Scope: The selected Consultant will be responsible for the following activities within Year 1:
A. Project Management & Facilitation (15 hours)
- Lead planning and facilitation of four quarterly convenings of the funders cohort;
- Prepare agendas, meeting materials, presentations, and post-meeting summaries;
- Facilitate discussions that balance strategy, learning, and decision making; and
- Coordinate optional site visits or virtual engagements with selected community partners.
B. Landscape Research & Synthesis (35 hours)
- Conduct a desk review of each foundation’s strategies, portfolios, and prior work related to creative placekeeping and cultural development;
- Analyze trends, strengths, gaps, and alignment opportunities across funders; and
- Produce a Chicago Creative Placekeeping Landscape Brief summarizing key insights.
C. Stakeholder Interviews (70 hours)
- Conduct up to 20 interviews with:
- Participating Foundations;
- Artists, culture bearers, and creative practitioners;
- Community-based organizations leading placekeeping work;
- Technical assistance providers (such as those that assist with permitting, fabrication, insurance/risk, equitable transit-oriented development [ETOD] alignment, evaluation, and/or community engagement); and
- Intermediary organizations with relevant expertise.
- Produce an Interview Synthesis Report outlining opportunities, gaps, and practitioner needs.
D. Technical Assistance Mapping (10 hours)
- Develop a comprehensive Technical Assistance (TA) Map of existing providers;
- Identify service gaps, capacity bottlenecks, and opportunities for coordinated TA investment; and
- Provide recommendations for a sustainable, cross-funder TA strategy.
E. America250 (Semiquincentennial) Readiness (20-30 hours)
- Track local and national America250-related opportunities;
- Identify key cultural expression needs and opportunities for Chicago neighborhoods; and
- Produce an America250 Opportunity Digest and advise funders on coordinated philanthropic responses.
F. Pilot Project Development (10 hours)
- Identify and scope 1–2 early co-funding pilot opportunities;
- Draft concise project briefs that include goals, partners, resource requirements, and timelines; and
- Support funders in assessing feasibility and readiness.
G. Shared Outcomes & Measurement Framework (10 hours)
- Develop a shared outcomes framework for placekeeping investments;
- Align outcomes with field best practices (cultural continuity, economic vitality, community power, anti-displacement); and
- Provide templates or tools for funder use.
H. Pooled Fund Options Design (10-15 hours)
- Produce a Pooled Fund Options Memo outlining potential structures, governance models, grant categories, and equity considerations; and
- Facilitate funder discussion on next steps toward pooled fund implementation in Year 2.
I. Final Deliverables
By the end of the contract period, the Consultant will produce:
- Chicago Creative Placekeeping Landscape Brief including:
- Pilot Projects descriptions;
- Foundations working in the space;
- Interview Synthesis Report;
- Technical Assistance Map;
- America250 Opportunity Digest (updated quarterly);
- Shared Outcomes & Measurement Framework;
- Pooled Fund Options Consideration Memo;
- Year-End Synthesis Report; and
- Proposed Year 2 workplan.
Due Date: April 17, 2026
Contact: vitalcommunities@macfound.org