Strategic Planning Consultant

Introduction 

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Castle of our Skins (COOS) is requesting proposals from qualified strategic planning consultants to conduct a far-reaching and inclusive input process that will inform a Strategic Plan to guide the organization’s work over the next 5-7 years. The selected consultant will be responsible for assisting COOS with the full scope of developing a Strategic Plan. COOS is soliciting proposals for these services in accordance with the terms, conditions, and instructions set forth in this Request for Proposals. 

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About Castle of our Skins  

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Castle of our Skins is a Black arts institution dedicated to fostering cultural curiosity and celebrating Black artistry through music. In classrooms, concert halls, and beyond, Castle of our Skins invites Black heritage and culture exploration, spotlighting both unsung and celebrated figures of past and present. 

Castle of our Skins’ current strategic plan concludes at the end of the 2024-2025 fiscal year.  

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Background  ​

Co-founded in 2013 by two African American musicians who met while attending the New England Conservatory, Castle of our Skins has presented thought-provoking programs throughout Greater Boston and beyond at such venues as Hibernian Hall, the Kimmel Center (Philadelphia), and Sheldonian Theatre (Oxford, England). Over the years, we have partnered with diverse organizations ranging from the youth-focused Project STEP, Conservatory Lab Charter School, and the Boston Public Schools system, to cultural institutions including the Celebrity Series of Boston, Boston Symphony Orchestra, and the Museum of African American History, to national and international partners such as the Boulanger Initiative (DC) and Ensemble Recherche (Germany). Across all of our collaborations and programmatic efforts, we strive to reach new audiences - particularly those identifying from the African diaspora - while centering Black culture, arts and community.

Committed to education - especially early intervention through music and the arts - we are proud to create culturally-responsive workshops and curriculum guides for young learners, commission new works by Black composers for primary school music students, and lead multi-day college residencies around the country. In 2024, we released several publications through the newly created Music Inclusion Huband Rising Tide Music Press in partnership with Boston Public Schools. ​

Fundamentally, we are storytellers - griots - who engage with a medium of art practices to highlight the multi dimensionality of Black creativity. Within the Greater Boston classical music and arts scene, we are unrivaled in our dedication to program works by African diasporic composers in collaboration with other artistic disciplines – spoken word, visual arts, dance, multimedia, crafts, fashion design, etc. Our highly collaborative spirit and unwavering commitment to elevating Black creativity are balanced by our long-standing curiosity in history and impactful storytelling. 

Our Future ​

In December 2024, Castle of our Skins announced that we purchased our first permanent home, a 2,491-square-foot space located at 566 Columbus Avenue in Boston’s historic Lower Roxbury/South End jazz corridor. This space, awarded by the City of Boston and Mayor Michelle Wu following a public process, benefits from restrictions to nonprofit ownership in perpetuity, ensuring it remains a vital cultural resource. Set to officially open in 2027, the space will house a growing administrative team as well as a flexible hall designed to host performances, artist residencies, workshops, and community-driven events, continuing COOS’s 11-year legacy of celebrating Black artistry and cultural curiosity. &

Project Goals ​

Through the Strategic Planning process, COOS strives to discuss and address the following: 

• Creating Organizational Goals: refining current mission, vision, and values to create alignment with potential goals 
• Visioning a Future Leadership Model: Assessing current leadership strengths, shifting organizational needs, and long-term strategic goals to determine future organizational and artistic leadership structures 
• Evaluating and aligning programming: Identifying core program strengths, opportunities, and any gaps or shortcomings that limit our effectiveness 
• Engaging key audiences: Actively engaging staff, board members, and key community stakeholders in the strategic planning process, and amplifying diverse voices in our ongoing work to ensure an inclusive, community-driven direction 
• Ensuring financial sustainability: Evaluating current revenue-generating programs, fee-based services, and contributed revenue initiatives for financial viability, sustainability, and impact 
• Any other concerns that may arise during the process 
• Expansion of our mission and advocacy work based on feedback from the community and the outcomes of our DEAI training 
• Succession planning for COOS leadership and Board of Directors 

Timeline ​

• RFP Released: Monday, February 3, 2025 Q
• uestion & Answer Period: February 7-21, 2025 R
• FP Submission Deadline: Friday, March 7, 2025 @ 5pm EST A
• ll applicants notified of status of submission: March 21, 2025  F
• inal applicant interviews: Weeks of April 7 and April 14, 2025  C
• ontract Awarded: May 5, 2025 S
• trategic Planning Process Timeline: 6-9 months 

Budget ​

Our budget for this project is $20,000.00 

Scope of Work Requested  ​

• Conduct planning meetings, focus groups, and initiate surveys with COOS stakeholders including staff, board members, artistic advisory council, strategic planning committee, artists and community members 
• Partner with Strategic Planning Committee to establish strategic plan priorities, objectives, and key initiatives 
• Review relevant documents identified by the Board and Executive Director including previous strategic plans, branding, budgets, and communication materials
• Provide a finalized strategic plan that will inspire the organization’s work over the next 5-7 years 
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Proposal and Content Requirements  ​

The following information is required for the proposal submission to be considered: 

• Cover Letter: Firm name, address, contact name, title, phone number & email address including description of and background relating to experience and capabilities of your firm as it relates to the Scope of Work outlined above 
• Scope of Work including: explanation of how you engage diverse stakeholder groups and your plans for communicating a dynamic and inspiring final plan and outlined approach and timeline to complete the requested scope of work
• Cost estimate for the proposed scope of work, and any other project-related costs 
• Examples of similar projects, a summary of qualifications and experience and bio
• Contact information from at least 2 references that you have completed similar work for this proposal. Highlight work completed with similar organizations. References will be contacted for candidates who are interviewed 

Submission ​

Send proposals and questions to Castle of our Skins’ Executive Director, Dr. Ciyadh Wells, at ciyadh@castleskins.org and carbon copy this email address info@castleskins.org. 

Disclaimer ​

The selected consultant will be responsible for assisting Castle of our Skins with the full scope of developing Strategic Plan. Castle of our Skins is soliciting proposals for these services in accordance with the terms, conditions and instructions set forth in this Request for Proposal. 

• All costs attributable to the preparation of a proposal or any presentation required to supplement or clarify the proposal are borne by the contractor. 
• COOS reserves the right to accept all or part of any proposal or to cancel in part or in its entirety this RFP. COOS further reserves the right to accept the proposal that it considers to be in the best interest of the District. All requirements must be addressed in your proposal. 
• Additional information may be sought from the contractor during the evaluation period. All proposals remain valid for a minimal period of 30 days subsequent to the RFP closing date.