Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH), a CDFI focused on supportive housing development, typically applies annually for the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s CDFI Capital Magnet Fund (CMF) funding round, with the goal of receiving additional lending capital. We use our capital from this and other sources to lend to both new and established developers seeking to create supportive housing, which combines affordable housing with essential supportive services for some of the highest-need individuals, many of whom experience chronic homelessness.
Should CSH choose to submit a 2022 CMF application, we are seeking proposals from qualified individuals to provide consulting services for our application, consisting of both strategy development and application writing. The ideal consultant will have demonstrated ability to: prepare winning CMF applications for other CDFIs, ideally ones focused on supportive/affordable housing development; describe complex lending topics in clear language; think strategically about different approaches as to how to best focus an application; ability to follow a clear timeline and meet deadlines.
Founded in 1991, CSH’s mission is to advance solutions that use housing as a platform for services to improve the lives of the most vulnerable people, maximize public resources and build healthy communities. Our work stems from our fundamental belief that supportive housing is the solution to ending homelessness for those individuals who face the most complex challenges, such as physical and behavioral health conditions and substance use disorders. Read more about CSH on our website.
Scope of Services
The consultant will be expected to perform the following services:
- Read the 2022 CMF NOFA, FAQs, and other guidance provided by the CDFI Fund and highlight any changes from the 2021 application.
- Assist in crafting CSH’s Business Strategy.
- Write CSH’s CMF application, with assistance from CSH fund development team members as needed.
- Incorporate feedback from the CSH team.
- Perform a careful review and editing of all sections.
- Review all charts for consistency with narrative sections. (Charts will be developed in-house by CSH).
- Participate in team meetings as appropriate.
Proposal Requirements & Selection Process
Please provide your qualifications and experience preparing CMF applications for CDFIs, including for CDFIs focused on affordable housing development.
Please describe your approach to application consulting/preparation, specifically addressing: (a) activities involved; (b) requirements of CSH (i.e., resources, information/materials, etc.); (c) substance and format of your output; and (d) priorities and recommended initial steps.
Two references from past clients for whom you have provided similar applications.
Please provide your cost proposal, including any discounts for multi-phase engagement, and clearly delineate any services that would not be included in your scope of work. CSH anticipates this work will not exceed $10,000 but please submit your cost estimate based on your assessment of the work.
Please submit your proposal electronically in Adobe PDF format no later than the close of business on June 30, 2022, to:
Nancy McGraw, Chief Development Officer
Corporation for Supportive Housing
347-834-7622
Nancy.mcgraw@csh.org
Although generalized promotional literature is welcomed, it may not substitute for original narrative responses to the questions posed in Section II. We reserve the right to disqualify any proposal for lack of responsiveness or specificity.
All expenses associated with proposal preparation and presentation, including travel, shall be borne by the respondents.
We expect to select our consultant by July 15, 2022.
The consultant may be located anywhere in the United States, and the services may be provided virtually.
Please note that CSH requires subcontractors, including individuals and sole proprietors, to carry workers’ compensation insurance and Commercial General Liability (CGL) insurance while performing work under a CSH subcontract. CSH subcontractors cannot have existing, pending, or expired debarments that preclude them from doing business with the United States government and cannot have convictions for, nor have any pending indictments for, fraud or a criminal offense in connection with a public contract or subcontract.
