Business Plan Consultant

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Shared Infrastructure Project is a collaborative effort among Unite Oregon, Imagine Black Futures/Imagine Black and Next Up/Next Up Action, three BIPOC-led 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) organizations in Oregon to explore building a shared back-office infrastructure. This would centralize staffing, HR, finance, and operations support under a shared LLC or similar structure, allowing like-minded organizations to focus more deeply on their programmatic and movement work while benefiting from efficient, values-aligned administrative systems.

ABOUT THE CORE PARTNERS 

Reports To: A leadership team to include representatives from non-profits: Imagine Black Futures/Imagine Black, Next Up/Next Up Action, and Unite Oregon.

Unite Oregon ⎼ Unite Oregon is a membership organization led by Black, Indigenous, People of Color, immigrants and refugees, rural communities, and people experiencing poverty. We work across Oregon to build a unified, intercultural movement for justice. Grounded in the belief that organizing people who are suffering from oppression has the greatest potential to affect the root causes of economic, political, and social injustice, we involve our members in all aspects of program development and implementation.

Imagine Black/Imagine Black Futures ⎼ is a multi-entity movement-building collaboration with a shared sixteen-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 and political participation, leadership development, and organizing programs that drive campaign victories and create real, immediate improvements in our communities.

Next Up/Next Up Action Fund ⎼ a multi-entity civic home to build upon the collective power and leadership of young people to secure a more just and equitable Oregon. We envision an accountable, inclusive democracy where young people have the collective power to create and sustain resourced, flourishing, and livable communities. If we cultivate a civic home for and by youth, one where young people actualize their collective power through civic engagement, leadership development, issue advocacy, and co-governance, then we can create and sustain a resourced, flourishing, and livable Oregon for current and future generations.

SCOPE OF WORK

OBJECTIVE

To design and document the foundational framework for a new for-profit entity that provides shared back-office operations and Professional Employer Organization (PEO) services to like-minded 501(c)(3)s, 501(c)(4)s, PACs, and LLCs across Oregon. This framework will establish the governance, ownership, financial, and operational structure needed to enable coordinated administration, compliance, and workforce management across multiple affiliated organizations while maintaining legal independence and mission alignment.

DELIVERABLES

• Ecosystem Mapping: 
• Develop a comprehensive ecosystem map that visualizes the network of partners, stakeholders, and systems connected to the initiative. The map will identify key relationships, areas of collaboration, and potential gaps or overlaps within the broader landscape. It will serve as a strategic tool to clarify roles, strengthen partnerships, and align efforts toward shared back-office infrastructure.

• Business Plan: The business plan should include:
• Mission, Vision, and Core Values: Define and align the shared purpose, guiding principles, and long-term aspirations of the partnership.
• Operations Services Model: Define the full suite of services the back office will provide, including administrative, finance, HR, compliance, IT, communications, and other shared operational support. The plan should: Identify which services are core versus optional; Define service tiers or pricing models for participating entities; Establish standards for service-level agreements (SLAs), performance metrics, and accountability systems; and include recommendations for how services may scale with organizational growth.
• Professional Employer Services Model: Develop a concise framework outlining how the shared back-office will provide PEO services, including payroll, benefits, and HR compliance under a co-employment model. The plan should recommend the appropriate structure, governance, and cost model to ensure legal compliance, efficiency, and equity across participating entities.
• Governance Structure: Outline decision-making processes and clarify the roles and responsibilities of the core partners, including considerations for future expansion. Develop draft language for a governance charter.
• Ownership Structure: Differentiate between governance and ownership. Clearly define: The role of nonprofit “owners” or founding entities in the back-office structure; Criteria and process for selecting, onboarding, or exiting owners; Procedures for what happens if a partner organization chooses to leave or dissolve; and Recommendations for how ownership and equity (financial and non-financial) are represented and protected across participating entities.
• Legal Entity Structure: Provide an analysis and recommendation of the most suitable legal entity structure for the back office (e.g., LLC, S-Corp, cooperative, or nonprofit subsidiary). Include: Legal and tax implications of each structure.
• Staffing Plan: Develop a comprehensive staffing plan that includes: Recommended staffing levels for the startup phase and operational phase;
  Roles, job descriptions, and required competencies; and
  Ratio of staff-to-client organizations.
• Financial Modeling: Develop recommendations for sustainable financial planning, including funding projections and resource allocation strategies.

• Monthly Reporting:
• Provide monthly progress updates to the SILP Steering Committee.
• A one-page monthly summary report will be prepared and shared with the broader SILP Cohort via email.

Requirements

The ideal consultant will have experience in:

• Developing business plans and strategic documents for non-profit and hybrid entities, including shared service models and Professional Employer Organizations (PEOs).
• Designing governance, ownership, and financial structures that support collaboration between multiple entities. 
• Managing complex, multi-partner projects with a milestone-driven and collaborative approach.
• Facilitating inclusive stakeholder input to guide mission and program development.
• Skilled in building organizational infrastructure with openness to liberatory and movement-building frameworks, and committed to collaborative, milestone-driven decision-making.

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: Describe 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: Describe the approach and tactics you propose to complete the project.
• Proposed timeline and cost estimate.

CONTRACT TERM AND BUDGET: 

The contract shall be effective on the date indicated on the agreement, ending May 31, 2026. The collective leadership team may extend the contract for additional time to complete the project if required. 

The total contract budget is $15,000. The collective leadership team shall reimburse for project-related costs only if approved in writing, in advance. 

Proposal Submissions will be accepted on a rolling basis until the contract is finalized, with priority given to those received by Friday, December 5, 2025.

Please do not send emails or make phone calls regarding your application.

Benefits

N/A