Overview

Background

Earth Island has experienced unprecedented growth and change over the past five years. The

founding executive directors stepped down in 2020 and 2023 respectively, with a new CEO

starting in spring 2023, the Board membership has drastically changed, and the organizational

expenses and staff numbers have doubled. This change has coincided with major external

events as well, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, increased focus on DEI in the workplace,

societal polarization and unrest, and increasingly devastating disasters and conflicts. As a

result, Earth Island is in a period of re-examination and transition, and is in need of external

support in refreshing its Theory of Change, vision, and mission, and creating a 5-year strategic

plan. Earth Island last completed a Theory of Change in early 2017, and in the last year has

begun to re-examine its contents with a focus on values.

Scope of Work

The Scope of Work for this project will include:

  • Organizational Analysis: Conduct a thorough analysis of the organization, identify key

trends, challenges, and opportunities that impact our work.

  • Stakeholder Engagement: Engage with internal (staff, project network, and board) and

external (community partners/supporters, peer/partner nonprofits, donors,

foundation/government funding partners, etc.) stakeholders through an inclusive

participatory process.

  • Theory of Change, Vision, and Mission Refinement: Facilitate a process to refine and

articulate our Theory of Change, as well as a compelling vision and mission statement

that reflects the values and aspirations of Earth Island and the communities served.

  • Strategic Goal Development: Facilitate a process to define clear and measurable 5-year

strategic goals that align with the values, vision, and mission.

  • Implementation Roadmap: Develop a detailed roadmap outlining the steps, timelines,

resources (financial and other), and systems required for the successful implementation

and operationalization of the Strategic Plan.

  • Monitoring and Evaluation Framework: Create a robust framework for monitoring

progress and evaluating the impact of the Strategic Plan over time with indicators of

success to be used in the formation of a yearly Operations Plan.

NOTE: There is the potential for subsequent engagements on implementation, monitoring,

evaluation, and further adaptation depending on Earth Island’s needs following the completion

of this process.

Preferred Qualifications

Specifically, we are seeking candidates with proven experience in:

  • Developing strategic plans for nonprofit organizations (experience with nonprofits that

engage in fiscal sponsorship is a plus)

  • Capacity to manage across difference, facilitate difficult conversations, and meaningfully

work with and engage individuals from diverse backgrounds

  • Understanding and experience with operationalizing DEI principles and practices
  • Understanding and experience with developing alternative models for sharing power and

decision-making within an organization

  • Working with nonprofit Boards of Directors
  • Refreshing organizational mission, vision, and values (experience with nonprofits that

experienced rapid growth and/or founder transition a plus)

  • Conducting organizational analyses
  • Posing critical questions to improve organizational efficiency and effectiveness
  • Developing long-, mid-, and short-term goals and benchmarks for an organization or

project

  • Retreat planning skills
  • Alignment with the values of adaptability, community, courage, joy, and power redistribution.
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