Strategic Planning Consultant

Toronto, ON, Canada

Full-time

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Job details

Job type: Full-time
Apply by: Nov 18, 2026
Posting language: English
Posted: Oct 19, 2026

Original job description

Request for Proposals – Strategic Planning

Organization: LEAF - Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests

Location: Virtual with one or more in-person sessions in Toronto, Ontario

Organizational Background

LEAF (Local Enhancement and Appreciation of Forests) has been delivering planting, education and stewardship programs in Toronto since 1996.

In 2009 we expanded to York Region and in 2020 we expanded to Durham Region. Our revenues come mainly in the form of agreements and grants from municipalities. We also receive grants from provincial and federal governments, as well as foundations and other funding agencies. A very small portion of our revenue comes from individual donors.

In 2025 we updated our mission, vision, principles and strategic priorities.

Our current strategic goals expire at the end of 2027. We are seeking a qualified consultant to guide our Board of Directors, leadership, and staff through a comprehensive process to build our 2028 – 2032 strategic goals which will fit within our updated mission, vision and strategic priorities.

Project Purpose and Scope of Work

The selected consultant will design and facilitate a collaborative strategic planning process. Key phases should include:

Stakeholder Engagement: Conduct internal and external assessments including surveys and/or interviews with board members, staff, funders, community partners, and volunteers. Also, review program participant feedback previously collected by LEAF.
Environmental Scan: Perform a SWOT analysis and evaluate external ecosystem affecting our sector.
Facilitation: Design and lead a streamlined planning process, consisting of one or two half-day virtual sessions (Dec/Jan) and one intensive full-day session (Jan/Feb).
Strategic Goals Development: Deliver a final, actionable document that includes clear strategic goals and objectives, measurable indicators of success, resource requirements, and a high-level implementation roadmap (Mar/Apr).
Anticipated Timeline

We expect the strategic planning process to take approximately five months, beginning in November 2026.

RFP Questions Due: Oct 28
Proposal Submission Deadline: Nov 2
Interviews with Shortlisted Candidates: Nov 4-11
Consultant Selection & Project Kickoff: Nov 16
Final Strategic Plan Delivery: March/April 2027
Proposal Submission Requirements

Interested consultants should submit a proposal (maximum 8 pages in PDF format) containing:

Executive Summary: An overview of you/your company, approach, and why you are qualified.
Methodology: A detailed description of your proposed process, stakeholder engagement strategy, and facilitation style. A strong equity and reconciliation lens should be evident throughout the design and engagement stages as well as in the interpretation of findings.
Project Team: Bio of the primary consultant(s) who will work on this project.
Cost: Proposals should include a breakdown of cost by phase (Stakeholder Engagement, Scan, Facilitation, Plan Development). Total available budget is $10,000 to $15,000, inclusive of all expenses.
References & Past Work: Contact information for two nonprofit clients for whom you have conducted similar strategic planning services, along with sample plans or components of plans.
Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be reviewed by our Strategic Planning Committee based on the following criteria:

Nonprofit Expertise: Demonstrated experience navigating nonprofit governance, funding structures, and mission-driven models.
Proposed Approach: Clarity, creativity, and thoroughness of the engagement and facilitation methodology.
Cost-Effectiveness: Value of the services relative to the proposed budget.
Qualifications: Experience of the consultant(s).

Submission Instructions: Please email your proposal to Janet McKay, Executive Director at janet@yourleaf.org before midnight on November 2, 2026.

Questions regarding the RFP are welcome prior to October 28th.

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More about this job

Responsibilities

Design and facilitate a collaborative strategic planning process, including stakeholder engagement, internal and external assessment, and an environmental scan. Develop an actionable 2028–2032 strategic plan with goals, objectives, measurable success indicators, resource requirements, and a high-level implementation roadmap.

Requirements

The consultant should demonstrate nonprofit expertise, including familiarity with governance, funding structures, and mission-driven organizations, as well as experience delivering similar strategic planning services. The proposal must describe the methodology, stakeholder engagement and facilitation approach, project team, phase-based costs within the $10,000–$15,000 budget, and references and samples of past work; an equity and reconciliation lens must inform the process.

Skills

Strategic Planning
Stakeholder Engagement
Survey Design
Interviewing
Environmental Scanning
SWOT Analysis
Facilitation
Strategic Goal Development
Performance Measurement
Implementation Roadmapping
Nonprofit Governance
Equity and Reconciliation
Program Evaluation
Resource Planning

Visa sponsorship

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Hiring contact

Janet McKay

Hiring contact email

janet@yourleaf.org

Keywords

Strategic Planning
Nonprofit
Stakeholder Engagement
Board of Directors
Governance
Surveys
Interviews
Program Participant Feedback
Environmental Scan
SWOT Analysis
Facilitation
Strategic Goals
Objectives
Measurable Indicators
Resource Requirements
Implementation Roadmap
Equity
Reconciliation
Municipal Funding
Grants
Community Partners
Volunteers
Environmental Services
Toronto
York Region
Durham Region

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