Organization: La Source
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Contract type: External Consultant
Anticipated contract period: April to June 2027
Maximum budget: $25,000
Proposal deadline: September 14, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time
About the Opportunity
La Source is seeking an experienced consultant or consulting firm specializing in strategy, media development, revenue diversification, and partnership development.
This mandate is part of “Propelling La Source’s Growth and Sustainability,” a project designed to strengthen the newspaper’s financial sustainability and development capacity so that it can continue fulfilling its mission of providing news and information to British Columbia’s Francophone and Francophile communities.
This consultancy will form the first phase of the project. The resulting strategies, recommendations, and tools will provide the foundation for the work of a Partnerships and Communications Coordinator, who will subsequently lead their implementation.
Scope of Work
The selected consultant will conduct a strategic, financial, and commercial assessment and develop a strategy aimed at:
- diversifying earned revenue streams;
- increasing advertising and sponsorship revenue;
- developing and strengthening La Source’s network of partners;
- structuring business development activities;
- improving sales, marketing, and prospecting tools;
- progressively strengthening La Source’s capacity for self-generated revenue.
1. Conduct a Strategic Assessment
The consultant will analyze:
- La Source’s business model;
- revenues and expenses related to development activities;
- the market and La Source’s positioning;
- current advertisers, partners, and audiences;
- strengths, challenges, and opportunities for growth.
2. Develop a Revenue Diversification Strategy
The mandate will include:
- identifying new revenue opportunities;
- developing an advertising and commercial strategy;
- identifying sponsorship opportunities;
- defining priority markets and client segments;
- developing appropriate commercial offerings.
3. Develop a Partnership Strategy
The consultant will:
- map current and prospective partners;
- establish partnership development priorities;
- define a prospecting and outreach approach;
- propose sustainable partnership models.
4. Develop a Financial Model
The mandate will also include:
- preparing 3- to 5-year financial projections;
- developing growth scenarios;
- establishing revenue targets;
- calculating break-even points;
- proposing a strategy to progressively increase self-generated revenue.
5. Develop Practical Tools
The consultant will develop tools that can be readily used by the La Source team, including:
- prospecting and outreach tools;
- a sales pitch and key messaging;
- advertising and sponsorship packages;
- proposal templates;
- a prospect tracking system;
- a dashboard of key performance indicators.
Expected Deliverables
At the conclusion of the mandate, the consultant will provide:
- A strategic, financial, and commercial assessment;
- A strategic development plan;
- A revenue diversification strategy;
- A marketing and sales strategy;
- A partnership development plan;
- A mapping of priority prospects and partners;
- A 3- to 5-year financial forecasting model;
- A prospecting and sales toolkit;
- A performance indicator dashboard;
- A 2027–2028 action plan;
- Recommendations to ensure the long-term sustainability of the development function beyond March 2028.
Target Outcomes
By March 2028, the project aims to:
- increase the number of active advertisers from 23 to 35;
- increase the number of partners and collaborators from 35 to 50;
- increase recurring collaborations from 8 to 15;
- conduct at least 50 prospecting and outreach initiatives;
- establish at least 10 new partnerships or collaborations;
- generate at least $50,000 in new earned or recurring revenue;
- contribute to an overall 50% increase in earned revenue.
Qualifications
We are seeking a consultant or consulting firm with:
- demonstrated experience in the media sector;
- expertise in strategy and business development;
- experience in revenue diversification;
- strong knowledge of advertising, sponsorships, and partnerships;
- experience in financial planning or business model development;
- the ability to develop practical tools that can be implemented immediately;
- excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills.
An asset: Knowledge of the Francophone media and community landscape.
Budget
The maximum budget available for this mandate is $25,000.
The financial proposal must provide a breakdown of professional fees associated with the different phases and deliverables, as well as applicable taxes and any anticipated additional expenses.
What to Include in Your Proposal
Please include:
- an introduction to the consultant or consulting firm;
- the résumé/CV of the lead consultant;
- relevant experience and examples of similar mandates;
- your understanding of the mandate;
- the proposed methodology and approach;
- the proposed key deliverables;
- a project timeline;
- a detailed breakdown of professional fees, including the anticipated days and hours for each phase and deliverable;
- references from two clients, if available.
Evaluation Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
Consultant experience and expertise: 25%
Understanding of the context and mandate: 20%
Quality and relevance of the proposed methodology: 25%
Quality of deliverables and implementation potential: 15%
Financial proposal: 15%
La Source reserves the right to request additional information or clarification from applicants. The lowest-priced proposal will not necessarily be selected if another proposal better meets the project’s objectives.
Timeline
- Proposal deadline: September 14, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time
- Proposal evaluation: To be determined
- Consultant selection: March 2027
- Anticipated start date: April 2027
- Anticipated completion: July 2027
How to Apply
Please submit your proposal by email to info@thelasource.com, to the attention of the President and Executive Director of Publishing and Editorial.
Email subject line: Proposal – Media Strategy and Development Consultant
Deadline: September 14, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
Proposals received after the deadline may not be considered.
Terms and Conditions
La Source reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal, request additional information or clarification, and negotiate the terms of the mandate with the selected consultant or firm.
This Request for Proposals does not constitute an obligation to enter into a contract with any applicant.
We thank all consultants and firms for their interest. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
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