RFP: Strategic Communications, Media & Public Relations

Organization: Compass Working Capital

Contact: Marikate Taylor, Marketing & Communications Manager

Organization Overview:

Compass is working to end asset poverty for families with low incomes and narrow the racial and gender
wealth divides.

Our mission is to partner with families with low incomes to build assets as a pathway out of poverty. We
focus on reaching families led by Black and/or Latinx women.

To achieve our mission, we operate client-centered savings and financial coaching programs, deliver
training and technical assistance to other practitioners, and shape policy solutions that dismantle
barriers to asset building.

Since 2010 we have helped nearly 4,500 families build over $12.5 million in savings through our model
for the Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program.

Project Description:

In 2022, Compass released a seven-year strategic plan to expand our high-impact model for the federal
Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program, continue to build the field of knowledge around FSS, and shape
federal policy – including piloting an opt-out model for FSS. Compass is at an exciting juncture in our
growth, and seeks a skilled public relations partner to position Compass as a thought leader on asset
poverty and elevate our organization’s profile among three key audiences:

• Policymakers (federal, Massachusetts, potentially Pennsylvania), including elected officials and

their staff, administration officials, agency leaders and staff
• Leaders in the housing field (especially large public housing authorities and private affordable
housing owners)
• Philanthropic leaders (institutional, individual and corporate)

The firm should create and implement a comprehensive media and public relations plan as well as
monitor the media landscape to identify opportunities to insert Compass into the conversation.

Potential Deliverables:

• Review and provide recommendations on Compass current suite of assets, messages, and
visual/written identity
• Draft and place op-eds and/or panel speaking opportunities relevant to our work
• Draft and achieve 4 earned media placements in both national news outlets (e.g. New York
Times) prominent local outlets (e.g. Boston Globe), and industry leaders (e.g. Chronicle of
Philanthropy)

January 2023
 • A media contact list for Compass to use in future engagement
• Media kits, as needed
• Media training for leadership team members, as needed
• Draft news releases, messaging documents, talking points as needed

Timeline: 6-month initial engagement with potential to extend based on services rendered and
deliverables.

Budget: Up to $30,000

Submission:

Please include the following in your proposal and email it in PDF format to
mtaylor@compassworkingcapital.org. Please include Communications RFP in your subject line.

1. Name of your firm

2. Contact information
3. 1-2 case studies of previous projects that demonstrate your expertise
4. A brief (no more than 1 page) proposal on your approach to the objectives outlined above.
5. Relevant information regarding team members and areas of expertise relevant to the proposal
6. Estimated timeline
7. Estimated fees

As a reflection of our mission and the clients we partner with, Compass is committed to prioritizing
vendors with at least 51% ownership and/or leadership with people who identify as:

• Black women
• Latinx women
• Black
• Latinx

Priority will also be given to firms with experience in elevating the profile and brand of nonprofit
organizations, especially those with a focus on poverty and the racial and gender wealth divides.

January 2023