COMPANY BACKGROUND
CLIMB Fund is a non-profit Community Development Finance Institution (CDFI) focused on creating wealth for those in South Carolina who have historically been denied access to capital.
CLIMB Fund not only provides microloans to small business owners and start-ups who have been denied funding through traditional avenues, but we also provide extensive consulting and business assistance to our borrowers to ensure they will be successful. We focus on providing economic opportunity to underserved businesses such as women-owned, minority-owned, low-income, and veteran-owned by providing loans, business education, and developmental services.
To fulfill its mission, the organization provides business consulting services to small businesses throughout the state of South Carolina. CLIMB Fund invites interested and qualified consulting firms or individuals to submit a proposal to support our small business clients with General Business Consulting.
NEED FOR SERVICES
As our client base expands, so does our need for technical assistance providers and the diversity of our offerings. We are looking for a provider that will specialize in general business consulting. This support may include finance, accounting, human resources, resource management, marketing & sales, and business development.
CLIMB Fund is proposing consulting assistance on an as needed basis as demand dictates. It is expected that the General Business Consultant will work with several businesses ranging in need from minimal to extensive assistance.
Respondents are requested to outline their all-inclusive hourly rate for providing the scope of services, as outlined.
SCOPE OF SERVICES
Review Client Needs Assessment and communicate with the Client Success Coordinator about what the client needs and their progress.
Assess client needs and provide direct business advice through site visits and one-on-one consultations to monitor business strengths and weaknesses.
Provide comprehensive business services for all assigned loan clients.
Develop action plans for clients to achieve goals, monitor client progress, and document outcomes.
Connect client to existing CLIMB Fund resources or identify outside resources to assist in filling specific and specialized needs.
Assist client in creating cash flow projections and assist in financial analysis to provide guidance and options in making business management decisions.
Provide recommendations to the Client Success Coordinator regarding client’s financing needs/concerns.
Connect clients to facilitate networking opportunities.
Track counseling hours and notes regularly. This data should be included in monthly billing statements so that they can be entered into the client’s file.
Assist in the development of a comprehensive, systematic, and meaningful technical assistance program.
HOW TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL
Submit the following documents to Thomas Gorman, Client Success Coordinator, (thomas@CLIMBFund.org) :
Title page (Define subject firm, local address, phone number, contact person, and date)
Summary to include the following:
Statement of services to be performed
Fee (all-inclusive rate on a per hour basis)
Names of persons authorized to make representations for the proposer, titles, addresses, and phone numbers
Knowledge of and experience in working with small businesses
Description of the proposed approach to providing systematic and meaningful digital marketing business services
Qualifications and credentials of staff to be assigned to the project
Additional data the firm wishes to present
Three (3) business references who can attest to the qualifications of the proposer
Proposals will be evaluated based on experience in the business consulting industry, the scope of services, and availability. The award will be made at the sole discretion of its Chief Executive Officer. All submitted proposals become part of the files of CLIMB Fund and receipt of the proposals implies no obligation on the part of the requestor.
CLIMB Fund is an Equal Opportunity Employer.