Project Description

Community Foundations of Canada (CFC) is seeking proposals for a Data Partner in the Vital Signs Program. Vital Signs is Canada’s most extensive community-driven data program, spearheaded by CFC and led by community foundations (CFs) around the world. 

CFC is looking for a partner who will be able to build data infrastructure over time. As the first step in this process, we are seeking proposals for a pilot project to explore utilizing Vital Signs to elaborate on learnings and public datasets related to the Healthy Communities Initiative (HCI). 

The purpose of this Request for Proposals is to identify a Data Partner with appropriate expertise that can provide comprehensive data in a manner that is cost-effective, flexible, and prioritizes open access to community level data. The ideal partner would lead the design and creation of a customizable and user-friendly dashboard, map and/or other data projects (available in both official languages) using appropriate software to help CFC and CFs better understand how Vital Signs data trends across Canada and how they compare to other communities and nationally. CFC is open to considering additional scopes of work to continue to build on this data platform as future needs arise after successful implementation of this first phase of work. In addition, the Data Partner should have experience with capacity building, ideally with community foundations, to help them better understand, utilize and communicate about their local data. 

Project Objectives

As we reimagine the possibilities of what the Vital Signs Program can help us understand this project is seeking to achieve the following: 

1. Build a bilingual data platform utilizing software and data visualization tools that are cost-effective and scalable to visualize Vital Signs data across the country for the network of 207 community foundations. 
2. Help CFC identify and add the right datasets from StatsCan or other open data sets to clearly communicate with CFs and other stakeholders. Specifically for this pilot project focusing on data related to the Healthy Communities Initiative objectives and outcomes, including:
   • creating safe and vibrant public spaces where everyone belongs;
   • improving mobility options and accessibility, and;
   • providing innovative digital solutions to improve connections.
3. Engage in capacity building to help CFs and CFC more easily access and utilize the data in various formats (e.g. downloadable spreadsheets, dashboards, etc.), to understand and utilize their data in more impactful ways.

Proposals will be accepted until August 26, 2024, and all applicants will be notified by September 4, 2024.