Request for Proposal

June 2008

From: The Chicagoland Marketing Initiative of the Chicago Area Unitarian Universalist Council

RE: Web site, brochure and post card outreach initiative

Objective

The Chicago Area Unitarian Universalist Council is a consortium of congregations in the greater Chicago area. We would like to develop an outreach/marketing program that will act as a "front door" for seekers of our faith and congregations. We propose developing a website, brochure, and postcard, all of which would be first-encounter experiences.

The website would be the most substantial first encounter or "front door" for seekers of our spiritual experience and church communities. We want the web site to be solidly informative about Unitarian Universalism, what it represents and how it is in the world, while also conveying a dynamic, colorful, exciting experience. We would like the website to give a flavor for the best of who we are.

We would like it to be dynamic enough that seekers will search the website learning and tasting before they ask to be referred by search to the website of the individual congregation most fitting their needs (searching for a congregation nearest by zip code, having a children's religious education program, a Welcoming Congregation, having a strong social justice program, an urban church, etc.)

We have a website at present (cauuc.org) which was developed with GoDaddy using a template and Mozilla Composer. That may be adaptable, or it may be more expedient to develop a new site using a new template and manager. It would be ultimately manageable by an educable amateur through the CAUUC Board.

In addition to the website, we would like developed two paper pieces of outreach, a brochure and a postcard. The brochure would reflect the dynamism of the website and be transportable electronically for congregations to individualize before publishing.

The postcard is a "quick snap," also adaptable by individual congregations. We see these three outreach initiatives tied together with a common logo and banner.

Please respond to any or all projects:

Projects:

A. Logo development

B. Website development

C. Brochure

D. Postcard

A. Logo development

For use on website banner, letterhead, brochure, postcard

B. Website development

General

• Identify hosting service (currently is GoDaddy)
• Possibly change domain name to something recognizable by search engines: e.g., ChicagoAreaUU.org
• Identify a Content Management System (CMS) that can be managed by an educable amateur
• Upgrade browser compatibility
• Upgrade compatibility with search engines
• Visitor tracking

Specific

• Redevelop home "Front" page with
• A "News box" (events, news) with "read more" link to separate News/announcements page
• Slide show
• Links to video/audio clips
• Logo banner
• Link for join email list

• Include capacity for
• Video, streaming and downloadable
• Audio, downloadable
• PDF files downloadable
• Internal website search engine
• Online emailable newsletter and announcement board (i.e., "iContact" or "Constant Contact")
• Online community plug-ins
• Email list management

• Pages for
• Calendar: event listing with capacity for extended text
• Directory of congregations with search capability

e.g., by zip code, RE programs, pagan, strong social justice
                                                    program

o Archives

o Topical resources, e.g., CMI materials, Green Sanctuary

o Stories of possible media interest

C. Brochure – tri-fold

Including

• A CAUUC logo,
• generalized presentation of Unitarian Universalism
• capacity for individual congregations to customize
• Transportable electronically.

D. Postcard (oversize 6 x 8.5)

Include

• logo and banner on face
• capacity for congregations to customize message on back
• capacity for an individual congregation to add their own photo on the face
• room for addresses/mailing on back

RFP published: June 18, 2008

Framework and timelines

Maximum award: $3500.

Proposal deadline: July 15, 2008

Award announcement: August 1, 2008

Deadline for completion: October 1, 2008

RFP is posted on www.cauuc.org and response may be made by email or post.

Respond to:

The Reverend Brian Covell, president

CAUUC

301 N. Mayfield Ave.

Chicago, IL 60644

briancovell@comcast.net