Oregon Black Worker Center: Business Plan Development RFP

Request for Proposals Title: Oregon Black Worker Center - Business Plan Development

Reports To: A leadership team to include representatives from non-profits: Imagine Black, Black Community of Portland, and The Rosewood Initiative.

Contact Information: If proposers have additional questions, please email info@imagineblack.org

Proposal Delivery Location: Proposers must submit a complete package to the link provided by March 2nd, 2025, 11:59 pm. 

*By submitting this application, you acknowledge that you are available for one of the interview slots on March 13, 2025.

Schedule Of Solicitation And Contract Award Events 

• Request for Proposals Issued: February 6, 2025
• Deadline for Questions: February 20, 2025
• Proposal Responses Due: March 2, 2025, by 11:59 pm
• Finalists selected: March 6, 2025
• Interviews
• Interview Slot #1 March 13, 2025, 1:30 - 2:15 pm
• Interview Slot #2 March 13, 2025, 2:15 - 3:00 pm
• Notification of Intent to Award: March 17, 2025
• Contract Negotiations: March 24 - March 28, 2025
• Contract Start: April 1, 2025
• Contract End: July 1, 2025

Introduction

About The Project

The Oregon Black Workers Center (OBWC), guided by the National Black Worker Center, is dedicated to building a more just economy for Black workers across Oregon and advancing the Black Worker Justice Movement. By building an empowered, organized Black worker community, we can drive systemic change in labor policies, workplace practices, and resource distribution. Through community strength, policy advocacy, and championing workers’ rights, OBWC envisions transformative systems that promote equity and justice for Black folks from all walks of life.

To support OBWC's strategic development, we seek a consultant to assist in creating foundational documents and a comprehensive business plan to guide our work, governance, and growth.

About The Collective Leadership Team 

The Rosewood Initiative, Imagine Black, and Black Community of Portland are

uniquely positioned to lead a Black Workers Center in Oregon. This collective of

Black-led community-based organizations have committed to the strategies identified here and have seen high levels of success in implementing core components of the Oregon Black Worker Center in their work.

The Rosewood Initiative ⎼ is a place-based nonprofit with a robust 15-year history that supports community-driven solutions for a healthier neighborhood. Rosewood's community center provides space for people to gather, connect to resources, celebrate, and work on projects that improve their lives and the community. The Rosewood Initiative is a Neighborhood Prosperity Network member, a program of Prosper Portland, fostering culturally relevant community economic development at the neighborhood level through business technical assistance, workforce navigation, and resource navigation.

Imagine Black ⎼ is a movement-building organization with a fifteen-year history of leadership development, civic engagement, advocacy, and voter engagement. Our theory of change is rooted in the belief that Black communities and families are experts in their lives and hold the solutions needed to build a better future for themselves and each other. Our current goals include developing transformative Black leaders through civic participation and leadership programs that result in non-partisan issue-based campaign victories to provide real and immediate improvements in our lives.

Black Community of Portland ⎼ is a grassroots, community-based organization that promotes sustainability, self-sufficiency, higher learning & empowerment among Black communities. This is done through community outreach and direct care services offered by civic engagement opportunities. We strongly believe that by investing in our own communities, we are creating a culture of change through economic empowerment and pride in our own work (businesses). BCP’s services are geared towards the underserved and under-represented communities within Multnomah County.

Funding Background

Metro has established a Construction Excise Tax (“CET”), Metro Code Chapter 7.04, which imposes an excise tax throughout the Metro regional jurisdiction to fund regional and local planning that is required to make land ready for development or redevelopment. In addition, the CET is designed to provide funding for plans and projects that facilitate economic development and community stabilization in the Metro region. The CET is collected by local jurisdictions when issuing building permits and is remitted to Metro pursuant to Intergovernmental Agreements. Metro distributes CET funds to grantees across the region through the 2040 Planning and Development Grant Program.

The Oregon Black Workers Center’s collective leadership team works with Metro’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program in the management of this grant. This work is supported by the DEI Director and Regional Impact Program Manager as a part of DEI’s programmatic goal of supporting the growth and capacity building of BIPOC-led organizations.  

Objective

This engagement aims to develop a suite of strategic and operational documents that will define OBWC’s mission, structure, and roadmap for programs and activities.

Deliverables

• Theory of Change Document: A clear, concise articulation of OBWC’s theory of change that explains how our activities will drive measurable outcomes and long-term impacts for Black workers in Oregon.
• Comprehensive Business Plan: The business plan should include:
• Mission, Vision, and Core Values: Define and align OBWC’s purpose, guiding principles, and aspirations.
• Governance Structure: Outline decision-making processes and the roles and responsibilities of OBWC’s governing body, the Core Committee. Develop language for a governance charter.
• Programs and Activities: Provide a detailed overview of current and future programs and activities that support OBWC’s mission.
• Geographical Strategy: Determine whether OBWC will operate as a single centralized location or expand into multiple satellite offices across Oregon.
• Operational Framework: Guidance on timelines and milestones for implementing programs and structures. Recommendations for evaluating success and adapting over time.

Proposal Submission

Interested consultants should submit a proposal including the following:

• Cover Letter, providing a summary of your proposal, experience, and why you are interested in joining this project.
• Project Management Experience: Provide a description of your experience in similar project management and facilitation roles and projects as it relates to this RFP scope of work.
• Previous Related Projects and Project References: provide a list and summary of at least two past projects that are similar to this RFP scope or work with at least two related references included.
• Project Approach and Methods, Provide a description of the approach and tactics you propose to successfully complete the project.
• Proposed timeline and cost estimate.

Requirements

The ideal consultant will have experience in:

• Developing business plans and strategic documents for non-profit organizations.
• Working with worker justice organizations, organizations advancing Black liberation,or advocacy groups.
• Facilitating inclusive stakeholder input to guide mission and program development.

Benefits

Contract Term And Budget: 

The Contract Shall Be Effective On The Date Indicated On The Agreement, Ending July 1, 2025. The Collective Leadership Team May Extend The Contract For Additional Time To Complete The Project If Required. 

The Total Contract Budget Is $10,000. The Collective Leadership Team Shall Reimburse Additional Approved Project-Related Costs.

*By submitting this application, you acknowledge that you are available for one of the interview slots on March 13, 2025.