Request for Proposals

A. Yes, two organizations can absolutely work together on this RFP. We welcome joint proposals where there is coverage of all required qualifications across partnering organizations. In such cases, we expect there to be an anchor organization that will sub-contract the other party and be responsible for managing deliverables.

A. Yes, an international organization may submit a proposal, but we are seeking an organization with headquarters and/or significant presence and experience in Canada.

A. Every proposal received will be reviewed in full, independently, by at least two team members at Realize Capital Partners using a pre-determined rubric. In accordance with the submission guidelines in the RFP, the following components will be assessed:

• Organizational overview and demonstrated experience supporting SPOs and SFIs/investors/funders to advance social equity: We will assess organizations, as they present themselves in proposals, against each one of the required qualifications, with an emphasis on clear, concrete examples of past experience and expertise.
• Project plan: We will assess the project plan for understanding of the objectives and scope of both program streams, and the feasibility of proposed activities to reach program goals within the bounds of the RFP, i.e. timelines and budget, collaborating with other stakeholders/partners.
• Project budget: We will assess the project budget for the value of services and programming offered for funds available, the organization’s ability to operate within budget constraints while achieving outlined objectives, and for understanding of the project scope overall.

A. After submitting a proposal, organizations can expect to hear from us if they are selected to advance in the process by mid-May 2025. Meetings with finalist organizations will be held before the end of May. We anticipate being able to contract the selected organization and announce our decision publicly by early July.

A. This program focuses specifically on social equity and gender equality within the Social Finance Fund (SFF), using the Social Equity Lens Investment (SELI) Coding System as a framework. Programming and resources developed for this program should fill gaps, address challenges, and contribute meaningfully to the field, with resources that will be valuable both within the SFF and for the social finance market in Canada broadly. We do not want to replicate existing resources. In addition to building custom resources and programming, we are open to organizations building on and curating existing resources, with appropriate permissions, where relevant to the social finance market.

A. No, there is no minimum work experience required for applicants to be considered competitive. We recognize the independent and non-traditional pathways that organizations and individuals take to gain experience and perspectives. We are more interested in how these experiences have shaped your perspectives and developed the skills you need to enhance our programming. A strong application will be evidence based, and the applicant should articulate how their experiences make them well positioned to address the diverse needs of the program.

A. No, letters of support/references are not required as part of the initial application. However, for shortlisted proposals, we will conduct background checks and request references as part of our due diligence process.

A. This RFP and expected submissions are in English. However, if you would like any accommodation to submit in French or assistance with translation, please reach out and we will follow up.

A. The selected organization will not be developing tools for collecting SELI data as this work is being led by Common Approach, the data lead for the Social Finance Fund. The scope of work for the selected organization will include training and support for SPOs and SFIs to use the SELI tools being developed by Common Approach, as well as supports to advance their position in the SELI framework. The tools are not publicly available at this time.

A. By “significant presence in Canada” we are referring to your impact as well as your operations. If you have a track record of working in relationship with Canadian organizations and feel you have a solid grasp of the social impact and social finance space in Canada, we encourage you to apply.

A.The budget amount stated in the RFP is in Canadian dollars.

A. The list of SFIs on each wholesaler’s website reflects all current approved investments. There is not currently one comprehensive list of all SPOs with investment in the SFF, but SFIs have information on the SPOs they invest in on their websites.

There will eventually be more SPOs than SFIs that make up the audience for resources developed for Program Stream 1 based on the model of the SFF: Three wholesalers invest in dozens of SFIs who in turn will invest in hundreds of SPOs. We are still in the early stages of the SFF and the pool of SFIs and SPOs will grow over time.

A.

The themes under the SELI coding system have been developed by the Government of Canada. Please refer to the information on the SFF Hub for all up-to-date information on SELI that is currently available: https://socialfinance.fund/

Further information on each theme will be published in the Government of Canada’s SELI implementation guide, which will be available this summer.

A. SELI is a new reporting requirement introduced to advance social equity and gender equality in the social finance sector. As such, SPOs and SFIs have not yet reported using the SELI Coding System. The resources and programming developed by the selected organization will be specifically designed to build stakeholders’ capacity to report on SELI effectively and to progress along the SELI continuum.

A. The Government of Canada set a target of 35% of all SFIs and SPOs in the SFF be qualified as SELI. While all SPOs and SFIs in the SFF will be required to report on their social equity intentions and practices, not all of them will qualify as a SELI investment, and this is not a criterion for all investments in the SFF. The goal of this initiative is to support stakeholders to comply with this reporting requirement and to advance along the SELI continuum by building their capacity.

A. Selection criteria for SFIs with investment from RCP in Stream 2 will be co-designed with the RCP team after the organization is contracted.

A. The SELI coding system hasn’t yet been applied to any SPO or SFI in the SFF. Under Program Stream 1, the selected organization will support SPOs and SFIs to identify opportunities to improve their score, but this will be a one-to-many program based on the number of stakeholders in the SFF. Under Program Stream 2, developing a detailed plan of action on ways SFIs with investment from RCP could be an element of the program the selected organization designs.

A.

The Government of Canada’s full taxonomy and implementation guide on the Social Equity Lens Investment (SELI) Coding System will be publicly available this summer. For more information, you can refer to the Government of Canada’s announcement regarding the SELI Coding System:​

https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/news/2024/11/government-of-canada-strengthens-social-equity-and-gender-equality-in-the-financial-sector-with-new-tool-and-funding-to-support-implementation.html

A. Yes, ESDC will be publishing guidance on SELI assessment that will provide guidance on how to determine whether SFIs and SPOs qualify under the SELI Coding System.

A. Advancing Indigenous Reconciliation is a foundational principle of SELI; and a commitment to advancing reconciliation with First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples in Canada is a requirement of this RFP, which will be assessed in reviewing responses. RCP is looking to organizations responding to this RFP to develop a project plan to achieve defined objectives within the outlined scope, including any specific lens or methodology related to reconciliation.

A. The resources from Program Stream One will be public from the start. They will not be limited to RCP’s portfolio or even just SFF participants. The intention is to make them accessible to any SPOs, SFIs, or others in the ecosystem who might find them useful.

A. Currently, there are approximately 30 SFIs across the Social Finance Fund.

While there isn’t a comprehensive public list of SPOs, we estimate that there are currently 70 SPOs. The number of SFIs and SPOs are expected to grow as more investments are made and the SFF ecosystem continues to expand. The programming in the RFP is meant to support a wide and growing group of SPOs and SFIs — not just those connected to a single wholesaler.

A. As one of the three wholesalers in the Social Finance Fund (SFF), we provide programming on behalf of all wholesalers including CAP and Boann. Programming and resources developed under Stream 1 of this RFP will support all SFIs and SPOs that receive investment through the SFF, regardless of which wholesaler the investment comes from. As such, the other wholesalers are key stakeholders of this program and RCP will support their involvement/consultation in program design with the selected organization. There may be other points of contact for programming purposes, i.e. program promotion, but based on our experience with our current suite of programming and roster of partners, we do not anticipate extensive direct engagement between the successful organization and the wholesalers for the duration of the program.

A. Our past and current engagement with SFIs and SPOs includes workshops, office hours, and peer learning sessions focused on building IMM capacity. Programming is responsive to participant needs and has been positively received for its practical, collaborative approach. You can learn more about our program offerings here: https://realizecapitalpartners.ca/market-building/imm-programming/