Request for Qualifications: Communications Agencies and Contractors

Inatai Foundation is requesting qualifications from agencies (nonprofit, private, or public corporations) or individual contractors to support our Communications team. We are seeking experienced creative partners skilled in branding and storytelling, digital mavens who understand how to reach key audiences via social media, websites, and newsletters, and values-forward communications strategists, particularly in the realms of electoral politics, policy change, and community-led advocacy.

Experience in philanthropy is not a requirement and could be considered a plus. We would especially like to get to know communications partners based in Washington, especially those who approach their work through a narrative power-building lens. Most of all, we’d like to partner with people and organizations who share our values and our deep commitment to being an authentically statewide organization for equity and racial justice. We invite those who are interested to review this document and submit your qualifications by June 1, 2026. Our hope is to find one or more partners to support us with the areas outlined below.

Inatai Foundation is a growing 501(c)(4) philanthropic organization committed to working with communities to shift the balance of power and advance racial justice and equity across Washington State and beyond. As such, we strive to work with contractors that embody these values and the diversity of Washington’s communities. We strongly encourage applications from people of color; immigrants; bilingual and multicultural individuals; d/Deaf people and people with disabilities; members of LGBTQIA+ and gender non-conforming communities; and people with other diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. Visit ww.inatai.org to learn more about us.

We expect all organizations working with us to develop a deep understanding of our foundation, the state of Washington, and the community leaders and organizations we support. We invite prospective contractors to submit their qualifications for one, two, or all areas of work:

Creative Partnership

The following outlines what creative support means to our team, including possible special projects that would benefit from a partner who works closely with us and understands our brand and communications goals.

Strategy and guidance

• Develop a deep understanding of our foundation, the state of Washington, the community leaders and organizations we support, and the story behind our visual brand
• Advise our team on communications strategy and best practices

Storytelling and messaging

• Partner with the foundation to tell the story of Inatai and the leaders and organizations we support in written and visual formats such as photography, video, and illustrations.
• Refresh foundation messaging as we develop and implement our strategies
• Learn and apply our organization voice and approach to language
• Provide ad-hoc support for writing and editing

Branding and design

• Ensure our branding is consistent across communications channels
• Refresh our brand guide and Microsoft office templates for internal and partner use
• Design graphics for a variety of uses, including social media, websites, video, etc.
• Lead the design and production of assets such as branded gifts, foundation stationery, email banners, etc.

Examples of special projects

• Development, design, and production of publications such as our annual report
• Partner with the Inatai team on time-limited campaigns such as open calls for grantmaking and research report launches
• Support our subsidiary, Inatai Investment Management Co., with branding projects

Digital strategy and audience development

As a statewide organization, our digital platforms are essential to building and maintaining relationships in every corner of Washington. We’re seeking a partner who understands how our digital properties advance our goals as a foundation and support the communities we are accountable to. An aligned partner would understand our current and aspirational audiences to develop and execute strategies that lead to deeper engagement and increased reach.

Website

• Draft regular site content such as blogs and new team member bios and profiles
• Support regular content updates on the site such as adding job postings, building blogs, creating new pages, updating photos, etc.
• Lead design and development for large projects such as the web version of the annual report or page redesigns
• Keep track of analytics and offer recommendations on how to improve performance
• Share recommendations for maximizing UX and accessibility
• Support regular updates to the Spanish-language version of the foundation site and investment company site
• Perform ongoing site maintenance such as running security checks, managing back-ups, and other routine maintenance

Newsletters

• Analyze Foundation’s contact lists to help us understand our current audience and advise on strategies to reach target subscribers
• Keep track of analytics and perform A/B testing
• Occasionally design, produce, and send newsletters when the Communications team experiences capacity shortage

Social media

• Collaborate with the Communications team to create impactful paid and organic campaigns that achieve our strategic goals
• Design and implement effective audience development strategies in target markets
• Share technical knowledge and practical experience with a variety of social media platforms, particularly with LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky, YouTube, Vimeo, Loomly, and Linktree
• Offer analysis on current social media developments, trends, and best practices relevant to philanthropy, nonprofits, and community organizing in order to share insights to inform Inatai’s communications practices
• Review and revise social media copy when Communications team has outages
• Offer analysis of language justice as it intersects with communications to expand Inatai’s current standard practices around accessibility
• Experience with creating Spanish-language social media copy and content is preferred

Policy & advocacy communications

Inatai Foundation knows there are leaders and organizations in every county working to create a more equitable and racially just future. Yet dominant narratives about Washington are not reflective of this reality. The collective action and leadership of the communities we serve are not part of the broader public’s imagination, and therefore, hinder our collective ability to win.

As a 501(c)(4), Inatai’s public policy and advocacy work continues to expand and grow and we are searching for partners to help us communicate the priorities of the foundation and the communities we serve. Expert knowledge of the political and policymaking landscape in Washington at the state level is essential.

This is an area of work that is in its formative stages, but we anticipate needing the following support:

• Develop briefs and one-pagers on specific issues for policy and political audiences
• Develop an earned media strategy tailored to our policy and advocacy priorities and in support of grantee-led initiatives
• Craft effective messaging and calls-to-action for relevant policy and advocacy issues
• Track communications (social media, press releases, etc.) of elected and appointed officials, public influencers, political entities, and others and make recommendations for engagement

Interested applicants should submit a response by email to communications@inatai.org with the subject line “Communications RFQ” by close of business June 1, 2026 Your response should be delivered as a PDF (excluding work samples) and no longer than 10 pages.

Please include:

• A cover letter that states
  • The areas of work in which you are qualified and interested
  • Your organization’s approach to diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace
  • Summary statistics on the racial/ethnic, gender, and LGBTQ+ diversity of your organization and—separately—your executive leadership team and/or ownership group.
  • Contact information for the primary point of contact
• Background information on your organization and bios of the team members who would support Inatai
• Three to five work samples (optional, and not part of the page limit)