Example of an Organizational Racial Equity Audit RFP

Request for Proposal

Grantmakers in the Arts
Racial Equity in Arts Philanthropy
Organizational Audit

Grantmakers in the Arts (GIA) invites interested and qualified consulting firms or individuals to submit a proposal to conduct an organization-wide racial equity audit of the organization’s internal documents and policies and external communications as they reflect and/or pertain to GIA’s goal to eliminate institutional bias and build equitable policies and language to improve racial equity in arts philanthropy. GIA’s Racial Equity Board Committee will oversee the audit process.

Organizational Overview

Grantmakers in the Arts is a nonprofit membership organization with a mission to provide leadership and service to advance the use of philanthropic and governmental resources on behalf of arts and culture. GIA is the only national association of arts funders in America that includes private foundations, state and local agencies, corporate funders, community foundations, and donor-designated funds. Grantmakers in the Arts believes that knowledgeable and informed funders create stronger arts organizations, improving the health and vibrancy of our communities.

GIA has seven full-time staff and 23 board members who represent the demographics of the organization’s membership. Programs include an annual conference, a thrice-yearly publication titled the GIA Reader, research, online and regional educational workshops, weekly member bulletins, online news feed of current events in arts philanthropy, and a digital library of reports and research. Please view the GIA website for further information at www.giarts.org.

Vision

Arts, culture, and creative expression are broadly valued as essential to the human experience and recognized as core to connecting individuals and communities in building vitality and shaping responses to societal challenges and changes.

Expanded, robust, and constantly evolving private and public support systems for artists and arts organizations function effectively at every level: individual, community, regional, and national.

Philanthropic leadership enthusiastically embraces the arts as critical to its giving philosophy; political decision makers set policy that furthers support of the arts and culture in the public sphere.

Guiding Principles

Inclusiveness

GIA draws strength from and welcomes the engagement of diverse voices and perspectives in shaping and furthering its work, particularly from those who philanthropically support arts, culture, and creative expression.

Collaboration

At the intersection of philanthropy and the arts, GIA breaks down silos by creating and strengthening connections with, and for, those within its membership and constituency and across sectors.

Curiosity

GIA fosters active and meaningful interchange, dialogue, and learning that leads arts and culture funders to be better stewards and more impactful and effective in their work.

Background of Recent Racial Equity in Arts Philanthropy Policies and Programs

Grantmakers in the Arts has used a variety of platforms (blogs, member bulletins, GIA Reader, annual conferences, and other programs) to shine light on issues that impact, improve, and strengthen arts philanthropy. Since 2008, GIA has been elevating racial equity and social justice as a critical issue affecting the field. In 2013, the board approved a motion to make racial equity an organizational priority. An historical outline of GIA’s recent work in equity is available online.

In the spring of 2015, GIA released its Racial Equity in Arts Philanthropy Statement of Purpose, which was a culmination of four years of work, discussion, and commitment. In June 2015, GIA hosted a national forum entitled “Supporting ALAANA Organizations.” Details of the day-long event for funders can be found here.

Proposal Overview

As a continuation of its commitment to racial equity in arts philanthropy, GIA seeks a consulting firm or individual(s) to engage in a comprehensive, organization-wide audit, which will culminate in a report with recommendations on observations of internal policies, external communications, and organizational practices as they pertain to goals of racial equity.

Scope of Work

Work will be conducted over approximately three (3) months beginning November 2015.

The racial equity audit would include a review of existing documents regarding program information and evaluation, member surveys, human resource policies and procedures, marketing materials, GIA website, and other pertinent documents in order to develop a more comprehensive picture of the organizational climate in relation to its goal of racial equity. Included in the audit will be a review of policies and activities of other national or regional arts or philanthropic associations.

Once material is collected and analyzed, the consultants will prepare a detailed summary report, including but not limited to an analysis outlining key themes, recommendations for incorporating action steps into administrative and programmatic areas, and a compilation of racial equity programs of similar organizations.

Project Deliverables and Desired Outcomes

  • A field scan of complementary efforts done by other philanthropic and nonprofit arts organizations and other affinity groups.
  • An audit of programs, policies, structures, practices, and culture resulting in qualitative and quantitative data regarding the current work and workplace of GIA as well as stakeholder perspectives and expectations for future organizational culture change in relation to racial equity programming and practice.
  • A comprehensive written report of the audit detailing its process, key themes, analysis of the gaps and disconnects between the current and future/desired state of the organization, and opportunities to build upon. The report should include recommendations for embedding new inclusive policies and practices into the organization’s culture and into all function areas (as noted earlier) of GIA, including achievable short-term action steps and sustainable, long-term goals.

Budget: Negotiable range aligned with project deliverables and outcomes. Proposed budgets should take into consideration GIA’s nonprofit status.

Proposal Instructions

The proposal should include the following and be no longer than four (4) pages:

  • A work plan describing methodologies, approaches, and roles and responsibilities for how the work will be accomplished
  • Detailed description of deliverables and outcomes
  • Timeline
  • Estimated costs
  • Experience providing consulting services, including audits or assessments related to racial equity/diversity/inclusion/cultural competency
  • Experience and philosophy regarding your work as part of a multicultural/multiracial team
  • Relevant experience in the association/nonprofit and philanthropic sectors
  • Professional training and short bios of the proposed project team members
  • A sample list of past and current clients
  • Contact information for a minimum of 3 relevant references

Proposal should be limited to 4 pages (excluding supplemental attachments) and emailed to __________________________.

Any questions regarding this proposal should be directed to __________________________.