Ohio CASA/GAL Association Major Gift Program Request for Proposal (RFP)

Ohio CASA/GAL Association Major Gift Program Request for Proposal (RFP) August 5, 2008 Purpose The intent of this RFP is to solicit competitive proposals from contractors to establish a comprehensive major gift program to support the Ohio Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem (CASA/GAL) Association programming. Background The Ohio CASA/GAL Association is a nonprofit organization encompassing local programs operating in 40 counties and a state office.  Incorporated as a non-profit organization in 1993, the Association was established by local CASA/GAL programs to provide leadership for the network.  The Association's primary responsibilities include training program staff and volunteers, providing technical assistance, monitoring the quality of local program service delivery, facilitating network wide communication and information-sharing and serving as the network's liaison with other state-level and national organizations. The Association also provides technical assistance to communities in establishing new CASA/GAL programs.  It is the Association's long term goal to have a local program in all 88 counties and to increase the number of children served each year by ten percent.   CASA/GAL programs recruit, screen, train and support community volunteers appointed by the court to serve as the guardian ad litem for child victims who are in the court system due to child abuse and neglect. During 2007, 2,128 CASA/GAL volunteers served 8,116 child victims.  A typical child served by CASA/GAL programs is under the age of 10, the victim of more than one type of abuse or neglect and has been removed from their home and placed in foster care.  Volunteers are appointed to one or two cases at a time and commit themselves to serve until the child is in a safe permanent home, which in approximately 10 percent of the cases is longer than two years.   The Association endeavors to increase its funding with the goal of replacing decreased revenue from existing sources, increasing and enhancing its support to local programs and their volunteers and to implement new initiatives.  The Association has a mixed funding base including money from the sales of its two specialty “Celebrate Kids!” license plates; however plate sales have significantly reduced in the past several years.  The Association continues to absorb this loss in revenue through cost-reduction methods. The Association has pursued other resource development options including increasing memberships, individual donations and a variety of other fundraising tactics.  A resource development coordinator was first hired in 2002 and since then income from membership fees, individual donations and events has increased.  The Association seeks to expand its resource development with a comprehensive major gift program.  To this end, the Association seeks proposals to develop an appropriate program. Scope of Work Successful proposals will include a plan to complete the following: Finalize a major gift solicitation packet, including reviewing current materials and providing recommendations of appropriate revisions and additions; Identify appropriate corporations, businesses and individuals to approach for solicitation; Schedule meetings between corporate, business and individual contacts and appropriate Association personnel and/or board members; Participate with staff and board members in preparing for and debriefing after corporate, business and individual cultivation and solicitation visits; and Accompany Association personnel and/or board members on cultivation and solicitation visits. Proposals should include a work schedule as well as a cost estimate.  Offeror shall propose a price that satisfies the requirements of the scope of work. Vendor requirements and experience Successful offerors should have significant experience in development and major gift solicitation.  Resume and work samples should be included with proposal.   Anticipated Schedule Issue RFP:  August 5, 2008 Receive written proposals: no later than 4:00 pm September 11, 2008 Evaluate written proposals:  September 12, 2008 Award Contract: September 19, 2008 Services Begin:  September 22, 2008 Project Management The project will be managed by Ohio CASA Executive Director Jackie Wilson.  If you have any questions or clarifications regarding this proposal, please contact her at 614-224-2272 or Jwilson@ohiocasa.org.   Evaluation Offeror will be evaluated on the plan to complete the work, how favorably their proposed price compares to the skill level and work to be performed as described herein and past relevant experience. Proposals should be mailed or hand-delivered to be received by September 11, 2008 to: Ohio CASA/GAL Association Attn: Jackie Wilson 261B East Livingston Ave. Columbus, OH 43215

Date Posted: August 2008