Request for Proposals
Strategic Planning Consultant & Facilitator
March 15, 2017
East Bay Meditation Center (EBMC) is seeking an experienced and highly skilled consultant and facilitator to work with a group of EBMC staff, LSangha (board) members and core volunteers to create a strategic plan to guide the organization’s short, medium and long-term growth. This plan will be a reflection of EBMC’s values of diversity, inclusion, equity and justice, capture the skills, talents and strengths of staff and volunteers, and support long-term sustainability for the staff and the organization.
The consultation, which will include in-person meetings, phone calls and email communication, will commence upon identification of the candidate and complete no later than November 17, 2017. The project should leverage past organizational learning and development as well as existing practices and include the following deliverables:
- Creation of a written strategic plan that:
- supports the organization’s ability to respond to quickly-changing needs, such as the rapid gentrification of Oakland
- is informed by feedback gathered from key stakeholders via individual interviews, facilitated focus groups, surveys etc
- identifies and leverages organizational strengths and opportunities as well as identifying challenges, threats and mitigating factors
- is fully documented, including all structures, tools, processes and procedures created within the scope of the project
Background:
The mission of the East Bay Meditation Center (EBMC) is to foster liberation, personal and interpersonal healing, social action, and inclusive community building. We offer mindfulness practices and teachings on wisdom and compassion from Buddhist and other spiritual traditions. We operate with a commitment to diversity, transparent democratic governance, generosity-based economics, and environmental sustainability. EBMC is intentionally located in downtown Oakland to provide training in meditation and mindfulness practices to the diverse populations of the Bay Area, especially those who may not feel welcome in a traditional meditation center. Because EBMC prioritizes serving people of color, members of the LGBTQI community, people living with disabilities, and/or low-income people, we’ve been called the most diverse meditation center in the country. We provide various programs, including weekly sitting groups, day-long and weekend retreats, class series, yoga and other movement classes, and year-long trainings, most of which are geared to members of these communities.
The financial barrier presented by registration fees at most meditation centers has prevented a large segment of the community from having access to the skills and tools provided by meditation, yoga, and related training. Our generosity-based economic model, with no registration fees, allows everyone access to our programs, regardless of socioeconomic class.
Staffing:
For the first four years of its existence, EBMC relied on the work of volunteers to run almost all of its operations, including the labor of an almost full-time volunteer who essentially functioned as an Executive Director. In response to the demands of the rapidly growing organization and the inability of volunteers to handle all of the associated work, in 2011 and 2012 EBMC added part-time staff to facilitate operations and fundraising. In 2013 we worked with an organizational development consultant to streamline our staffing, systems, and operations, and in January 2014, we hired our first Center Director. In April 2016 that position was eliminated, and with the support of an organizational development consultant, EBMC began creating and implementing a Shared Leadership structure.
EBMC currently has five part-time staff members who are responsible for implementing EBMC programs, with support from three contract staff and over 200 volunteers. Staff includes an Director of Finance and Operations (62.5% time), a Development Director (50% time), a Community Coordinator (50% time), an Events Coordinator (50% time), and a Development & Facilities Coordinator (50% time).
Proposal Review Process:
A subcommittee comprised of staff and LSangha (board) members will review proposals. Part of the review process will include a phone and/or in-person interview with members of the subcommittee. The subcommittee will make recommendations to the full Leadership Sangha. The chosen applicant will be notified by April 21, 2016.
Please submit your application to Amanda Ream at amanda@eastbaymeditation.org no later than March 31, 2017.
Please include the following with your proposal submission:
- Resume or CV
- Two professional references that can speak to your skills and experience in strategic planning
- A cover letter which includes: statement of understanding of and alignment with EBMC’s mission, and statement of understanding of and commitment to be fragrance-free when attending in-person meetings
