Strategic Planning Consultants

RFP for Strategic Planning & Board Facilitation Consultant

Project Budget: $40,000 - $50,000

The Lift Garage is seeking proposals from experienced consultants to partner with the Board of Directors and Executive Director in developing the organization’s next three-year strategic plan.

After more than a decade of growth, The Lift Garage has reached a pivotal point in its evolution. The organization is operating at or near its current capacity, while demand for its services continues to exceed its capacity to service additional clients. At the same time, the Board of Directors is evaluating how the organization should evolve over the next three years to maximize its impact, strengthen organizational sustainability, and ensure its leadership and operating model are well-positioned for the future.

The Board has established a Strategic Planning Committee to help shape the organization’s future direction. The selected consultant will serve as an objective facilitator and strategic thought partner, helping the Board evaluate opportunities, challenge assumptions, and translate strategic priorities into a practical, actionable strategic plan.

While organizational growth and future expansion are important considerations, the Board is seeking a planning process that takes a holistic view of the organization, including organizational effectiveness, leadership, governance, financial sustainability, and long-term impact.

The engagement will include facilitation of the Board’s annual retreat on April 24, 2027, as well as support in developing the organization’s next long-term three-year strategic plan that provides a clear roadmap for implementation.

The Lift Garage values a planning process that is collaborative, practical, and action-oriented. We are seeking a consultant who will not simply document discussion, but will actively facilitate meaningful dialogue, provide objective strategic insight, and help the Board develop a plan that is both ambitious and achievable, with a clear path toward successful execution.

Organizational Background

Founded in 2013, The Lift Garage is a Minnesota nonprofit dedicated to creating safe cars and secure lives by providing affordable car repair, free pre-purchase inspections, and honest automotive advice to low-income Minnesotans.

Since opening, The Lift Garage has grown from operating one repair bay one day per week with volunteers, to a professionally staffed organization operating 5 repair bays five days per week. The organization now services over 1,500 clients annually while remaining committed to its mission of helping individuals and families maintain safe and reliable transportation.

As the organization approaches completion of its current strategic plan, the Board of Directors is evaluating the organization’s next stage of evolution, including opportunities to expand impact, strengthen organizational effectiveness, and position The Lift Garage for long-term success over the next three years.

Project Objectives

The selected consultant will partner with the Board of Directors and Executive Director to:

• Facilitate a collaborative strategic planning process that builds alignment around the organization's next three-year strategic plan

• Provide an objective and external perspective that strengthens strategic decision-making and challenges assumptions

• Provide input and objective guidance on future-state organizational design, leadership structure, and governance considerations to support the organization’s long-term strategy

• Refine and organize the Board’s strategic priorities into a cohesive strategic framework

• Facilitate thoughtful discussion regarding organizational effectiveness, strategic opportunities, organizational capacity, leadership, and long-term sustainability

• Develop measurable strategic goals, initiatives, and success metrics

• Create an implementation roadmap that identifies priorities, sequencing, ownership, and key milestones

• Produce a strategic plan that can be effectively communicated to board members, staff, donors, and other stakeholders

Scope of Work

The Lift Garage is seeking a consultant to serve as a strategic planning facilitator and thought partner throughout the development of its next three-year strategic plan. The selected consultant will work with Board leadership and organizational stakeholders to facilitate strategic planning discussions, support decision-making, and help translate priorities into an actionable roadmap.

Strategic Planning Support

• Review relevant organizational materials, including the current strategic plan

• Provide guidance and structure for the strategic planning process

• Help the Board evaluate strategic priorities, organizational effectiveness, leadership structure, opportunities for future impact, organizational risks, and long-term sustainability

• Provide objective guidance regarding future-state organizational design and leadership models

• Support development of a strategic plan that includes clear goals, success measures, implementation priorities, and considerations for long-term sustainability

Board Retreat Facilitation

• Design and facilitate a full-day Board retreat on April 24, 2027, dedicated to strategic planning

• Facilitate productive discussion, alignment, and decision-making among Board members

• Help the Board prioritize strategic initiatives and identify key actions needed to execute the plan

Strategic Plan Development

• Assist in translating Board discussions and decisions into a cohesive strategic plan

• Develop an actionable roadmap, including timelines, ownership, metrics, and key milestones

• Incorporate feedback and support finalization of the strategic plan for Board approval

Desired Qualifications

The Lift Garage seeks consultants with demonstrated experience in:

• Nonprofit strategic planning

• Organizational strategy and change management

• Organizational design and leadership development

• Facilitating Board of Directors and executive leadership discussions

• Supporting organizations through periods of growth, expansion, or significant organizational change

• Developing practical implementation plans with measurable outcomes

• Helping organizations evaluate sustainability, capacity, and resource requirements associated with strategic initiatives

Anticipated Timeline

• Consultant Selection: Early Q1 2027

• Engagement Begins: Mid Q1 2027

• Board Retreat: April 24, 2027

• Draft Strategic Plan: Summer 2027

• Final Strategic Plan: Late Summer 2027

Proposal Requirements

Interested consultants should submit:

• Cover letter

• Resume and/or firm qualifications

• Description of relevant nonprofit strategic planning and facilitation experience

• Proposed planning methodology and facilitation approach

• Sample project timeline

• Detailed project budget

• Examples of comparable strategic planning engagements or sample deliverables (if available)

• A minimum of two professional references

In addition to the materials above, please describe how you approach facilitating strategic planning discussions, including how you build consensus, challenge assumptions, and balance strategic vision with practical implementation.

Proposals should be submitted to Cathy Heying (Cathy@TheLiftGarage.org) by November 23rd, 2026. Proposals will be reviewed following submission, and selected consultants may be invited to participate in an interview with the Board of Directors, or a designated subset of the Board.