Clear Path for Veterans - RFP: Grant Writing Services

*** Please follow application instructions, proposals should be sent directly to Matthew Vanderwerken, Director of Operations: matthew@clearpathforvets.com***

Clear Path for Veterans

1223 Salt Springs Road

Chittenango, NY 13037

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Grant Writing Services

Proposal Deadline: Agust 15, 2022

Clear Path for Veterans (CPV) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Central/Upstate New York and serves as a veteran resource center for 33 counties. We are a welcoming community of staff and volunteers serving military members, veterans, and families unconditionally. We serve as a single point of contact for veterans and the community and make it easy to connect with holistic programs and resources. Our in-house programs and services are diverse and rely on strategic partnerships and collaboration. Clear Path’s focus is on restoring, reconnecting, and integrating. Our programs and services are innovative, adaptive, and flexible to the needs of those who serve.

 Clear Path for Veterans serves veterans of all eras, both on- and offsite. Our programs and services include but are not limited to the following:

• Canine Program
  • Service dog training
• Warriors Working Program
  • Training seminars
  • Career services assistance
• Integrative Wellness Program
  • Modalities
  • Veteran and family retreats
• Peer and Family Support Program
  • Family & caregiver assistance
  • Veteran peer to peer mentoring
• Social Engagement Activities
  • Veteran and family events
  • Woodworking and art shop
  • Weekly canteen luncheons
• Outreach and Community Collaboration
  • Education and advocacy
  • Volunteer engagement
  • Summit group

Per a brand positioning/market research review, Clear Path for Veterans has a Net Promoter Score of 72. This confirms CPV provides world-class service to military members, veterans, and their families. Seventy-one (71%) of the organization’s funding comes from grants and contracts, including foundation, federal, and state funds. There are built-in sustainability programs – such as military-focused catered events and career services partnerships – that can only grow with increased space and capacity (2%). The remainder of funding – twenty-seven percent (27%) – comes from direct donor support through fundraising events or general donations.

In the organization’s current life cycle, internal capacity must be built to support its growth phase and further develop research, writing, and the administration of grants and contracts. A robust grant writing process and strategy will allow Clear Path for Veterans to meet its resource goals for sustainability and growth throughout New York State.  These services will also be essential to establish a national presence as the Clear Path entity evolves to develop its national service footprint.

Scope of Work:

Clear Path for Veterans seeks a firm or consultant with significant experience in nonprofit grant research and writing, including administering federal, state, county, foundation, and corporate grants.

The firm or consultant selected will be responsible for:

• Researching grant funding opportunities to support CPV growth and strategic objectives both regionally in New York State and for national opportunities.
• Writing and submitting timely grant proposals.
• Assisting with local and state contract applications and reporting.
• Providing grant administration/compliance to include preparing funder reports and developing standard operating procedures for the internal grant process.
• Providing status reports to Clear Path for Veterans staff/management/board of directors as requested.
• Collaboration and engagement with leadership and program staff, including in-person immersion into weekly strategic and programmatic initiatives at the headquarters facility in Chittenango, NY.

The firm or consultant selected for this contract will also facilitate the development of the organization’s grant program resource portfolio to meet emerging capacity needs for fund development and program support. The portfolio should be maintained in alignment with strategic priorities and will include:

• Organization-wide grant strategy – regional and national initiatives
• Logic models for core programs and new programs, as applicable;
• Appropriate data and statistics for core programs and new programs, as applicable;
• Qualitative/anecdotal program information, stories, themes, etc.;
• Grants business calendar with the ability for continual updates;
• Standard grant proposal attachments (i.e., Org chart, letters of support, budgets, census data, marketing collateral materials, etc.);
• Status reports regarding grant research, proposal outcomes/determinations, reporting and compliance requirements for specific grantors, etc.

The firm or consultant selected for this contract will provide training and work collaboratively with the Clear Path for Veterans’ executive team, program directors, and managers.

Fee Schedule:

The fee schedule should be all-inclusive and presented on an hourly basis. Applicant must provide a detailed price breakdown, including fees for any additional staff, if applicable. The cost will be based on the projected hours of the work supplied/required. The contractor will invoice and be paid monthly.

Award:

Clear Path for Veterans plans to award the contract by August 19, 2022. Clear Path for Veterans will then mutually discuss and refine the scope of work with the selected applicant and negotiate final conditions, compensation, and performance schedule.

RFP Questions and Responses:

All questions about this proposal must be submitted via email to: Matthew Vanderwerken, Director of Operations, matthew@clearpathforvets.com.

Contract Timeline:

August 19, 2022 – August 2, 2024.

Proposal Requirements – please include the following in your proposal:

1. Name of firm, address, phone number, contact person, and date.
2. Identify key personnel who will work on the project and include relevant experience.
3. An excerpt from a successful grant written by the applicant that is representative of the applicants writing style. The excerpt should not exceed two pages or contain confidential or proprietary information.
4. Profile of firm including a range of activities and consultant experience (résumé or CV).
5. Examples of grant sources from which the applicant has successfully obtained funding

(Provide specific examples of grant programs, government agencies, or foundations, amounts, and purposes of grants).

1. A statement that the personnel proposed for the contract will remain on the project throughout the contract and that prior approval from CPV will be obtained before any personnel changes. Subcontractors must also be approved in advance by CPV.
2. Approach to achieving key goals (include strategic framework, specific actions, how actions will be monitored and reported).
3. Project timeline.
4. Client list (as appropriate) and three references.
5. Any other aspects that uniquely qualify you to work with CPV and the veteran community.
6. Fee structure, including breakdown and summary of costs.
7. Please include any in-kind service time, if appropriate/applicable.

Evaluation of Proposals:

 The following factors will be considered during the evaluation process:

• Responsiveness of the proposal in clearly stating the understanding of the work and approach to the work;
• Experience of the firm/consultant with projects of similar scope, including experience with nonprofit organizations;
• Qualifications of staff and consultants to be assigned to the project;
• Budget and rate schedule.

CPV will not be liable for any costs incurred for work performed to develop and produce proposals, nor will CPV be liable for any work performed before executing a said contract.  CPV reserves the right to reject any proposals and clarify or amend the Request for Proposal after release.

Submission of Proposal

Proposals must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. on Monday, August 15, 2022, in one PDF file to Matthew Vanderwerken, Director of Operations: matthew@clearpathforvets.com.

Proposals not meeting the criteria outlined in the RFP will not be considered.