Request for Proposal: Identifying barriers and motivations to philanthropic investment in complex humanitarian emergencies

Project overview and context

The Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) began in 2010 with the goal of pioneering the practice of strategic disaster philanthropy. Since then, it has grown in its ambition, envisioning a world where the impact of disasters is minimized through thoughtful, equitable and responsible recovery for all. CDP has a $33 million budget and a team of more than 25 staff members working remotely across the U.S.

Over the past few years, CDP has invested more of its international grantmaking funds in complex humanitarian emergencies (CHEs). It seeks to understand what barriers and motivations other philanthropic organizations may have in supporting CHEs.

CDP is seeking a consultant(s) to research the barriers and motivations to philanthropic investment in CHEs. This research aims to identify the challenges that prevent new or additional philanthropic funding* for CHEs, explore existing motivations for funders in these contexts and provide recommendations for overcoming these barriers.

Through this project, we seek to develop an understanding of funding barriers and motivations in CHEs to enhance CDP strategies and provide actionable recommendations to CDP and philanthropy.

Proposals must be submitted by Friday, May 23, 2025, at 5 p.m. EDT.

Scope of work

The following are the overarching questions we would like to answer through this project:

To what extent are funders currently funding in CHE contexts?
What sectors in CHE contexts do funders currently fund, why do they fund these sectors and who is receiving this support?
What are the motivations for funding in CHE contexts?
What are the challenges that prevent new or additional funding?
What solutions exist for overcoming these challenges?
What spaces with like-minded individuals and organizations/networks should CDP consider engaging to achieve its aims?

Regarding the timeline, we anticipate the project’s work to begin in early July 2025 and be completed by mid-October 2025.

Project phases, deliverables and expected engagement

Below is an outline of phases and deliverables with the anticipated time required for completion. These are illustrative, and consultants should feel free to adjust as needed in their proposal, including the time anticipated for completion, with some description and justification of why.

Phase 1: Desk review

Conduct a review of current funding trends and challenges in CHEs.
Design and conduct a desk review that looks into literature, books, grey literature, reports, online resources and/or publications primarily focused on data or knowledge related to philanthropy and humanitarian emergencies.
Anticipated time**: 5 workdays (40 hours)

Phase 2: Data collection and analysis

Engage relevant stakeholders, including philanthropic organizations and field experts, possibly through key informant interviews, to gain insights into funding motivations and barriers.
Analyze and synthesize findings to inform recommendations.
Anticipated time: 11 workdays (88 hours)

Phase 3: Preparation and submission of deliverables

Prepare and submit the following deliverables:
- A report*** for external sharing to educate and influence philanthropic organizations. The report should contain, at a minimum, the key findings, a more in-depth discussion of findings, challenges, any identified solutions or recommendations, a list of resources reviewed during the desk review, and methodology.
- An addendum to the report that includes recommendations specifically for CDP.
- A slide deck that follows CDP’s brand guidelines summarizing findings that are useful for education within CDP.
- An opportunity for CDP to review and provide feedback and/or clarifying questions on deliverables.
Presentation to key internal stakeholders on the project.
Anticipated time: 4 workdays (32 hours)

CDP expects that updates will be provided to the CDP project manager and research lead throughout the project, including communication about progress and any issues that may arise. Please factor in meetings, as needed and mutually agreed upon, with CDP staff throughout the above-outlined phases.

Consultant background and characteristics

Understanding of the global philanthropic ecosystem and knowledge of humanitarian emergencies.
Demonstrated expertise in conducting similar analyses and skills in applied research methodologies or techniques (including conducting key informant interviews and qualitative analysis) relevant to the scope of work.
Experience with and interest in presenting findings in creative ways that help the client understand the project and its outcomes while setting up the client to operationalize the findings for future work successfully.
Not required, but preferably, lived experience of a disaster and/or humanitarian emergency or experience using or benefiting from philanthropic resources.
We encourage minority- and woman-led organizations.
Understanding of equity and a commitment to applying an equitable approach to the project.
Demonstrated ability to work efficiently and independently to meet deadlines.

Budget

The budget for this project will start at $20,000.

Proposal guidance

To respond to this request for proposal, please submit a proposal of no more than five pages that contains:

Name and contact information of the project lead.
Experience and qualifications, including brief biographies of team members who would work on the project, and a description of the overall research approach.
The organization’s racial and intersectional equity practices and experience (DEI, DEIJ, etc.).
Thumbnail scope and project approach, including proposed methods, with timelines per activity and deliverable.
Budget cost, including the anticipated number of work days for each phase.
Three references that have in-depth and proven knowledge of the applicant’s expertise and relevant work experience.

Additionally, we welcome the submission of any supporting materials that will help CDP better understand relevant work and the proposal.

Timeline

Last day to notify CDP of intent to ask questions: May 14, 2025
Last day to submit RFP questions to CDP: May 16, 2025
CDP will provide written responses to questions (sent to all entities that pre-indicated intent) by: May 21, 2025
Proposals due by: June 6, 2025
Review of proposals by: June 12, 2025
Interviews with preferred proposals: June 18-25, 2025
Consultant selected and agreement signed by: June 30, 2025
Deliverables and presentation completed by: Oct. 15, 2025

Contact

For questions or to submit a proposal, please email the CDP project manager and research lead:

Project manager:
Taylor Dudley
Interim Program Officer, International Funds
taylor.dudley@disasterphilanthropy.org

Research lead:
Austin Snowbarger
Senior Manager of Strategy and Research
Austin.snowbarger@disasterphilanthropy.org

About the Center for Disaster Philanthropy

The mission of CDP is to leverage the power of philanthropy to mobilize a full range of resources that strengthen the ability of communities to withstand disasters and recover equitably when they occur.

CDP is a trusted partner, expert and authoritative resource helping hundreds of individuals, foundations and corporations boost the impact of philanthropic giving in response to disasters and humanitarian crises by supporting equitable recovery and addressing root causes of vulnerabilities worldwide.

In 2023, CDP awarded $22.1 million through 93 grants to 91 grantee partners worldwide; demonstrated thought leadership through 14 webinars, 21 external commentaries, 128 blog posts, 34 featured speaking engagements and other events; and served nearly 20 philanthropic partners through consulting efforts.

In 2020, CDP was a featured nonprofit for the 14th Annual CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute.

CDP is fully accredited by the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance and has consistently earned Charity Navigator’s Four-Star Charity rating and Candid’s Platinum Transparency seal.

As an organization grounded in racial and intersectional equity, our team members are deeply committed to strengthening communities most vulnerable to disasters because of systemic inequities. We are guided by our values of integrity, boldness and innovation, humility, and empathy in all that we do in pursuit of our mission.

Definitions

The following are definitions CDP uses for key terminology used in this RFP and relevant to the project.

Complex Humanitarian Emergency – No universally agreed definition of a complex humanitarian emergency (CHE) exists. CDP understands a CHE to include characteristics as described by Britannica: a type of disaster event that is caused by and results in a complicated set of social, medical and often political circumstances, usually leading to great human suffering and death and requiring external assistance and aid.

Disaster – A disaster is a serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society at any scale due to hazardous events interacting with conditions of exposure, vulnerability and capacity, leading to one or more of the following: human, material, economic and environmental losses and impacts.

Funders – Philanthropic groups that provide financial support to charitable organizations. For CDP, funders include public, private, family, corporate and community foundations (or similar donor structures) and high-wealth donors (individually or through donor-advised fund management companies). Philanthropic-serving organizations are also part of CDP’s primary funder audience.

Philanthropy – Definitions of philanthropy vary, but it has been described as the use of private resources – time, treasure, talent, ties – for public purposes. For this project, CDP understands philanthropy as the individuals and institutions using private resources to advance charitable outcomes.

* When the terms “funding” or “funders” are used in this RFP, we are referring to philanthropy. Please see the list of definitions at the end of this document.

** Subject to revision by consultant in proposal.

*** CDP is open to suggestions for other outputs than a traditional report. The purpose is to effectively educate and influence funders.