Request for Proposals: Evaluation of the Midwest Early Recovery Fund

Overview

The Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) was founded in 2010 to pioneer 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.

Since 2014, CDP’s longest-standing fund, the Midwest Early Recovery Fund (ERF), has been a crucial part of our efforts to advance the equitable and long-term recovery of marginalized communities before and after a disaster. ERF fills a persistent gap in post-disaster funding, especially at the local level, where communities often struggle with identifying sufficient resources to address the unmet needs of those most vulnerable to the impact of disasters because of systemic inequities.

Through ERF, we provide grants and technical assistance to local, culturally-aligned organizations, strengthening their capacity to offer recovery services to meet the needs of those disproportionately affected and promote solutions that lead to equitable, holistic community recovery. Since its inception, we have utilized ERF as a model for our grantmaking and for other funders. We broadly share the learnings, expertise and resources developed through ERF.

We are seeking a consultant to conduct an evaluation that would provide insights into both intended and unintended fund outcomes focused primarily on the past five years. The evaluation will inform decision-making and drive improvements in program development and implementation.

Proposals must be submitted by Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. Central.

Scope of work

We aim to learn about the role of the Midwest Early Recovery Fund as a catalyst for equitable disaster recovery by understanding the Fund’s value within CDP and, more broadly, at the regional disaster ecosystem and community levels.

This project will help us answer overarching questions such as:

How has the Midwest Early Recovery Fund contributed to the disaster recovery ecosystem for rural, low-attention disasters? What key insights and lessons did we learn?
How has the Midwest Early Recovery Fund catalyzed equitable disaster recovery at the community level? How has the grantmaking provided by the Fund been complemented or supplemented by the expertise and bridge-building or broader work of CDP?
What types of challenges were encountered in developing, disseminating and providing Midwest Early Recovery Fund deliverables? How were they addressed?
What external factors impact program success? What unintended outcomes can be observed?
How has the Midwest Early Recovery Fund contributed to CDP’s mission over time? What is the internal value of sustained, pre-positioned funding for a particular region and vision of funding capacity for early recovery services for communities affected by low-attention disasters?

We anticipate this work starting in October 2024 and being completed by Feb. 28, 2025.

CDP’s team will use these findings to inform future planning for the Midwest Early Recovery Fund, funds management and coalition-building strategies. It will also guide messaging for marketing, communications, grant writing and fundraising.

Expected engagement and deliverables

Below is a list of phases and deliverables with the anticipated time required for completion. These are illustrative. Bidders should feel free to adjust as needed, including the time anticipated for completion and justification.

Phase 1: Evaluation design

Consulting with CDP staff to inform the questions, methods and deliverables.
Finalizing the evaluation design.
Anticipated time: 8 hours/1 days

Phase 2: Fund document review

Consulting with the CDP project lead to inform the document review.
Conducting a review of Fund documents. CDP will provide access to the documentation required for a successful review.
Data analysis.
Anticipated time: 40 hours/5 days

Phase: Data collection

Collecting data using quantitative and/or qualitative methods to explore any themes that emerged from the document review and support answering the overarching questions.
Stakeholders to engage in this phase include CDP staff (namely the ERF Director, Program Associate and Director of Domestic Funds), other funders, regional disaster ecosystem level informants and ERF grantee partners.
Analyzing data.
Anticipated time: 80 hours/10 days

Phase 4: Preparation and submission of deliverables

A report containing, at a minimum, the key findings, a more in-depth discussion of findings, any identified solutions or recommendations, a list of resources reviewed during desk review and methodology.
Create and present a slide deck or something similar that summarizes results and is useful for education within the wider CDP organization.
An opportunity for CDP to review and provide feedback and/or clarifying questions on deliverables.
Anticipated time: 32 hours/4 days

Throughout: Provide updates to CDP throughout the project and communicate about progress and any issues that may arise. Please factor in regular meetings with the CDP project lead throughout the above-outlined phases.

Consultant background and characteristics

Familiarity with disaster recovery, rural communities within the United States, grantmaking and/or nonprofit program management.
Background in conducting similar evaluations and skills in applied research methodologies or techniques (including conducting key informant interviews) relevant to the scope of work.
Familiarity with equitable evaluation principles and practices or similar approaches that can be applied to this scope of work.
Experience with and interest in presenting findings creatively that help the client understand the project and its outcomes while setting up the client to operationalize the findings for future work successfully.
Lived experience of a disaster and/or humanitarian emergency or experience using or benefiting from philanthropic resources, preferred but not required.
Understanding of equity and a commitment to applying an equitable approach to the project.
Demonstrated ability to work efficiently and independently to deadlines.

We encourage minority, woman-led, rural and solo-led organizations.

Budget

We don’t anticipate any travel needed for this project.
Proposal budget should not exceed $27,500.

Proposal guidance

To respond to this RFP, 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 description of the overall approach to evaluation/research work.
The organization’s racial and intersectional equity practices and experience (DEI, DEIJ, etc.).
Thumbnail scope and project approach 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 your work and the proposal.

Timeline

Last day to notify CDP of intent to ask questions: Sept. 3, 2024
Last day to submit RFP questions to CDP: Sept. 8, 2024
CDP will provide written responses to questions (sent to all entities that pre-indicated intent) by: September 11, 2024
Proposals due by: Sept. 18, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. Central
Review of proposals: Sept. 18-25, 2024
Interviews: Sept. 25-Oct. 4, 2024
Consultant selected and agreement signed by: Oct. 15, 2024
Deliverables completed by: Feb. 28, 2025

Contact

For questions or to submit a proposal, please email:

Cari Cullen
Director, Midwest Early Recovery Fund
cari.cullen@disasterphilanthropy.org
320.266.4391

About the Center for Disaster Philanthropy

CDP’s mission 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.