Equity & Diversity Fund Services Request for Proposal (RFP)

INTRODUCTION

Southern California Grantmakers (SCG) is excited to announce the availability of grant funding, made possible through the County of Los Angeles Equity and Diversity Fund.

Under the guidance of the Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative, SCG will serve as the Third-Party Administrator (TPA) to manage the distribution of funds according to the County Equity and Diversity Fund Spending Plan (Equity & Diversity Fund). This entails subcontracting with a diverse range of qualified organizations including tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, a State Recognized Tribe that appears on the State of California’s Native American Heritage Commission’s List, or a Federally Recognized Tribe that has an office/operation in Los Angeles County. Fiscally sponsored organizations are eligible as well.

The overarching objective is to combat hate, bias, discrimination, and xenophobia against marginalized groups, enhancing community safety and promoting cultural and artistic celebration of these communities’ contributions.

RFP PROCESS: DATES & ACTIVITIES

This section contains key dates and activities as well as instructions to Proposers on how to prepare and submit their proposal to SCG for the Equity & Diversity Fund initiative.

RFP Timetable

The following timeline represents SCG’s best estimate of the schedule that will be followed in this procurement process. SCG reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to adjust this schedule, as it deems necessary. Please note that all times indicated are Pacific Standard Time.

Proposers’ Questions

Proposers may submit questions in writing and/or requests for additional information regarding this RFP via the email below. SCG reserves the sole right to determine the timing and content of the responses to all questions and requests for additional information. SCG may respond to individual inquiries and then post replies to all questions by the posting date.

Contact: Erica Rey, Director, Equity Arts and Culture at SCG 

Email: EquityDiverseFund@socalgrantmakers.org

Please include Subject Line: Question(s) ARDI RFP

Information Session

An Information Session will be held to discuss the RFP. SCG staff with the Los Angeles County Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative will respond to questions from potential Proposers. Potential Proposers are highly encouraged to participate in the Information Session webinar on October 7th, 2024 at 9:30am PST to learn more about the RFP requirements and process. Please register for the webinar through SCG’s website Equity & Diversity Fund. After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the info session.

Register for Info Session

BACKGROUND

Southern California Grantmakers

In 1973, four Los Angeles area foundations came together with a common vision to build a community of grantmakers. Together, The Ahmanson Foundation, the Cummins Foundation (originally called the Cummins Engine Foundation), the Norton Simon

Foundation and the Carrie Estelle Doheny Foundation founded the Los Angeles Inter-Foundation Center (LAIFC). More than 40 years later, their visionary group has become today’s diverse Southern California Grantmakers (SCG), a regional association representing 300+ grantmakers of all types and reflecting the evolving character of the philanthropic sector in Southern California.

Today's SCG continues to build on its 40-year legacy of working to create a stronger and more vibrant philanthropic community. Since inception, it has sought to build relationships between the private and public sectors and enhance the impact of individual and collaborative projects for the public good.

SCG is dedicated to integrating an equity lens into all aspects of their work. They believe that addressing access to resources, power, and privilege is essential to tackling inequities. As a leader in promoting racial equity within the philanthropic sector, SCG views diversity, inclusion, and cultural agility as outcomes of a more equitable and just society. Their commitment is demonstrated through programs like the Racial Equity

Action Institute 8-month cohort, the Foundations of Racial Equity workshop series, their Implicit Bias workshops, the Liberation Festival honoring Black artists and cultural workers in Los Angeles, and numerous racial equity workshops, panels, and conferences.

Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI)

The LA County Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative was established in 2020 in response to widespread social movements and calls for systemic change following the murder of George Floyd. Recognizing the pervasive impact of structural racism and inequality, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors committed to addressing these issues comprehensively across all county departments and services. The ARDI Initiative aims to dismantle institutional racism and promote equity and inclusion for all residents of LA County. This initiative focuses on identifying and rectifying policies and practices that contribute to racial disparities, enhancing workforce diversity, and fostering an inclusive and equitable environment within county operations and the broader community. ARDI guides the County by offering training and capacity building, technical assistance and planning, policy analysis and development, data collection, analysis and reporting, community and stakeholder engagement, and equity infused resourcing and programming to help reach its goals.

LANDSCAPE

During the COVID-19 pandemic, hate crimes surged significantly. According to Stop AAPI

Hate, a national coalition dedicated to combating racism and racial injustice, from March 19, 2020, to December 31, 2021, there were 10,905 reported hate incidents nationwide. The county's hate crimes against AAPI communities increased by 23% from the previous year to 786 incidents, marking the highest number since 2002. This escalation also mirrored increases in crimes against Black/African American with anti-Black crimes rising by 30%. Many other communities such as muslim, Jewish, Latinx, Queer and disabled communities also received increases in hate crimes nationally during these times.

Under California law, a "hate crime" is defined as an act committed through force or the threat of force that intentionally harms, intimidates, interferes with, oppresses, or threatens another person's civil or constitutional rights, motivated fully or partly by the victim's actual or perceived characteristics. These characteristics include disability, gender, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or their association with a group having such characteristics. While non-violent derogatory remarks against protected classes are not criminal offenses, they may still qualify as hate incidents, even if protected as free speech under California and U.S. constitutional rights.

In response to the escalation of anti-Asian violence, including the tragic deaths of six Asian women in a mass shooting in Atlanta, Georgia on March 16, 2021, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (the Board) passed the "Los Angeles County Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders" (AANHPI) motion on April 6, 2021. This initiative aims to provide strategic recommendations to address and curb hate and violence against AANHPI communities and others, and to explore the establishment of the County of Los Angeles Equity and Diversity Fund (Equity Fund). Subsequently, on November 29, 2022, the Anti-Racism, Diversity, and Inclusion (ARDI) Initiative from the Chief Executive Office (CEO) delivered a detailed report and financial plan for the Equity Fund. On March 7, 2023, the Board endorsed the CEO's proposal for the Equity Fund and plans to distribute the funds aimed at combating the ongoing hate and violence towards racially marginalized groups. Although reports of hate crimes have shown a significant decline across the state, there is a growing concern that many incidents are going unreported as public attention diminishes. This underreporting underscores the urgent need for continued efforts to address hate crimes and support affected communities.

SCOPE OF WORK

Under the guidance of ARDI, SCG serves as a Third-Party Administrator (TPA) to manage the distribution of funds according to the County Equity and Diversity Fund Spending Plan. This entails subcontracting with a diverse range of qualified entities such as tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, a State Recognized Tribe that appears on the State of California’s Native American Heritage Commission’s List, or a Federally Recognized Tribe that has an office/operation in Los Angeles County. Fiscally sponsored organizations are eligible as well. The overarching aim is to combat hate, bias, discrimination, and xenophobia against marginalized groups, enhancing community safety and promoting cultural and artistic celebration of these communities’ contributions.

As the TPA, SCG is conducting a competitive solicitation process to select qualified subcontractors who will carry out programs under one of the following funding categories:

Community Safety and Violence Prevention

Up to five (5) grants, with a combined value not to exceed $184,000 will be awarded to qualified organizations to address violence and protect members who are at increased risk for and/or vulnerable to experiencing violence, including, but not limited to, people of color, older adults, women, trans individuals, and immigrants. Services provided will include the delivery of culturally responsive, community-based public safety programs for a minimum of one (1) year or time period as described in Subcontractor’s proposal, whichever is longer. Examples of eligible programs include, but are not limited to: self-defense training, preventative safety training; senior safety and escort programs; community safety ambassador programs; and other innovative practices that increase individual and community safety.

Healing-Centered Practices

Up to two (2) contracts with a combined value not to exceed $92,000 will be awarded to qualified organizations to promote healing and restorative justice-centered practices that center victims’ needs, repair harm, and/or reduce future violence among former offenders when targeted violence occurs. Services provided will include restorative justice practices in school and/or community settings for a minimum of one (1) year or time period described in Subcontractor’s proposal, whichever is longer, to prepare for and/or develop, adopt, maintain, or enhance restorative justice interventions. Examples of eligible programs include, but are not limited to: capacity building programs , healing centered initiatives, restorative healing coaching; and/or other innovative strategies for restorative justice/ healing practices.

Intergroup Relations

Up to two (2) contracts with a combined value not to exceed $92,000 will be awarded to qualified organizations to facilitate cross-racial solidarity and collaborative action toward advancing racial equity. Services provided will include programs that build, foster, and/or strengthen community- and faith-based partnerships in various different communities, including between AANHPI, American Indian/Alaska Native, Black, and Latino/a/x and all faiths. These initiatives will promote cross-racial solidarity and collaborative action toward advancing racial equity for a minimum of at least six (6) months or as described in Subcontractor’s proposal, whichever is longer. Proposals for this category may include, but are not limited to: hosting dialogue series, cross-racial solidarity education programs or events, community campaigns, and/or creative solutions and coalition-building activities.

Arts-based Cultural Performance and Community Events

Up to three (3) contracts with a combined value not to exceed $92,000 will be awarded to qualified organizations to conduct creative placemaking and cultural activities to facilitate conversations about culture, truth and racial healing. Each Subcontractor must host a minimum of one (1), County-approved creative placemaking event that celebrates diversity, inclusion, and belonging. Creative placemaking refers to activities that shape the physical and social character of a community around arts and cultural activities to engage, connect, and educate residents. Examples can include, but are not limited to: free public performances, art installations, cultural festivals, and/or other events that facilitate conversations about culture, truth, racial healing, and transformation.

GOAL & INTENDED OUTCOMES

The goal of the Equity & Diversity Fund is to increase community safety by reducing bias, hate, discrimination, and violence against communities disproportionately impacted by hate crimes and oppression. To achieve this goal, funded programs will increase the awareness, inclusion of, and a sense of belonging among, the diverse cultural communities in the county.

SCG will secure the services of an evaluator to assess the effectiveness of funded programs. Specific measurement criteria will be developed in coordination with the Subcontractors and subject matter experts, under the guidance of the County Project Manager (CPM).

ELIGIBILITY

Organization Eligibility

• Organization must be a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, a State Recognized Tribe that appears on the State of California’s Native American Heritage Commission’s List, or a Federally Recognized Tribe that has an office/operation in Los Angeles County. Fiscally sponsored organizations are eligible.
  • Applicants must demonstrate dedicated staffing and presence in Los Angeles County.
  • Applicants’ primary direct service activities serve Los Angeles County residents. Residents of Los Angeles Supervisorial districts, unincorporated communities, school districts and cities.
  • Applicants must demonstrate a working history in the Service Planning Area (SPA) if they are proposing a place-based approach. A Service Planning Area, or SPA, refers to one of eight regions within Los Angeles County, which allows for more localized “organizing, planning, statistical tracking, and provision of health and social services.” To see a map of SPAs, click here.
  • Applicants must demonstrate the ability to provide linguistically and culturally appropriate services to reach highly impacted and/or vulnerable communities.
  • The proposed services must directly focus on communities and community members highly impacted by identity-based hate, violence, and related issues.

Eligible Activities: Contracts will be allocated to eligible entities with final award recommendations based on availability of funds, program guidelines, and the submission of all required information and supporting documentation. The Equity & Diversity Fund program will fund community programs that have the capacity to:

1. Reach highly impacted and/or vulnerable communities, organizations, small business owners etc
   1. Describe their project/proposal clearly and concisely with as much detail as possible
   2. Effectively outreach, engage, and support communities, individuals, and families in the diverse county of LA and
   3. Increase access to necessary resources and services to foster awareness, inclusion of, and a sense of belonging among, the diverse cultural communities in the county.

Application Submission: Applications and supporting documents must be completed and uploaded using instructions posted on the Equity & Diversity Fund website no later than October 18, 2024. Email submissions will not be accepted.
 

Download the Complete Request for Proposal