The Organization
Search for Common Ground (SFCG) is an international non-profit organization that promotes peaceful resolution of conflict. With headquarters in Washington, DC and a European office in Brussels, Belgium, SFCG’s mission is to transform how individuals, organizations, and governments deal with conflict – away from adversarial approaches and toward cooperative solutions. SFCG seeks to help conflicting parties understand their differences and act on their commonalities. With a total of approximately 600 staff worldwide, SFCG implements projects from 56 offices in 35 countries, including in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the United States. The organization is an exciting and rewarding place to work, with dedicated and enthusiastic staff who loves their work. You will be joining a highly motivated staff with a good team spirit and there will be opportunities to grow in the role.
Summary of Position
Search for Common Ground’s Children & Youth Division seeks a Strategy Design Consultant for a short term contract. The consultant will review the Children & Youth Division’s existing resources, connections, and opportunities for youth peacebuilding and recommend a value proposition for the division, including a new programmatic and fundraising model that enables us to increase our impact and achieve sustainable funding. The consultant will report to the Children & Youth Director for up to a 6 week period. The deliverables for the position will be:
1) Value Proposition for the Children & Youth Division that articulates C&Y’s value, how that value can be measured, and how it should be sustainably funded
2) Mapping and analysis of similar departments in other organizations – including funding models
3) Proposed business plan and funding model for the Children & Youth Division
Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of the consultant to achieve (in close collaboration with the C&Y Division staff) will be as follows:
- Capacity & track record: Review the Children & Youth Division’s internal capacity and expertise, the track record of selected projects managed (strengths and weaknesses/what was gained) over the last 5-8 years, as well as initiatives pursued that did not come to fruition.
- Comparative perspective: Analyze similar departments or units in other organizations (both profit and non-profit) and identify what value they bring to those organizations, how that value is measured, and the revenue model; Select 3-5 regional or global youth organizations and identify their vision and their revenue models.
- Funding landscape: Map out current and prior sources of funding as well as organizations that have been requested to fund C&Y division, identify potential further opportunities with these funders.
- Business Model – Visioning and Value Proposition: What avenues can be pursued by the unit in line with its vision? Assess which approaches will be most in line with the C&Y value proposition and design a new program approach.
- Business Model – Fundraising Strategy: Develop a fundraising strategy for C&Y in line with the proposed value proposition; this would include recommendations of the types of revenue models that could be pursued, and what other preliminary steps need to be undertaken to best position Search to move towards these models.
Proposed Timeline:
Week 1: Capacity and track record; orientation and review of C&Y resources, history, and past approaches
Week 2: Comparative perspective; mapping and inquiry of other division models
Week 3: Funding landscape; map current, prior, and potential sources of funding
Week 4: Business model; determine value proposition and create fundraising and program strategy
Week 5: Business model; determine value proposition and create fundraising and program strategy
Week 6: Report and review
As job descriptions cannot be exhaustive, the position-holder may be required to undertake other duties that are broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.
Minimum Qualifications
- Strategic organizational development
- Business development
- Experience working with non-profits/NGOs
- Some experience with or knowledge of youth peacebuilding is preferred but not required
- Experience with for-profits/corporate sector, especially connecting NGOs to corporations or adapting innovative corporate business models to non-profits
The hiring team will consider the following criteria when selecting the consultant:
- Cover letter and resume
- 2 – 3 pages outlining how the consultant might approach this work – highlighting the methodologies or approaches that they would use, and where they would draw on previous relevant experience in order to culminate in the value proposition
- Daily rate and other fees that fit within the budget cap – cost efficiency if part of the criteria
- Timeline – work preferably needs to be completed over 45 day period, starting as soon as possible
Salary: Flat rate consultant payment, capped at $20,000. The work must be completed in 45 days or fewer. Please offer what is reasonable, keeping in mind that cost effectiveness is part of the criteria.
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