Building the Fire Fund (BFF) Request for Proposals — Indigenous Reproductive Justice Landscape Assessment (2026–2027)

Deadline: January 31, 2026
Contract Budget: $100,000–$150,000
Project Duration: March 2026 – February 2027
Issued by: Building the Fire Fund (BFF), Solidaire Network

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About the Building the Fire Fund (BFF)

Building the Fire Fund (BFF) is Turtle Island’s only national fund dedicated to Indigenous Reproductive Justice (IRJ). BFF supports Tribal Nations, Indigenous organizations, matriarchs, youth, birthworkers, and grassroots leaders advancing community health, bodily autonomy, and land-based self-determination. Rooted in values of sovereignty, kinship, consent, relationality, and collective care, BFF also strengthens the infrastructure of Indigenous providers advocating for pregnancy release and abortion access.

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About the RFP

BFF invites proposals from contractors or teams to lead a national, Indigenous-centered landscape assessment of the Indigenous Reproductive Justice field across the United States. This qualitative assessment will uplift community priorities and generate strategic insights to guide both BFF’s funding strategy and philanthropic engagement across the IRJ ecosystem.

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Project Objectives

The assessment will:

• Highlight community-defined priorities, strengths, gaps, and challenges
• Capture regional variation across the North, South, East, and West
• Include perspectives from youth, elders, birthworkers, and multigenerational communities
• Consider experiences in urban, rural, and reservation-based contexts
• Incorporate voices from federally recognized, state-recognized, and non-recognized Tribes
• Produce clear, actionable recommendations for BFF and philanthropy

This project must be grounded in Indigenous methodologies, transparent consent processes, and Indigenous data sovereignty.

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Scope of Work

1. Community Engagement & Qualitative Assessment

Lead culturally grounded, ethically guided methods such as:

• 1:1 interviews
• Talking circles or small group sessions
• Regional or thematic discussions (e.g., youth, elders, birthworkers)

Note: Participant honoraria will be reimbursed by BFF and should not be included in the proposed budget.

2. Light Quantitative Research

Optional short surveys to supplement qualitative insights.

3. Document Review

Brief review of existing IRJ materials (not a full literature review).

4. Analysis & Recommendations

Synthesize findings into a comprehensive report identifying:

• Core themes and priorities
• Needs and opportunities
• Ecosystem gaps
• Funding and strategy recommendations

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Deliverables & Timeline

Deliverable	Target Timeline
Project workplan & assessment design	First 6–8 weeks
Monthly progress reports	Ongoing
Draft report	January 2027
Final report	February 2027
Public webinar/presentation	Early 2027

Timeline flexibility is allowed if aligned with project goals.

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Ideal Qualifications

• Indigenous-led teams or demonstrable partnership with Indigenous communities
• Experience with Tribal Nations (all recognition statuses)
• Background in IRJ, reproductive health, Indigenous health, gender justice, etc.
• Strong facilitation, qualitative research, and writing skills
• Familiarity with Indigenous knowledge-gathering ethics and data sovereignty

BFF welcomes applications from teams with diverse profiles and encourages those with lived experience in IRJ to apply—even if all qualifications aren’t met.

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Proposal Requirements

Submit:

• Cover letter
• Narrative proposal (approach, ethics, engagement plan, deliverables, timeline)
• Budget & budget narrative
• Team bios
• Two references

Optional:

• 1–2 writing samples

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Budget

Total contractor budget: $100,000–$150,000, inclusive of:

• Personnel and subcontractors
• Travel
• Assessment-related costs (transcription, tools, etc.)

Note: Participant honoraria and gathering costs reimbursed separately by BFF.

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Key Dates

• Proposals Due: January 31, 2026
• Selection Notification: February 21, 2026
• Contracting: Late February – Early March 2026
• Project Start: March 2026
• Final Report: February 2027

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How to Apply

Send proposals and questions to:

Vic Hogg
Building the Fire Fund, Solidaire Network
vic@solidairenetwork.org
Subject line: RFP Submission: Indigenous Reproductive Justice Landscape Assessment

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