Request for Proposals For Investment Management Services

Organization Overview

Community Organizations Active In Disaster, Inc. dba Be Ready Alliance Coordinating For Emergencies or BRACE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and is Escambia County, Florida’s leading nonprofit in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.

BRACE leads the Escambia Long-Term Recovery Group, working in partnership with local and national organizations to help residents access essential resources for recovery following natural disasters. As the fiscal agent and Emergency Service Function 15 Lead for Escambia County Emergency Management, BRACE oversees the efficient and effective deployment of volunteers, resources, and information to address the county’s needs during and after a disaster. BRACE also manages the Escambia County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), offering training for both adults and teens to equip them with vital disaster response skills. These skills support first responders and provide immediate assistance to survivors before professional help arrives, focusing on fire safety, light search and rescue, and disaster medical operations. Additionally, BRACE administers the Pensacola Fire Corps program, offering medical and rehabilitation support to Pensacola firefighters during large-scale incidents. Through a variety of programs and workshops, BRACE educates communities on disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.

Our primary financial objective is to preserve and grow our portfolio, currently valued at approximately $1 million, with a focus on long-term sustainability. We aim to balance risk and return through a diversified investment strategy that aligns with the mission and values of our nonprofit organization. Specifically, we seek to achieve capital appreciation by strategically growing the portfolio, enabling us to expand our operations and enhance our community impact. In addition, we are focused on income generation, identifying investments that can provide a reliable cash flow to support our initiatives and operational needs. Risk mitigation is also a priority, as we aim to protect the portfolio from market volatility while ensuring stable, resilient growth. We are committed to impact investing, seeking opportunities that not only offer financial returns but also contribute positively to the broader community. Ultimately, our goal is to position the portfolio for long-term financial stability, ensuring our nonprofit can continue fulfilling its mission and creating a lasting impact. We are seeking the expertise of an experienced investment management firm to help guide us in achieving these objectives through strategic planning, expert counsel, and active portfolio management.

We are seeking the services of an experienced investment management firm to provide advisory counsel and investment management services for a portfolio currently valued at approximately $1 million.  The Request for Proposal (RFP) is part of a competitive sealed bid process.  For ease of reference, an entity receiving this RFP is referred to as a “Firm”. 

RFP Questionnaire

1. Firm Background

1.1  Please provide your firm’s name, the name of the contact individual, physical address, mailing address (if different), contact telephone and contact email.

1.2  Provide a brief history of your firm, its mission statement, its operations, ownership structure, and any affiliates.

1.3  Do you assume a fiduciary role in your services as an Investment Manager? How do you uphold this in the recommendations you make to clients?

1.4  Within the last five years, has your organization or any officer or principal been involved in any business litigation or legal proceedings related to your investment activities?  If so, please provide an explanation and indicate the current status or disposition.

1.5  If your firm, its parent, or an affiliate is a broker/dealer, do you execute trades for client accounts through this broker/dealer?

1.6  Describe your firm’s client base, specifying what percentage comprises nonprofit organizations.

1.7  Identify the key staff who would be involved with our account, detailing their relationship to the organization and their experience working with nonprofit organizations. Provide biographical information on these individuals.

1.8  What distinguishes your organization from competitors?

2. Investment Approach

2.1  What is your firm’s investment philosophy?

2.2  Describe your firm’s investment process including asset allocation, portfolio construction, and rebalancing.

2.3  Does your firm develop its own capital market assumptions?  If so, please explain.

2.4  Discuss your approach to investment fund or manager selection and specify if any proprietary strategies may be used.

2.5  What is your firm’s philosophy with respect to employing active or passive strategies and the use of non-traditional alternative investments?

2.6  Describe how benchmarks are selected and used in evaluating and reporting performance.

3. Nonprofit Services

3.1  Discuss your service model and outline what our organization can expect from your firm annually.

3.2  How do you assist nonprofits with the development and monitoring of their Investment Policy Statement?

3.3  Describe the online access provided to clients and explain how you will report to our stakeholders.

3.4  Detail the method and frequency of your performance reporting to clients. Include a sample of your performance report.

3.5  What services do you offer to assist our investment committee in meeting its fiduciary obligations?

4. References

4.1  Please provide three references who can attest to your firm’s capabilities in providing investment management services. Please include a contact name, phone number, e-mail address and their title/role with the nonprofit.

5. Fees

5.1  Describe your proposed fee structure and billing process for investment advisory fees. Detail the fee schedule, if applicable.

5.2  Provide information on asset management fees or average fund expenses for strategies your firm typically invests in.

5.3  List all other fees or expenses, including but not limited to, custodian, administration, reporting, travel, and any other fee not previously mentioned.

Timeline, RFP Guidelines, and Contact Information

Timeline

Proposals must be submitted and received by 5pm on May 2, 2025.  Finalists will be notified on or around May 9, 2025 and final selection will be completed by May 16, 2025.

RFP Guidelines

Only sealed proposals will be accepted. The envelope must be labeled “RFP – Investment

Management Services”. Please mail to:

Dr. Nick Jackson
150 W. Maxwell Street
Pensacola, FL 32501

BRACE will not be responsible for any costs incurred by any Firm responding to the RFP.

Contact Information

Any questions or other inquiries can be sent to:

Dr. Nick Jackson, CEO

njackson@bereadyalliance.org