Description

BACKGROUND
One Arizona (c3 civic engagement table), in coordination with key infrastructure partners—America Votes - Arizona (c4/IE coordination table) and Progress Arizona (communications table; c4/c3 ProgressNow affiliate)—seeks to hire a consultant to collaborate with Arizona infrastructure staff and other stakeholders to lead and complete a strategic planning project. The consultant will serve as project manager, facilitator, and lead author of all final written materials and ED presentations.

Additional expectations for this role include:
Leading the planning committee in developing a series of statewide strategic plans, including:

 1-year plan (midterms)
 2-year plan (presidential)
 5-year plan (census and redistricting)
10-year vision for long-term implementation across Arizona’s progressive infrastructure
   The plan should identify and include strategies to develop any missing capacities
   Recommendations for structure and governance across infrastructure organizations should be included to support the effective implementation of the 10-year vision
Conducting an independent and comprehensive review of Arizona’s existing political and progressive landscape to identify strengths, gaps, and capacity needs for electoral success in 2026 and beyond
Engaging key stakeholders in fact-finding conversations regarding staffing, budgets, and program design
Guiding the strategic planning steering committee and Arizona partner organizations in developing a shared framework to build a more progressive Arizona
Considering the electorate, past elections, current capacities of hard-side entities, IE infrastructure, and identifying gaps
Analyzing recent cycle expenditures to assess what is driving the impact
Comparing progressive and conservative infrastructure programs and investments to identify opportunities for competitive advantage
Working with One Arizona, America Votes Arizona, Progress Arizona, and the strategic planning committee to develop a statewide investment plan to support the 1-year, 2-year, and 5-year strategic plans, as well as the broader 10-year vision

DELIVERABLES
The selected consultant will be responsible for leading the Arizona Infrastructure Partners’ strategic planning steering committee through a process that results in:

 A statewide strategic plan for Arizona’s progressive infrastructure, including implementation timelines for 1-year (midterms), 2-year (presidential), 5-year (census/redistricting), and a comprehensive 10-year vision
An assessment of current strengths and opportunities in Arizona’s infrastructure, with actionable recommendations
Identification of infrastructure gaps and clear recommendations for addressing them, including definitions of organizational roles and responsibilities (e.g., c3 table, c4 table, communications hub, candidate recruitment)
A long-term sustainability and success strategy that is responsive to the evolving political, IE, and progressive advocacy landscape. 
Updated prospectus and other public-facing materials (copy only) for One Arizona, America Votes Arizona, and Progress Arizona
The consultant will be responsible for producing written summaries and presentations and for managing the full scope of the deliverables. Staff, consultants, and committee members will be available to support the work, but the consultant will lead and complete all final products.

PROJECT PHASES

Phase One: Discovery and Analysis

Work with Arizona Infrastructure Partners and the strategic planning steering committee to identify key questions, areas of focus, stakeholders to interview, data sources to review, and a research sequence
Serve as the liaison between stakeholders and data researchers to produce a comprehensive landscape analysis
Ensure transparency and awareness of the discovery process and goals among infrastructure staff and stakeholders
Conduct interviews and assessments (phone, in-person, and online) and gather feedback from stakeholders
Share a short update report with Arizona Infrastructure Partners and the strategic planning steering committee upon completion of outreach
Phase Two: Infrastructure Assessment Report

Compile and analyze findings into an infrastructure assessment
Identify and prioritize additional capacity needs and provide recommendations
Present findings to Arizona Infrastructure staff and other key stakeholders
Phase Three: Final Strategic Analysis, Recommendations, and Ten-Year Guide

Collaborate with Arizona Infrastructure Partners and the strategic planning steering committee to develop a final strategy and roadmap for implementation
Present the final report to Arizona Infrastructure Partners, the steering committee, and other stakeholders
TIMELINE
This project is expected to take six months, following the timeline below:

 August 2025: Lead Consultant Hired
 Sept. – Oct. 2025: Phase One – Discovery and Analysis
 Nov. – Jan. 2026: Phase Two – Infrastructure Assessment
  (Report due Jan. 8, 2026)
 Feb. – March 2026: Phase Three – Final Strategic Analysis
  (Report due March 2, 2026)
PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS
To apply, please submit the following materials by August 15, 2025, to [email protected]:

A professional bio outlining relevant work experience
A writing or presentation sample demonstrating strategic analysis skills
A brief memo outlining your approach and budget for completing this project
ABOUT the Arizona Infrastructure Partners:

One Arizona: Since 2010, One Arizona has been at the forefront of expanding the electorate, building long-term political power in BIPOC communities, and protecting democracy in Arizona. As a coalition of 27 grassroots and national organizations, One Arizona serves as the coordinating hub for civic engagement efforts across the state. Through strategic collaboration, research-driven programming, and deep investment in community-led initiatives, we foster a culture of sustained civic participation, ensuring historically underrepresented communities have a voice in shaping Arizona’s future.

America Votes Arizona: America Votes Arizona is the coordination hub of the progressive community, working with more than 40 state and national partner organizations to strengthen democracy, win elections, and protect every Arizonan’s right to vote. Our work is centered on fostering a culture of strong civic participation, increasing voter engagement and mobilization, and advocating for fair, modern elections. 

Progress Arizona:

As a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, we serve as the communications hub for Arizona progressives. We offer training, coaching and coordination to grassroots groups, provide strategic rapid response capacity, and execute cutting-edge digital campaigns.

ProgressNow AZ Institute is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides digital and communications support to Arizona community organizations focused on civic engagement.

Requirements

REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must meet the following criteria:

Demonstrated experience working with diverse coalitions and constituencies
High-level experience leading statewide and/or national electoral campaigns or organizations
Proven commitment to uplifting communities of color and other marginalized populations
Deep understanding of Arizona’s diverse electorate
Capacity to assemble a team (internal or external) to complete the project within the designated timeline
Proven ability to work with or build diverse teams
Additional qualifications that will be considered:
Direct and recent experience in Arizona or a similarly situated state
Existing relationships with key stakeholders and/or national partner affiliates
Experience managing large-scale paid communications and research programs
Demonstrated success conducting comparable strategic planning or landscape analysis projects.