Issued by: Central Colorado Conservancy
Release Date: December 10, 2025
Proposal Due Date: January 11, 2026

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1. Introduction

Central Colorado Conservancy (CCC) is seeking proposals from qualified consultants or consulting teams to facilitate the development of an actionable five-year strategic plan to guide the organization’s direction, establish program priorities and metrics of success, provide funding priority recommendations, and identify a clear geographic focus for conservation efforts across Central Colorado.

The selected consultant will design and lead an inclusive and actionable planning process that results in a strategic plan reflecting the organization’s mission, values, and capacity to achieve meaningful conservation outcomes over the next five years.

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2. Background on Central Colorado Conservancy

Founded in 2001, Central Colorado Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) non-for-profit land trust and conservation organization based in Salida, Colorado. CCC works to protect the lands, waters, and quality of life in Central Colorado through collaborative conservation, stewardship, and community engagement. CCC partners with landowners, local governments, funders, and community stakeholders to conserve private property, working lands, wildlife habitat, water resources, and open space that define the region’s natural heritage and rural character.

As CCC has grown and evolved over the past 25 years, the organization recognizes the need for a clear and actionable roadmap that will define priorities, strengthen partnerships, and position the organization for long-term impact. To learn more about CCC, please visit: www.centralcoloradoconservancy.org

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3. Purpose and Scope of Work

The goal of this project is to develop a five-year strategic plan (July 1, 2026–June 30, 2031) that will:

• Establish CCC’s organizational direction and priorities for the next five years.

• Clarify CCC’s geographic focus areas and where efforts can have the greatest impact.

• Identify program priorities aligned with CCC’s mission and the broader conservation landscape.

• Provide funding priority recommendations to achieve project implementation in a complex funding landscape.

• Reflect stakeholder input, including staff, board, key partners, and community voices.

• Produce a clear, actionable plan that can guide annual work planning, fundraising, and communications.

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The consultant will work closely with CCC’s Strategic Planning Committee, composed of Board Members and the Executive Director, to design and implement a participatory process that results in a concise, usable plan. The CCC Board of Directors and staff will participate in and contribute to the development of the strategic plan.

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Key Tasks May Include:

1. Project Design & Facilitation: Develop and manage a planning process that engages staff, board, partners, and key stakeholders.

2. Organizational Assessment: Review CCC’s current mission, programs, partnerships, and structure; identify strengths, challenges, and opportunities.

3. Environmental Scan: Assess regional and statewide conservation priorities, funder strategies, and emerging opportunities.

4. Strategic Framework Development: Facilitate sessions to define plan elements, mission alignment, strategic goals, and focus areas.

5. Action Plan & Implementation Tools: Produce a clear, actionable plan with measurable objectives and a roadmap for funding and implementation.

 

4. Project Timeline

​RFP Released:   December 8, 2025

Proposal Submission Deadline:   January 11, 2026

Consultant Interviews:   Week of January 20, 2026

Consultant Selected:   By January 31, 2026

Project Initiation:   February 2026

Completion of Strategic Plan:   May 2025

 

5. Proposal Requirements

Proposals should be no more than 10 pages and include the following:

1. Cover Letter summarizing interest and qualifications.

2. Approach and Methodology outlining your proposed process, tools, and engagement strategies.

3. Work Plan and Timeline with key milestones and deliverables.

4. Team Qualifications including key team members, relevant experience with land trusts and conservation and/or agricultural organizations, nonprofits in general, and strategic planning projects.

5. Three Examples of Similar Work (brief case studies or sample plans, if available).

6. References from at least two recent clients.

7. Proposed Budget including an itemized estimate of costs and anticipated expenses along with your billing structure.

 

6. Selection Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on the following:

• Demonstrated experience facilitating strategic planning for nonprofits and specifically for land trust and conservation and/or agricultural organizations.

• Understanding of funder priorities and the conservation funding landscape in Colorado or similar contexts.

• Ability to guide geographic prioritization and actionable decision-making.

• Proven facilitation skills and ability to engage diverse stakeholders.

• Clarity and feasibility of proposed approach, timeline, and deliverables.

• Overall quality, completeness, and professionalism of the proposal.

 

7. Budget

No specific budget range is provided. CCC welcomes proposals that clearly outline costs aligned with the proposed scope and deliverables.

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8. Submission Instructions

Please submit proposals electronically in PDF format by 5:00 p.m. MST on January 11, 2026 to:

Wendy McDermott
Executive Director
Central Colorado Conservancy
Email: wendy@centralcoloradoconservancy.org
 

Questions regarding this RFP may be directed to Wendy McDermott at the email above. For more information about CCC, please visit: www.centralcoloradoconservancy.org.

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9. Terms

CCC reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to negotiate scope and budget with the selected consultant, and to modify or cancel this RFP at any time