Call for Proposals: Canada Cultural Investment Fund

Black-led and Black serving arts organizations have historically been underrepresented and underfunded, and for those taking on much-needed but resource-intensive capital projects makes for a challenging endeavour. Additionally, the shift towards project grants by all funders makes it difficult to secure funding and resources for critical capacity-building initiatives. As a result, Black arts organizations often lack the resources to effectively partner with and learn from one another.

With support from Canadian Heritage, Nia Centre for the Arts, A Different Booklist and Manifesto are jointly seeking a fundraising consultant to enhance their fundraising infrastructure including sponsor decks and proposals, board policies and procedures, and tools to cultivate long-term relationships with sponsors and individual donors.

We’re looking for experienced and knowledgeable fundraising consultants who can help develop fundraising infrastructure to improve our capacity to diversify revenue.

ROLE OF THE FUNDRAISING CONSULTANT

The successful candidate will work with project partners to: 

• Develop customized fundraising materials and tools to support each partner in meeting their capital project needs, including project proposals, recognition strategies, and fundraising policies, that will enable partners to carry out successful capital fundraising campaigns. 
• Develop strategies to support fundraising among individual and major gift donors for operations.
• Lead joint workshops providing opportunities for organizations to work together, share best practices and learn from each other.
• Provide partners coaching and recommendations to maximize their fundraising efforts.

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

We are seeking proposals from consultant /or consulting firm who: 

• Have experience working with and for the Black community 
• Have a demonstrated commitment to community-based fundraising models, including fundraising that prioritizes and support Afro-diasporic communities 
• Are able to demonstrate previous experience in undertaking similar fundraising initiatives

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS

Interested consultants or firms are asked to submit the following to info@niacentre.org:

• Cover letter 
• CV detailing your fundraising-based experience 
• A 2-page proposal that addresses how the scope of work, as outlined above, will be accomplished, including a suggested timeline with benchmarks required to accomplish the plan and the proposed cost

Those responding to this RFP must follow its procedures and requirements. Failure to comply with or complete any part of this RFP may result in rejection of the proposal. 

Questions can be directed to Nia Centre Staff, at info@niacentre.org​.

This project is made possible through the support of the Department of Canadian Heritage

ABOUT NIA CENTRE

Nia Centre for the Arts is a Toronto-based charitable organization that supports, showcases and promotes an appreciation of arts from across the Afro-Diaspora. We present professional development programs for artists, engagement and mentorship programs and opportunities for youth, and present special events and exhibitions to our community, and Canadians as a whole. In October 2020, we began renovations on our 14,000 sq. ft. facility in Toronto, Ontario to build Canada’s first multidisciplinary Black arts centre. This new space will help bring our entire community together to experience art rooted in Afro-diasporic traditions. Once renovated, our facility at 524 Oakwood Avenue will feature a 150-seat multi-purpose performance space, an event space, a digital media studio, an artist studio, youth space, a gallery space, and more.

ABOUT MANIFESTO

Manifesto is a non-profit organization working to unite, inspire and empower diverse communities of young people through arts & culture. A youth-powered platform that puts local artists on the map and unites, inspires and empowers young people through arts & culture. Their programs aim to cultivate multi-disciplinary artistic and professional development for young people and artists across mediums. Building careers, fostering community connections and fuelling civic pride – all while contributing to the vitality of the city of Toronto. Through art exhibitions, dance competitions, workshops, free outdoor concerts, film screenings, networking opportunities, seminars, festivals, a pop-up arts market, and much more. Manifesto creates powerful and engaging experiences, provides opportunities for young artists to grow and creates spaces – both physical and digital – that inspire, develop, and amplify diverse communities of young people through arts, culture and media. 

ABOUT A DIFFERENT BOOKLIST

A Canadian, independent, multicultural bookstore specializing in books from the African Caribbean Diaspora and the Global South. The Different Booklist is developing a heritage space in the Mirvish village renovation project expected occupancy in Spring 2021.