Overview
Inatai Foundation is requesting proposals from individuals or organizations to design, lead and facilitate an internal leadership program for our managers. We seek a consultant to design and lead the program that meets in person for various dates from July 2026 through July 2027. We are most interested in partnering with individuals or organizations who share our values and our commitment to racial justice and equity. We invite those who are interested to submit your qualifications by Monday, March 9th.
About inatai Foundation
Inatai Foundation is a multiracial 501(c)(4) serving and accountable to leaders and organizations with bold visions for equity and racial justice who are building power in racially diverse communities across Washington. Our work begins with them: their dreams, ideas, and solutions for transformational change.
Managers Program
The Inatai Manager Program is key component of building leaders rooted in our organizational culture framework, which we call the “Inatai Way”. The program is centered in our values of racial justice, collective liberation, freedom justice and an inclusive participatory democracy, the Seventh Generation Principle, abundance, learning, determination and joy. Inatai Foundation believes in investing in the growth and leadership of our team members. The program has three goals:
- Strengthen peer relationships
- Deepen Washington state civic knowledge and what it means to build community power
- Build Inatai management skills
The program, housed within the Leadership and Capacity department works closely with ongoing manager training provided by our Finance and Operations department. The Managers program offers a complementary outward-facing, community-building arc designed to foster trust, reflection, and applied leadership learning.
Program Overview
The leadership program will include one orientation day, one foundational community building retreat, and four follow-up retreats over the course of a year and a half. The cohort will convene in July 2026 and run through July 2027. It is required for all Inatai Managers. The program requires 17 workdays/11 nights of in-person gatherings over the course of 12 months. The 2026 dates are confirmed, and we will need the consultant to be available to facilitate that retreat in person. The 2027 retreat dates are proposed and can be adjusted to meet the needs of the consultant.
RETREAT |
DATES |
LENGTH |
THEME |
FOCUS |
| Orientation | July 8 | 1 day (virtual) | Grounding in leadership and learning together | Launch the cohort, set shared agreements, introduce program goal |
| Community Building Week | July 28-31 | 4 days/3 nights | Community building and grounding | Trust, belonging, and shared understanding |
| Retreat 1 | Sept 2-4 | 3 days/2 nights | Leading people and purpose | Caring for people, culture, and the foundation’s mission |
| Retreat 2 | Nov 18-20 | 3 days/2 nights | Applied leadership and repair | Power, conflict, and accountablity |
| Retreat 3 | TBD March 2027 | 3 days/2 nights | Leading through connection and influence | Explore influence, relationship dynamics, and cross-organizational leadership |
| Retreat 4 | TBD June 2027 | 3 days/2 nights | Forward visioning | Integration, collective commitments, and future vision |
QUALIFICATIONS
- 10–15+ years of leadership experience in nonprofit, consulting, training, philanthropy, or power-building environments
- Demonstrated experience designing, implementing, and managing complex leadership or capacity-building programs
- Knowledge of how leadership development and capacity building contribute to sustainable movement strategy and power building
- Experience with curriculum design, adult learning principles, and project management
- Familiarity with power-building strategies, political education, and the role of systems (money, rules, institutions, governance, and values) in shaping community outcomes
- Knowledge and familiarity with Washington state and the organizations we grantmake to
- Experience working within or alongside a 501(c)(4) organization is highly desirable
- Excellent written, verbal, and facilitation skills, including active listening
- Collaborative, coaching-oriented leadership style
- Demonstrated commitment to advancing racial justice, equity, and community-driven change
- Understanding of how systemic racism, ableism, sexism, and other forms of oppression contribute to inequity
Budget
We have $100k budgeted for this work, including travel costs. Inatai provides lodging and meals during the gatherings. Proposals should not exceed this amount.
Submission
Interested applicants should submit a response by email to Brendaa@inatai.org with subject line “Manager Program RFP” by close of business on Monday, March 9th. Please submit responses as a PDF.
Please include the following:
- Discuss your approach to bringing racial justice and equity into developing leadership capacity
- Describe the design principles you would incorporate into this work
- Share examples of how similar programs or initiatives you have led and key learning
- Why this project? Why Inatai?
- Please provide summary statistics on the racial, gender, LGBTQ+, and disability diversity of your organization or firm.
- [For RFP finalist] Provide us at least two references.