Request For Proposals

Request for Proposals - Tulane City Center Pro Bono Design and Planning Community Grants Program

The Tulane City Center (TCC) is inviting proposals from New Orleans based non-profit and community-based organizations for pro-bono design and planning services. Proposals must be for a specific project (i.e. not for ongoing design services for the organization), and the project must address a stated need that exists in the New Orleans area. We have enjoyed a good relationship with many local organizations in the five years our programs have existed and we look forward to new opportunities to pursue excellence in design and planning for all residents of the New Orleans area.

Who we are
Based at the Tulane School of Architecture (TSA), the TCC is an applied research and outreach center dedicated to improving the built environment of New Orleans and offering opportunities to faculty and students at TSA to bring technical assistance in design development, planning, and construction to community based organizations in New Orleans. In all of our work, our goal is to bring these services into communities underserved by the design and planning professions because they lack the resources to pay professional fees and to maximize community involvement and leadership in efforts to rebuild and improve our region.
Although the TCC was conceived of prior to Hurricane Katrina, it was launched in the months following the storm with a substantially more urgent and significant mandate. We have established multiple programmatic themes that deal with issues of affordable housing (in partnership with Neighborhood Housing Services New Orleans), sustainable ‘green’ design and construction for our hot and humid climate (in partnership with the LSU Ag Center and the New Orleans Botanic Garden), progressive land use proposals with a focus on the development of the urban agriculture sector (in partnership with the New Orleans Food and Farm Network), among others. The common thread to all of this work is that we bring technical resources - specifically design and planning services - in support of projects lead by locally based nonprofit organizations.
Thanks to a gift from an anonymous supporter, This grants program will extend the work of the University Community Design Partnerships program.
Please see our website (www.tulanecitycenter.org) for specific examples of previous projects completed.

Do you qualify for the program?
If you are a New Orleans based non-profit organization (or operate under the fiscal sponsorship of a non profit organization) and you have a specific project for which you need design and planning services then you qualify for this grant. The TCC has a track record of working with large and established non-profit organizations and small and less formal community organizations and we welcome proposals from groups at either end of the scale.

Description of services provided to the grantees
Having worked with many non-profit organizations we at the TCC are well aware of the need to think big to address big challenges. We are also aware of the significant budget limitations that most - if not all - non-profits are constantly balancing. So often there are great ideas but there is no access to the professional services needed to bring these ideas to life in a way that can start to attract the funding and other support needed to execute a development project. This grant program exists to fill that gap. We will work with two non-profit organizations each year to develop a full schematic design/planning packet for each of their defined development projects. This resource will ensure each group is as well prepared as possible to make the next critical steps toward realizing their big visions.

The specifics:
The TCC will provide limited design and planning services for a single development project.

Project period: The TCC will start work on the project under the structure of this grant program on August 1 2010 and will complete the work no later than December 10 2010.

Our Process.
1. Research: Meet with the clients a lot. Learn about the project, and the community collaborators. Understand the site to be developed (if one has been selected). Understand the appropriate building codes and zoning ordinances. Become familiar with other examples of projects like this one that have achieved and exceeded their goals.
2. Design and Create: Have lots of ideas. Keep the good ones. Make them better. Discuss all ideas with the client (you). Listen to feedback. Respond. Make the good ideas even better.
3. Finalize the Design: Select the best design scheme (you have a large voice in this). Look at the details. Figure out how to make it work really well. Estimate how much it will cost. Decide how to develop the design over time. Make sure the client is still excited.
4. Prepare the design packet: Make great images of the project. Write down the story. Put it all together in the most compelling way. Make sure everybody is happy with the final presentation. Send it to the printer and the client prepares to use that packet to raise money, awareness, and support for the project.

(Note: The TCC is not able to provide professionally certified ‘construction documents’ for a project. What we do is to work with organizations to develop a concise vision for project development up to what is known as ‘schematic design’. This will include basic cost estimates for full project development and is typically compiled as a booklet/publication that helps promote the project for full development funding (part of development funding typically includes architect’s professional fees to review schematic design and complete ‘design development’ and ‘construction documents’).

Making a proposal
To apply for the TCC Pro Bono Design and Planning Community Grants Program prepare a single packet that contains the following information and mail to the TCC no later than June 1st 2010.
Project Information
Provide the following information on a single page at the beginning of your application packet:
Name of Organization:
Name of project for which you are requesting pro bono design and planning services:
Phone #:
Email address:
Contact person:

Project Proposal
Answer the following questions in no more than 3 pages:
- Describe the work of your organization (please include your mission statement if you have one).
- What are your major accomplishments in the previous 3 years?
- Describe the project for which you are seeking pro bono design and planning services.
- Why is this project important?
- How will you sustain your efforts towards developing and then managing this project after our work is completed?

Supporting Material
Please provide a copy of your 501©3 letter of determination (or if you operate under a fiscal sponsorship then the letter from that organization and a letter confirming your relationship).
You need two letters of support from groups with whom you have worked or who are familiar with your work.
Selection Process
The TCC will let all applicants know of their selection no later than June 21st 2010.

For a pdf version of this proposal email: dether@tulane.edu or call: 504.314.2330
To Submit your Proposal email: dether@tulane.edu