Communications & PR Consultant

Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation
Location Remote
Application deadline 19 January 2025
Contract type Consultancy
Hours Part-time
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#BlackLivesMatter was founded in 2013 in response to the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer. Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, Inc. is a global organization, whose mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes. By combating and countering acts of violence, creating space for Black imagination and innovation, and centering Black joy, we are winning immediate improvements in our lives.

We are expansive. We are a collective of liberators who believe in an inclusive and spacious movement. We also believe that in order to win and bring as many people with us along the way, we must move beyond a narrow nationalism that maintains prevalence in Black communities. We must ensure that the movement we are building continuously brings all of us to the front.

We affirm the lives of Black queer and trans folks, disabled folks, undocumented folks, folks with records, women, and all Black lives along the gender spectrum. Our network centers those who have been marginalized within Black liberation movements.

We are working for a world where Black lives are no longer systematically targeted for demise. We affirm our humanity, our contributions to this society, and our resilience in the face of deadly oppression. The call for Black lives to matter is a rallying cry for ALL Black lives striving for liberation.” “The Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation (BLMGNF) is seeking proposals from qualified communications and public relations consultants or firms to provide communications and PR support to the organization and its Board of Directors via branding, communications, digital messaging, media relations, and strategy services.

The ideal consultant or firm will have experience working with global movements and/or campaigns, grassroots organizations, not-for-profit organizations, social justice organizations, and a significant track record of placing and generating positive media and press coverage. Ideal candidates/firms will also be interested in and motivated to enter into a long-term relationship supporting the success, vision and work of BLMGNF.

Key roles and responsibilities

Press Management/Public Relations
–Acting as primary press/public relations coordinator for BLMGNF: identifying potential crises, devising contingency plans, managing press inquiries, and drafting/distributing press-related communications materials (press releases, talking points, media kits, blogs, social posts)
–Holding, nurturing, and developing valuable and net-new relationships with reporters and media outlets (including arts and cultural channels/figures) that can drive positive coverage
–Engaging intentionally and thoughtfully with diverse media, ensuring earned and organic coverage and representation align with BLMGNF values
–Coordinating press conferences, interviews, and media events/requests for BLMGNF’s Board and leadership, as well as BLMGNF coalition members/partners, as needed
–Updating/maintaining media lists and identifying speaking opportunities for BLMGNF
–Monitoring mainstream news and social media coverage (keywords, sentiments and trends)
–Providing both tactical and strategic PR advisory on BLMGNF campaigns and initiatives

Strategic Communications
–Supporting the Board of Directors in researching and developing proactive, strategic, issue-specific messaging (content and scenario plans) that effectively captures the vision and voice of BLMGNF
–Working closely with the BLMGNF Board of Directors to craft digital programs and strategies that can achieve organizational objectives, while remaining nimble and ready to pivot in the face of circumstantial and/or technological disruption
–Creating political communications materials, including but not limited to: message frames, policy briefs, press releases, and talking points that ensure BLMGNF’s messages are communicated cohesively and consistently, and that earned media reflects BLMGNF’s values
–Developing actionable memos, news stories, op-eds, reports, white papers, and other fit-for-purpose deliverables to support BLMGNF in achieving its short and long-term goals
–Rapidly soliciting and integrating input from key stakeholders on time-sensitive communications and PR materials, as well as other relevant BLMGNF collateral

QUESTIONS/PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS

Please provide answers to all of the questions below as part of your submission.

Section I: Your Company
–Describe your specialties, either as a consultant or a firm.
–Provide the names and contact information of three (3) clients/previous organizational spokespeople we can reach out to for references.
–How is your team structured? Who would we work with on a day-to-day basis?
–Describe your/your firm’s commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. Please also provide specific examples that support this commitment.
–Describe your/your firm’s efforts to support the freedom and advancement of Black people, and to uplift all BIPOC communities.
–If possible, please provide specific examples of these efforts; for example, have you worked with other progressive advocacy and movement-building organizations previously?

Section II: Your Experience
–Provide an overview of relevant communications/PR experience and media relationships
–Provide three (3) examples of prior experience and/or successful earned media placements that reflect how you/your firm can strengthen BLMGNF’s digital presence, reputation, and communications/PR strategy
–Provide links to three (3) relevant writing samples (i.e. arts/culture, politics/policy) and/or relevant recent story placements
–Describe your/your firm’s familiarity/fluency with PR tools and analytics platforms (e.g. Meltwater, Cision, Google Analytics, Sprout Social)
–Describe your/your firm’s philosophy around and current implementation, if any, of emerging platforms and technologies (e.g. AI, AR/VR)

Section III: Your Approach
–Outline your process for onboarding new clients. Be sure to include a description/overview of, at minimum, the following:
-your approach to needs assessments and success metric identification,
-your timeline for introduction of strategic recommendations (i.e. 30-60-90),
-softwares and processes you use, and
-your full suite of services.

Section IV: Your Pricing
Please provide your rates and/or budget to fulfill the scope of work outlined. A successful engagement could result in expansion of initial scope (proposed success metrics are welcome, and will be agreed upon between selected candidate / firm and representatives of BLMGNF).

Full RFP available at https://bit.ly/blmgnf-comms-pr