several key objectives. One of the key objectives is to diversify the NRP funding portfolio to include more Canadian Government funding (Institutional). The current funding portfolio primarily consists of private donations, corporate and foundation funding sources.

3. Scope of Work

The NRP seeks a Grant Writer and Proposal Developer with a proven track record for writing, submitting, and securing, grants from Canadian Federal Government. All grants will be co-developed with Indigenous partners, and fund programs in the areas of child mental health, climate change, child emergency preparedness, and early childhood development. Knowledge of and experience in Indigenous mental health and wellbeing, climate change, emergency preparedness and early childhood development spaces are an asset. The successful applicant will have experience managing the full grant development cycle with funders from the government at all levels and have experience with the co-development of applications with community partners.

1. Consultant Responsibilities

· Guide the review of organizational documents including organizational annual operating plans, priority focus areas, objectives and funding targets.

· Guide the review of organizational NRP programs and service offerings including NRP Relationship Framework and Indigenous child rights-based approach to programming.

· Research and identify Federal and Provincial government funding sources that prioritize Indigenous child mental health, climate change, child emergency preparedness, and early childhood development.

· Review and synthesis Federal and Provincial government funding opportunities including funding criteria.

· Work closely with the Senior Manager and Director of NRP to identify Indigenous community partners to co-develop applications.

· Identify a shortlist of funding sources that represent the highest probability of success and review at weekly business development and planning meetings with SCC corporation/foundational relational and NRP teams.

· Working in partnership with identified Indigenous organizations, draft application, budgets, and manage the collection of additional required documents such as letters of support, collaborative agreements, etc.

· Facilitate application review and approval processes with Indigenous partners, including methods, approach, objectives, timelines, reporting/evaluation and budget before submission deadlines.

· Facilitate application review and approval process with SCC corporation/foundational relational, NRP team and SCC financial officer.

· Serve as the primary contact to respond to inquiries about the application from institutional funders and collaborating Indigenous partners.

· Track and report on funding sources, shortlists, submitted applications, approved

applications, and reporting requirements

5. All proposals must include: The structure Proposal should not exceed 8 pages**

1. A cover letter.
2. Experience and qualifications of the consultant and include the resume of the principal grant writer providing direct service for this project.
3. Describe in detail your experience writing and submitting government, corporate private foundation grants. A clear demonstration that the consultant has familiarity/ knowledge of relevant sectors for specific programs.
4. A general breakdown of the $60,000 per year budget including any hourly or per project costs. Assume a minimum of ten Federal and Provincial funding opportunities within the breakdown.
5. Two (2) references from clients for whom the consultant has performed similar services.

6. Qualification and experience required

All accepted proposals will be reviewed by a hiring committee and will be evaluated and scored using the following criteria:

· Knowledge of funding opportunities, funding sources and associated regulations for government, corporate and private foundation grants on child mental health, climate change, child emergency preparedness, and early childhood development (35 points)

· Successful track record of acquiring grant funding for organizations of a similar size and mission. (35 points)

· Cost-effectiveness (15 points)

7. Submission of Proposals

Proposals must be submitted by January 31, 2022, 5 pm EST to Larcher@savethechildren.ca

Schedule

December 17, 2021 RFP Release

January 31, 2022 5 pm EST Submission Deadline

February 11, 2022 Consultant Selected

February 21 2022 Contracted work begins