Overview
Location:
812 Madison St., Oak Park, IL 60302 Primary Points of Contact:
Board of Directors (Capital Campaign Committee) and General Manager Engagement Type:
Contract / Consultant (part-time/variable hours) Start Date:
March 6, 2026 Campaign Goal:
After 10 years of serving our community, the Sugar Beet Food Co-op’s store is ready for a refresh. We plan to update our interior space to add new fixtures and check out lanes to enhance the customer experience and profitability of the store. We estimate that we will need to raise $450-550,000 for this project. About Sugar Beet Food Co-op Sugar Beet Food Co-op is a full-service, community-owned grocery store in Oak Park committed to local, organic and sustainable products. Our mission is to build community through food. Our values are: Run a financially viable business for our owners Be a great place to work Provide a thriving marketplace for local farmers & producers Address inequality in our local food system for our broader community Be a great place to shop Be an environmental steward to protect our planet The co-op has a demonstrated history of being able to raise money from the community. To launch the co-op 10 years ago, we raised $650K in owner loans. We secured 80 loans from 68 different people and foundations. We have paid back 78 of them with the final 2 loans due in early 2026. This capital campaign is a key initiative to advance our co-op’s next phase. Note: the words donor and lender are both used in this document to describe people who would make a loan to the capital campaign. Contributions to the capital campaign are not tax deductible. Role Summary
The Capital Campaign Coordinator will be responsible for managing the planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of the capital campaign for Sugar Beet. The individual will serve as the primary project leader for the campaign and will work collaboratively with staff, board, and owners to ensure campaign objectives are met on time, on budget, and aligned with co-op culture and values. The Sugar Beet Board and Capital Campaign Committee should retain the primary responsibility for direct lender relationships. Key Responsibilities
As aligned with standard campaign-coordinator roles (see workbook resource ), the Coordinator will lead: Create and refine a campaign plan to include: Goals Timeline Budget Recognition plan Setup tracking systems to monitor and manage the campaign plan. Example deliverables: Campaign Plan and Tracking System Lender Identification & Cultivation
Work with the committee to identify prospects from co-op ownership (previous lenders and new owners) and segment them by capacity, affinity, and giving potential. Identify and engage lenders from outside co-op ownership including major donors, foundations, government, corporate partners, and community donors Prepare materials including briefing packets, talking points, and presentations to support cultivation. Manage necessary donor cultivation and informational events. Engage identified donors not assigned to board members. Example deliverables: Owner prospect list, outside prospect list, lender briefing packet, event materials, prospect assignments, and sample call sheets Owner Briefings and Engagement
Draft communication materials to inform owners about the plan and solicit input. The committee will approve and store staff will be responsible for sending communication. Managing at least one forum for open owner input on the proposed renovations and updates to the Co-op. Example deliverables: Owner briefing promotion materials, briefing materials, briefing followup message Solicitation & Follow Up
Coordinate solicitation strategy including organizing outreach, preparing proposals and loan agreements, follow-up and recognition. Maintain a lender pipeline, assist in managing commitments, tracking payments, and ensuring timely recognition and acknowledgement. Example deliverables: Loan agreements, thank you notes. Desired Qualifications
The ideal candidate will be able to motivate a team of busy volunteers towards a common goal, organize a project with multiple deadlines and handle challenges with humor and grace. Examples of tangible qualifications include: 5–7 years of experience managing capital campaigns (or equivalent major-gift/fundraising campaigns), with a proven track-record of meeting or exceeding campaign goals. Familiarity with the Sugar Beet Food Co-op and the Oak Park community. Experience working with community-based/mission-driven organizations, preferably cooperatives or food access organizations. Strong skills in donor cultivation/solicitation, database/tracking systems, budget management, communications and event planning. Excellent verbal and written communication skills; comfortable presenting to boards, donors, volunteers. Able to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders and reflect Sugar Beet’s commitment to equity, inclusion, localism and community ownership. High integrity, discretion with donor and financial information. Availability to work variable hours (including evenings/weekends for events or donor visits). Contract Terms & Compensation
This is a contract engagement (not employee). Payment structure may be a retainer and/or incentive tied to milestone goals (e.g., percent of funds raised) — to be negotiated. Anticipated term of engagement: 6-9 months Travel locally as needed (Oak Park/Chicago region) How to Apply / Request for Proposals (RFP)
Sugar Beet Food Co-op invites qualified firms or independent consultants to submit a
Proposal
for the Capital Campaign Coordinator role. Please include the following in your submission: Proposal content: Statement of Interest: Why do you want this role? Professional Qualifications: What have you done in the past that makes you a great fit for the campaign coordinator role? Include relevant stats on previous fundraising campaigns if you can share. Approach & Workplan: Proposed approach to this campaign, including timeline (phases), major milestones, proposed tools/technology, donor solicitation and communications strategy. This can be brief. You don’t need to do the job to get the job, we just want some insight into how you would approach it. Budget & Fee Structure: How would you like to be paid? Proposed contract fee (retainer + incentive, % based solely or alternative), estimated expenses, billing schedule, and any other assumptions regarding compensation. References: Who should we ask about you? At least three client references (name, organization, contact information) from completed capital-campaign work or other related experience. Selection Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated on: Proven experience and success in comparable campaigns including a demonstrated capacity to bring in prospects from outside of the owner community. Understanding of community-based/co-op organizations and alignment with Sugar Beet’s mission and values. Quality and clarity of approach, timeline, and deliverables. Reasonableness and competitiveness of fee structure. Strength of client references and fit with the co-op’s culture. Capacity to begin and manage the campaign within the required timeframe Submission Instructions
Submission Instructions: Submit your proposal as a single PDF document by email to: sugarbeetboard@gmail.com . Deadline for proposals: February 17, 2026 Anticipated decision date: March 3, 2026 Any questions regarding this RFP may be directed to Johnny Mathias, Vice President, Sugar Beet Board of Directors at sugarbeetboard@gmail.com . Terms & Conditions
Sugar Beet Food Co-op reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals, to negotiate modifications to a proposal, and to waive any informalities or irregularities in procedure. Engagement will be subject to execution of a mutually agreed contract, including confidentiality and non-disclosure provisions regarding donor and financial data. The selected candidate will maintain professional liability and/or commercial general liability insurance coverage during the term of the engagement and will provide a certificate of insurance upon request. Timeline
RFP issued: February 2, 2026 Proposal submission deadline: February 17, 2026 Review and interviews: February 18-March 3, 2026 Selection: March 5, 2026 Contract Executed: March 6, 2026 Quiet phase (lead loans) begins: April 10, 2026 Public phase begins: May 4, 2026 Campaign close-out: July 31, 2026 Post-campaign report: August 17, 2026 Dates in italics subject to the input of campaign coordinator
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Location:
812 Madison St., Oak Park, IL 60302 Primary Points of Contact:
Board of Directors (Capital Campaign Committee) and General Manager Engagement Type:
Contract / Consultant (part-time/variable hours) Start Date:
March 6, 2026 Campaign Goal:
After 10 years of serving our community, the Sugar Beet Food Co-op’s store is ready for a refresh. We plan to update our interior space to add new fixtures and check out lanes to enhance the customer experience and profitability of the store. We estimate that we will need to raise $450-550,000 for this project. About Sugar Beet Food Co-op Sugar Beet Food Co-op is a full-service, community-owned grocery store in Oak Park committed to local, organic and sustainable products. Our mission is to build community through food. Our values are: Run a financially viable business for our owners Be a great place to work Provide a thriving marketplace for local farmers & producers Address inequality in our local food system for our broader community Be a great place to shop Be an environmental steward to protect our planet The co-op has a demonstrated history of being able to raise money from the community. To launch the co-op 10 years ago, we raised $650K in owner loans. We secured 80 loans from 68 different people and foundations. We have paid back 78 of them with the final 2 loans due in early 2026. This capital campaign is a key initiative to advance our co-op’s next phase. Note: the words donor and lender are both used in this document to describe people who would make a loan to the capital campaign. Contributions to the capital campaign are not tax deductible. Role Summary
The Capital Campaign Coordinator will be responsible for managing the planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting of the capital campaign for Sugar Beet. The individual will serve as the primary project leader for the campaign and will work collaboratively with staff, board, and owners to ensure campaign objectives are met on time, on budget, and aligned with co-op culture and values. The Sugar Beet Board and Capital Campaign Committee should retain the primary responsibility for direct lender relationships. Key Responsibilities
As aligned with standard campaign-coordinator roles (see workbook resource ), the Coordinator will lead: Create and refine a campaign plan to include: Goals Timeline Budget Recognition plan Setup tracking systems to monitor and manage the campaign plan. Example deliverables: Campaign Plan and Tracking System Lender Identification & Cultivation
Work with the committee to identify prospects from co-op ownership (previous lenders and new owners) and segment them by capacity, affinity, and giving potential. Identify and engage lenders from outside co-op ownership including major donors, foundations, government, corporate partners, and community donors Prepare materials including briefing packets, talking points, and presentations to support cultivation. Manage necessary donor cultivation and informational events. Engage identified donors not assigned to board members. Example deliverables: Owner prospect list, outside prospect list, lender briefing packet, event materials, prospect assignments, and sample call sheets Owner Briefings and Engagement
Draft communication materials to inform owners about the plan and solicit input. The committee will approve and store staff will be responsible for sending communication. Managing at least one forum for open owner input on the proposed renovations and updates to the Co-op. Example deliverables: Owner briefing promotion materials, briefing materials, briefing followup message Solicitation & Follow Up
Coordinate solicitation strategy including organizing outreach, preparing proposals and loan agreements, follow-up and recognition. Maintain a lender pipeline, assist in managing commitments, tracking payments, and ensuring timely recognition and acknowledgement. Example deliverables: Loan agreements, thank you notes. Desired Qualifications
The ideal candidate will be able to motivate a team of busy volunteers towards a common goal, organize a project with multiple deadlines and handle challenges with humor and grace. Examples of tangible qualifications include: 5–7 years of experience managing capital campaigns (or equivalent major-gift/fundraising campaigns), with a proven track-record of meeting or exceeding campaign goals. Familiarity with the Sugar Beet Food Co-op and the Oak Park community. Experience working with community-based/mission-driven organizations, preferably cooperatives or food access organizations. Strong skills in donor cultivation/solicitation, database/tracking systems, budget management, communications and event planning. Excellent verbal and written communication skills; comfortable presenting to boards, donors, volunteers. Able to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders and reflect Sugar Beet’s commitment to equity, inclusion, localism and community ownership. High integrity, discretion with donor and financial information. Availability to work variable hours (including evenings/weekends for events or donor visits). Contract Terms & Compensation
This is a contract engagement (not employee). Payment structure may be a retainer and/or incentive tied to milestone goals (e.g., percent of funds raised) — to be negotiated. Anticipated term of engagement: 6-9 months Travel locally as needed (Oak Park/Chicago region) How to Apply / Request for Proposals (RFP)
Sugar Beet Food Co-op invites qualified firms or independent consultants to submit a
Proposal
for the Capital Campaign Coordinator role. Please include the following in your submission: Proposal content: Statement of Interest: Why do you want this role? Professional Qualifications: What have you done in the past that makes you a great fit for the campaign coordinator role? Include relevant stats on previous fundraising campaigns if you can share. Approach & Workplan: Proposed approach to this campaign, including timeline (phases), major milestones, proposed tools/technology, donor solicitation and communications strategy. This can be brief. You don’t need to do the job to get the job, we just want some insight into how you would approach it. Budget & Fee Structure: How would you like to be paid? Proposed contract fee (retainer + incentive, % based solely or alternative), estimated expenses, billing schedule, and any other assumptions regarding compensation. References: Who should we ask about you? At least three client references (name, organization, contact information) from completed capital-campaign work or other related experience. Selection Criteria
Proposals will be evaluated on: Proven experience and success in comparable campaigns including a demonstrated capacity to bring in prospects from outside of the owner community. Understanding of community-based/co-op organizations and alignment with Sugar Beet’s mission and values. Quality and clarity of approach, timeline, and deliverables. Reasonableness and competitiveness of fee structure. Strength of client references and fit with the co-op’s culture. Capacity to begin and manage the campaign within the required timeframe Submission Instructions
Submission Instructions: Submit your proposal as a single PDF document by email to: sugarbeetboard@gmail.com . Deadline for proposals: February 17, 2026 Anticipated decision date: March 3, 2026 Any questions regarding this RFP may be directed to Johnny Mathias, Vice President, Sugar Beet Board of Directors at sugarbeetboard@gmail.com . Terms & Conditions
Sugar Beet Food Co-op reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals, to negotiate modifications to a proposal, and to waive any informalities or irregularities in procedure. Engagement will be subject to execution of a mutually agreed contract, including confidentiality and non-disclosure provisions regarding donor and financial data. The selected candidate will maintain professional liability and/or commercial general liability insurance coverage during the term of the engagement and will provide a certificate of insurance upon request. Timeline
RFP issued: February 2, 2026 Proposal submission deadline: February 17, 2026 Review and interviews: February 18-March 3, 2026 Selection: March 5, 2026 Contract Executed: March 6, 2026 Quiet phase (lead loans) begins: April 10, 2026 Public phase begins: May 4, 2026 Campaign close-out: July 31, 2026 Post-campaign report: August 17, 2026 Dates in italics subject to the input of campaign coordinator
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