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Compensation Benchmarking and Pay Structure Review 

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
Closes February 19, 2025; 11:59 p.m. ET 

The Alliance for Early Success is a national nonprofit dedicated to ensuring that every child, from birth through age eight, has an equal opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed. As a fully remote organization, we work with partners across the country to advance policies that build strong systems of support for young children and their families. Our team of 10 highly committed staff members live in ten different states.  

We are a small but dynamic virtual organization, and we strive to embed equity, innovation, and collaboration into all aspects of our work. Our goal is to create internal systems that reflect these values.  

About the Opportunity 

We are seeking a partner to conduct a Compensation Benchmarking and Pay Structure Review, including a compensation analysis, market research, and pay structure refresh, to ensure our team is supported in ways that reflect our values and align with our organizational goals. This engagement will build on a compensation study completed three years ago, refreshing and expanding it to meet the evolving needs of our growing, mission-driven organization. 

By May 30, 2025, we aim to: 

    1. Refresh our compensation benchmarks using relevant peer groups and datasets. 
    2. Revise and align our pay structure with organizational growth and values. 
    3. Develop tools for forecasting compensation impacts over the next 3–4 years. 
    4. Build processes to sustain and update our compensation system in-house. 
    5. Ensure compliance with labor laws while maintaining equity and transparency in pay practices. 

Scope of Work 

To help us achieve these outcomes, we envision collaborating with a partner who will: 

    • Review our existing compensation philosophy, job leveling, and pay structures to assess alignment with our values and the broader market. 
    • Benchmark compensation data using peer organizations in the nonprofit, advocacy, and early education sectors, incorporating geographic considerations. 
    • Define job leveling criteria and salary ranges to support career progression and ensure consistency across roles. 
    • Provide tools and training materials to help us maintain and adapt the pay structure as we grow. 
    • Build forecasting tools for scenario planning and budget impact analysis. 
    • Develop a clear communication strategy to ensure transparency and engagement with staff around any changes. 

Who We’re Looking For 

We’re looking for a partner who understands nonprofit compensation dynamics and can customize solutions to meet the needs of small, mission-driven organizations. You’ll bring: 

    • Expertise in nonprofit compensation, including job leveling, benchmarking, and pay structure development. 
    • Experience designing systems that integrate equity and geographic considerations. 
    • Strong analytical and forecasting skills to support long-term sustainability. 
    • A collaborative approach that prioritizes alignment with organizational values. 

This Opportunity Is Ideal for You If: 

    • You specialize in designing pay systems for nonprofits or mission-driven organizations. 
    • You’re experienced in building compensation structures that balance organizational priorities with competitiveness. 
    • You excel at creating sustainable, user-friendly tools that empower organizations to manage pay systems independently. 

Budget Guidance

We estimate an equivalent hourly rate of $150–$200/hour for this engagement. In your proposal, please share the total project cost and explain how it reflects the time, resources, and outcomes needed to complete the work outlined in this RFP. This range is intended as guidance, not a strict requirement, allowing you the flexibility to propose pricing and approaches that reflect your experience and services.

How to Submit 

If this sounds like a great match, we’d love to hear from you! Please submit the following information in a single PDF response document. 

    • A description of your firm or experience, including your alignment with our mission. 
    • A brief proposal outlining how you’ll address the scope of work. 
    • Relevant experience of those who will work on this project. 
    • A detailed breakdown of your fees and any anticipated expenses. 
    • Contact information for at least three clients, preferably nonprofits. 

Once complete: 

    • Combine your answers into a single PDF document, no greater than 5MB in size.
    • Upload the document (and any necessary supporting documents) using the form field  below.
    • Answer the four Experience Questions.
    • Submission Deadline: February 19, 2025, 11:59 p.m. ET
    • Contact Person: Courtney Lee, clee@earlysuccess.org