Branding Services
Request for Proposals
Introduction
The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr. Foundation (the Foundation) is an independent charitable foundation dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for residents in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. We are concentrating our efforts and resources in areas about which Carol and Ralph were most passionate: Arts and Culture, Civic and Community, Education, and Human Services. Our work is intended to have the greatest impact possible as we, in collaboration with our region’s stakeholders, help lead the way to a stronger and more vibrant community.
The Foundation recently embarked on a strategic plan to help inform its future direction. The plan’s vision is to position the Haile Foundation as a community leader that will galvanize the Greater Cincinnati region by coordinating transformative projects that build empathy, bridge divides, and drive equal opportunity to become world-class.
Equipped with a bold strategic plan and a new office location (the Foundation recently moved to Ralph Haile Square in Covington, KY), the Foundation is ready for an updated look that is easily identifiable, clear, and easy to use. From our logo to our website and everything in between, we are eager to have a brand identity that fits our mission, values, and the region we serve.
Our Core Values:
We are honored and humbled to be the stewards of Carol and Ralph’s legacy. We are an independent charitable foundation who pursues our goals through both traditional and fresh approaches. Our core values guide us when we partner with grantees, co-funders and other colleagues. These core values are infused in every action as we strive to have the greatest positive impact in our community.
WE WANT TO DEMONSTRATE INTEGRITY. Integrity builds trust. We are committed to honesty, mutual respect, and professionalism.
WE WANT TO BE BOLD. We courageously reach beyond our comfort zone to try innovative, complex, and unconventional ideas to enhance our community. We view honest failures as learning opportunities for the future. The riskiest thing to do is to take no risks!
WE WANT TO BE RELEVANT. We continuously push ourselves to be our best. We are always listening to our community. We routinely reevaluate to focus on meaningful solutions for today and tomorrow’s world. We are inspired to drive results through our time, our talents, and our partners.
WE WANT TO BE INCLUSIVE. We value, celebrate, and embrace diverse viewpoints, customs, ethnicity, perspective, and preferences.
WE WANT TO BE COLLABORATIVE. We seek partnerships to leverage creativity, innovation, and results. We communicate consistently, clearly, and in a timely fashion.
WE WANT TO BE THOUGHTFUL. We care about the people in our community and we work to invest wisely with those who put the well-being of others first.
Scope of Work
The selected brand design agency will redesign the Foundation’s visual identity to create a cohesive and fresh look to align with the organization’s vision and mission. The new identity will then be applied to all of the Foundation’s materials, including our website. These materials will be utilized by the Foundation’s staff and grantee organizations throughout the region to communicate the work that the Foundation supports in our community.
The selected agency partner should expect to deliver:
A new logo in various formats for multiple applications.
Detailed brand standards and usage guidelines to drive brand consistency when used for all Foundation communications and for grantees who may also use our logo in their communications.
All final brand logo files, fonts, and color palettes for use in print and digital formats.
Integrated imagery and complementary design elements, fonts, and color schemes.
Design of brand identity template files for business cards, #10 envelope, letterhead, email signatures and graphic templates for announcements on social media.
This portion of the project will not include website redesign, but the new brand identity needs to work well in digital applications, as the website, social media and digital communications are important channels for the Foundation.
Ideal Candidate
The Foundation is seeking a design agency that is within our 10-county service area who has proven knowledge and experience of performing the scope of work outlined above and be able to work on a project basis for future matters after the services outlined in the scope of work have been completed. Knowledge of the Foundation’s work as well as a relevant work portfolio are preferred.
Submission Requirements
All submissions shall include the following components.
Name and background
Include complete name and contact information. If any of the work is subcontracted to another party, please provide the same information for all firms, and indicate who will be the lead firm.
Profile of firm
Provide information about the ownership, size, location of office(s), nature of work performed and years in business. Please highlight any experience you have working with non-profit and/or public organizations to develop a new logo and brand identity.
List of personnel
Provide list of who will work on this project, including their education, experience and qualifications.
Proposed approach, workplan, and timeline
Describe how you will approach this project. Please outline your approach to assist us in developing the new brand identity. Please give an approximate timeline expected to complete the project. Please also include what information, services, and assistance you will require from Foundation staff to enable you to successfully conduct the proposed work.
Portfolio
Include portfolio of 5-10 previous, relevant works/projects with an emphasis on branding or rebranding. Please include context and description of your agency’s specific work on each project.
Line-item budget
Provide a complete budget for the stages of development in which you will provide the work described in this RFP. Indicate an hourly rate (if applicable) for subsequent work that may be required, deemed necessary, or requested by the Foundation.
References
Offer at least three references from clients who have used your services for branding or rebranding. Briefly describe the scope of your work for these references, the year completed, and a contact name and telephone/email for each one.
Information on additional website services
We expect the redesign of our website to be a “fast follow” to the brand identity work. If you are interested in assisting us in this next phase, please include a separate document that outlines your capabilities and capacity to build a website along with ballpark costs. Please indicate if your firm has the capacity to handle web design and your initial thoughts on approach to achieving a turn-key user-friendly platform. The Foundation is open to recommendations if website buildout is outside of your capacity.
Submission Format
Submit the full submission in PDF Document size on digital copy shall be no larger than 8.5 inches X 11inches. Brochures or other material that may be helpful in evaluating your qualifications may be included in an appendix. All submissions must be submitted digitally. Submissions must be received via email at info@hailefoundation.org no later than April 22nd at 5 PM EST. Submissions received after the deadline will not be considered.
QUESTIONS
Questions regarding this RFP process must be directed in writing via email to the below contact. The responses to all questions will be in writing. If questions are deemed substantive to the submittal and evaluation process, a list of questions and responses to all registered respondents will be distributed through an RFP Addendum(s). The deadline for submitting questions shall be April 6th at 5 PM EST.
Questions and Inquiries regarding all aspects of this RFP should be directed to: Alondra Sotelo at info@hailefoundation.org.
Timeline
Issue RFP…………………………………………………………………………………….. March 23
Questions Due to the Foundation…………………………………..………...……………... April 6
Response to Questions by Foundation .………………………………………………….… April 13
RFP Deadline ………………………………………………………………………………….. April 22
Determination of Finalists………………………………………………………………..…….. May 8
Finalist Interviews………………………………………………………………..Second Half of May