Request for Proposals
One Degree Brand & Communications Refresh
This is an evolution of the One Degree brand, not a complete rebrand. We are looking for a partner to bring our existing identity, messaging, and materials into a clear, contemporary, and consistent system.
About One Degree
One Degree is a nonprofit technology organization working to improve access to life-changing benefits and services. As we enter the next phase of our growth, we are looking to refresh how our organization presents and communicates its work.
This is an evolution of the One Degree brand, not a complete rebrand. We are looking for a partner to bring our existing identity, messaging, and materials into a clear, contemporary, and consistent system that works across fundraising, partnerships, product, organizational, and community-facing communications.
Project Goals
Through this engagement, One Degree aims to:
- Strengthen our brand, positioning, and core organizational story
- Create a cohesive visual identity and messaging system across audiences and channels
- Develop practical, reusable templates and tools that staff can use consistently
- Establish standards that work across digital, print, and AI-enabled workflows
Scope of Work
The selected partner will lead an integrated brand and communications refresh. We welcome proposals from agencies, consultancies, teams, or lead consultants working with trusted partners or subcontractors.
| AREA | SCOPE |
|---|---|
| Brand Strategy & Messaging | Assess the existing brand and clarify One Degree’s positioning, core story, messaging, voice, and communications principles. Establish how these adapt across audiences including funders, partners, clients, and community members. |
| Visual Identity & Brand System | Refresh brand guidelines and establish practical standards for typography, color, layout, imagery, data visualization, graphic elements, presentations, documents, and digital and print communications. |
| Templates & Priority Collateral | Apply the refreshed brand to priority fundraising, business development, organizational, and communications materials. Develop reusable templates and modular systems so staff can consistently create materials after the engagement. |
| Website & Digital Application | Apply the refreshed brand and messaging to One Degree’s “About” website and digital experiences, including layouts, visual systems, graphics, and web assets. Front-end development is not required. |
| AI-Enabled Workflows | Develop practical guidelines, templates, prompts, and design specifications that allow staff to use generative AI tools, including Claude, while maintaining One Degree’s brand and voice. |
The goal is not to reinvent One Degree, but to create a clearer and more cohesive expression of who we are today and where we are going.
Priorities & Timeline
One Degree anticipates beginning the engagement by October 12, 2026. Several fundraising and organizational needs are time-sensitive, so we expect the work to be delivered in phases.
| TIMING | SCOPE |
|---|---|
| Foundational / Early Engagement | – Brand audit and recommendations – Refreshed brand strategy and positioning – Core organizational and audience messaging framework – Voice and communications principles – Updated brand guidelines and visual/design system – AI-enabled brand and design guidance |
| Within 2 months | – Fundraising deck and reusable components – Funder/organizational one-pagers – Case for giving – Fundraising deck and overview document – Business development deck – Internal/external document templates – Core visual asset library |
| Within 2–4 months | – “About” website (about.1degree.org) – Social media templates – Products/services deck and document – Product one-pagers – Logged-out homepage design – Board recruitment materials – Strategic Plan design – Theory of Change and impact model graphics |
| Within 4–6 months | – Fundraising engagement visual – Newsletter template – Media kit – Case study templates – Internal presentation and board deck templates |
| Within 6–9 months | – Remaining lower-priority fundraising, business development, communications, product, and organizational templates and collateral |
Desired Experience & Capabilities
We are looking for a partner or team with a combination of:
- Significant experience leading brand strategy or brand refresh engagements
- Strong brand positioning, identity, and messaging expertise
- Strong graphic and brand design capabilities across presentation, document, digital, and print formats
- Experience creating reusable brand systems and templates, not just one-off deliverables
- Strong facilitation, stakeholder engagement, and project management skills
- Comfort working in Google Workspace and with modern AI-enabled communications and design workflows
Experience with private-sector or consumer-facing brands is valuable, as is experience with nonprofits, social impact, civic technology, or organizations serving both community and institutional audiences. We do not expect one individual to possess every skill above, respondents should propose the team structure they believe will best accomplish the work.
Budget
One Degree anticipates a total budget of up to $50,000 for this engagement.
Proposals should describe how respondents would prioritize the scope within their proposed fee, and clearly identify any work performed by subcontractors or external partners.
Proposal Requirements & Selection
Please submit a concise proposal that includes:
- Your proposed approach and project plan
- Your proposed team and roles, including any subcontractors or collaborators
- A timeline addressing the priorities above
- Relevant portfolio examples or work samples
- Proposed fees and pricing structure
- Two to three client references
Proposals will be evaluated based on relevant experience and past work, strength and feasibility of the proposed approach, ability to meet the priority timeline within budget, and overall fit with One Degree’s needs.
We welcome proposals from individual consultants, small teams, and agencies.
Submission Information
| Proposal Deadline | Monday September 28, 2026 by 8am |
| Project Start | Anticipated October 12, 2026 |
| Budget | $50,000 |
| Submit to | Please email proposals to development@1degree.org with the subject line “One Degree Brand Refresh RFP Submission – [Organization/Consultant Name].” |
| Questions | Questions about the RFP may be submitted to development@1degree.org |