The Kirkland Community Foundation is on a mission to deepen our impact—and we’re looking for passionate, creative partners to help us get there with their marketing skills.   As we grow, so does our need to tell meaningful stories, build awareness, and connect more people with the causes they care about. If you have experience in marketing, design, digital strategy, or communications, this is your chance to use your skills for something that truly matters: building a stronger, more connected Kirkland. Whether you’re a seasoned professional, an emerging creative, or someone who simply loves this community, we invite you to join us in spreading the good.

Request for Proposals (RFP): Marketing Support Services

Issued by: Kirkland Community Foundation (KCF)
Issue Date: June 26, 2025
Proposal Deadline: July 7, 2025

About Kirkland Community Foundation

Community Foundations can be the lifeblood of a variety of community initiatives, filling in gaps where government and other typical funding stops. The Kirkland Community Foundation (KCF) supports a thriving, connected, and inclusive Kirkland by connecting individual and corporate donors to causes they care about, we steward grantmaking for local initiatives, and promote community-centered partnerships to strengthen our city. 

KCF focuses on 5 areas of impact, including

• Health & Housing Affordable housing, food security, healthcare access, senior & youth programs, and emergency aid
• Art & Culture Public art, performing arts, museums, historical preservation, cultural events
• Parks & EnvironmentParks & trails, conservation efforts, native landscapes, waterway preservations, decreasing climate impact, urban greening initiatives, wildlife protection and pet-friendly spaces
• Learning & InnovationSchools & community college, libraries, job training, small business development, STEM programs
• Community ConnectionVolunteering, civic engagement, emergency preparedness, diversity & inclusion programs, recreation , and community events.

As we expand our visibility, giving programs and impact, KCF is seeking marketing support to elevate our presence and engage more deeply with the community.

Purpose of This RFP

KCF invites proposals from qualified individuals or agencies to provide marketing-related services that support our outreach, storytelling, and engagement goals. 

Scope of Services

We are seeking support in one or more of the following areas:

Content Development & Deliverables

• Collaborate and agree with the Executive Director on an editorial calendar, timing and deliverables supporting giving opportunities and awareness for KCF.  
• Create content for multiple audiences and multi-channel scenarios:
• Create “evergreen” content for print, social media and digital use
• Deliverables may include donor- and community-facing materials (e.g., brochures, flyers, postcards), impact storytelling (e.g., grantee profiles, donor stories, blog-style posts), and social-ready content (e.g., quotes, visuals, or micro-narratives). digital assets for website and outreach; basic updates or content refresh for KCF’s website
• Capture event/moment-in-time content
• Appear onsite in support of event photography, short video interviews/vignettes and other agreed deliverables tied to 4–8 events per year to capture community moments, grantee impact, and donor engagement, edited and delivered for use in digital and print storytelling.
• Create assets for specific outreach campaigns
  Assist with planning and producing creative materials for major campaigns such as Giving Tuesday, Ignite Kirkland, and For the Love of Kirkland. Support may include campaign messaging, flyer/poster creation, digital assets, and onsite/event visuals.

Website Architecture & Redesign

• Evaluate the structure, layout, and usability of KCF’s current website and recommend improvements to ensure a more intuitive, engaging, and audience-centered experience. This may include:
• Restructuring navigation and page hierarchy
• Simplifying key user journeys (e.g., donate, learn, get involved)
• Proposing design enhancements that reflect KCF’s brand and voice
• Implementing changes within SquareSpace or preparing templates for staff-led updates

Proposal Format

You may submit a proposal for one or more categories. Please include:

1. Cover Letter – Brief introduction, including which services you are proposing to provide
2. Experience & Qualifications – Background, relevant experience, and examples of similar work
3. Approach – How you would approach the work (tools, timeline, collaboration style)
4. Pricing – Hourly rates or project-based fees for each service area
5. Availability – Anticipated availability through December 2025
6. References – Contact information for 1–2 past clients (optional)

Selection Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on quality of past work and relevant experience; ability to connect with diverse audiences through compelling content; understanding of community-based or nonprofit communications; and flexibility, collaboration style, and clarity of pricing.

Timeline

RFP Issued: June 26, 2025
Proposals Due: July 7, 2025
Vendor(s) Selection process July 8-17
Work Begins: as early as end of July

Budget

We encourage scalable proposals and transparent pricing that will be refined as a final process, schedule and volume is agreed as part of plan refinement.

Application Process

Interested individuals or firms should submit a Letter of Interest by July 7, 2025 to hello@kirklandcommunity.org with the subject line: KCF Marketing RFP.   Your letter should include:

1. Service Areas – Indicate which areas of support you are applying for (e.g., content development, design, campaign support, photography)
2. Relevant Work Samples – Provide links or attachments to 2–3 examples of past work that correspond with the services you’re proposing
3. Pricing Guidelines – Outline your hourly rates or project-based fees for each service area

If you are responding as an individual consultant, please include a current resume or bio, and a portfolio of past work or link to an online portfolio. 

We will invite finalists to a brief Zoom conversation with KCF staff in July.

Questions?

Please direct questions to hello@kirklandcommunity.org attention Carmin Dalziel by July 3. 

Founded in 2014, the Kirkland Community Foundation is a local community foundation supporting nonprofits across Kirkland and the Eastside. We connect donors, nonprofits, and community priorities through grants, partnerships, and local giving that strengthen our parks, people, and shared future. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (EIN 46‑4931717), we invest in thriving nonprofits, visible community impact, and trusted local leadership.