Request for Service (RFS): Marketing, Communications & Data Visual Design Support 

Request for Service (RFS): Marketing, Communications & Data Visual Design Support 

Issued by: UP Partnership 
Date: April 2, 2026 

1. Introduction 

UP Partnership is seeking proposals from qualified contractors or firms with a strong emphasis on visual design services, supported by expertise in marketing, communications, and data visualization that advances our communitywide work to ensure all young people in Bexar County are ready for the future. This work supports UP Partnership’s mission to ensure all young people in our community have the opportunity and support to realize their full potential, guided by our core pillars: equity, integrity, data-driven practice, advocacy, and collaboration. 

The selected partner will help us produce compelling, equity-centered storytelling and data-informed visual content that lifts up the progress of our community’s Future Ready Plan, supports narrative change around youth success, and enhances the visibility of our collaborative cross-sector work.

2. Background on UP Partnership 

UP Partnership is a backbone organization supporting a network of more than 90 institutions—including school districts, colleges and universities, nonprofits, public agencies, and business partners—who have come together around a shared community vision: by 2030, Bexar County will increase the percentage of local young people who actively enroll into college or a university.  

Our work focuses on these key levers: 

  • Access: Ensuring young people have equitable access to high-quality postsecondary education and career pathways through aligned advising, early college opportunities, and coordinated community supports—while removing structural barriers and expanding opportunity across schools, systems, and neighborhoods. 
  • Voice: Centering youth, family, and community voice in decision-making by strengthening developmental relationships, elevating lived experiences, and co-creating solutions that reflect the needs and aspirations of those most impacted. 
  • Data: Using shared data systems, visualization, and storytelling to align cross-sector strategies, track progress toward outcomes, and ensure accountability, while enabling our community partners to identify gaps, target supports, and continuously improve impact. 

Communications and visual storytelling are essential to reinforcing this collaborative vision and demonstrating the impact of our partners’ work. 

3. Scope of Services 

The selected contractor will support UP Partnership’s marketing and communications team with the development of content and visual materials for storytelling, social media, paid media, and partner-facing communications. 

Services may include, but are not limited to:

A. Marketing & Communications

  • Create equity-centered written content (social media posts, newsletters, email campaigns, blog stories, partner spotlights, campaign messaging, etc.). 
  • Support paid media campaign development, including messaging, copywriting, asset recommendations, and execution support. 
  • Assist in brand alignment across digital and printed materials. 
  • Develop template-based or campaign-focused communications aligned with UP Partnership’s voice and tone. 
  • Provide strategic recommendations on content planning, scheduling, and audience engagement

B. Storytelling

  • Develop human-centered narrative visual storytelling that highlights youth, partner institutions, and community impact. 
  • Transform complex or technical information (e.g., education data, multi-sector initiatives) into accessible public-facing stories. 

C. Data Visualization & Graphic Design

  • Design charts, data graphics, infographics, dashboards, or visual summaries that communicate progress on the Future Ready Plan. 
  • Create branded visuals for social media, print materials, event collateral, presentations, and reports. 
  • Support the visual layout of briefs, reports, and partner materials. 
  • Translate quantitative and qualitative insights into clear, engaging visual products.

D. Collaboration & Project Management

  • Collaborate as an active thought partner, offering constructive feedback and thoughtful challenge to refine visual deliverables for optimal end-user outcomes. 
  • Participate in regular check-ins with UP Partnership’s communications team. 
  • Provide drafts, revisions, and final assets within agreed timelines. 
  • Ensure all deliverables support consistent messaging, accessibility, and brand standards. 

4. Deliverables 

Deliverables may vary based on the contractor’s proposed approach and allocation of hours, but may include: 

  • 10 hours a week of dedicated time to UP Partnership 
  • Social media content packages 
  • Paid media campaign assets 
  • Infographics or data visualizations 
  • Event or partner-facing communication materials 
  • Visual assets for presentations or reports 
  • Digital advertising creative 

UP Partnership welcomes proposals that include optional service packages or tiered pricing. 

5. Required Qualifications 

Contractors should demonstrate: 

  • Experience in mission-driven or nonprofit communications 
  • Evidence of work centering equity-driven storytelling 
  • Ability to translate data into accessible visuals 
  • Strong portfolio showcasing design, marketing, or data visualization 
  • Experience working in collaborative, multi-stakeholder environments 
  • Cultural competence and alignment with UP Partnership values 
  • Ability to deliver high-quality work on tight timelines 

6. Proposal Requirements 

Please include the following in your submission: 

  • Cover letter summarizing qualifications and alignment with UP Partnership’s mission 
  • Proposed service approach and process 
  • Examples of similar work 
  • Proposed rate structure (hourly or project-based options) 
  • Estimated availability and capacity 
  • Biography or résumé 
  • At least two references 

7. Timeline

  • RFS Issued: April 2, 2026 
  • Questions from Respondents Due:  April 15th, 2026 
  • Proposals Due: April 31st, 2026 
  • Contractor Selected: May 15th  
  • Contract Duration-  June 1- December 31st 

8. Proposal Submission

Please submit all required materials to: 

Jeannette Garcia 
UP Partnership 
Email: communications@uppartnership.org 
Subject line: RFS – Marketing, Communications & Data Visual Design Services 

9. Evaluation Criteria 

Proposals will be evaluated on: 

  • Alignment with UP Partnership mission and equity principles 
  • Quality and relevance of portfolio 
  • Demonstrated capacity for storytelling and data visual design 
  • Clarity and feasibility of proposed approach 
  • Pricing and value 
  • Experience working with or understanding San Antonio communities (preferred) 

Stronger Together: A New Era for Institutional Agreements

Stronger Together: A New Era for Institutional Agreements  

Future Ready Bexar County has always been powered by partnership.  

More than 120 organizations. One shared North Star: to increase postsecondary enrollment to 70% in Bexar County by 2030.  

Now we’re taking the next step, as we have done since the beginning; together through new Institutional Agreements that will be valid between 2026-2028.  

These Agreements are designed to move us from broad alignment to measurable, collective impact.  

Why This Shift?  

Because collective impact requires clarity.  

In the initial iteration of Future Ready, partners committed to powerful actions aligned to Voice, Healing, and Access.  

But we didn’t have a consistent way to measure our shared progress, nor did we have clear guidelines to provide Systems Support to ensure our collective success. 

With these new Institutional Agreements, each partner will set one to five measurable targets aligned to Future Ready KPIs or alternate metrics — targets that reflect the real contribution the organization will make by 2028, so that we can transparently keep each other accountable toward ensuring a bright future for our young people.  

This is not more work.  
It is more focused.  
It is intended to promote visibility and transparently show and measure our collective impact.  

What This Means: 

  • You choose targets aligned to work you’re already doing.  
  • We report progress twice a year.  
  • We build a clear picture of our collective momentum.  

When we can measure and show our impact, we:  

  • Strengthen collaboration across the network  
  • Identify where support is needed  
  • Make a stronger case for funding and policy change  
  • Demonstrate what’s possible for young people ages 0–24 

This Is Collective Impact in Action.  

These agreements aren’t about compliance.  

They’re about shared accountability. Shared ambition. Shared results.  

If we want to move the Future Ready North Star, we have to move together — with clarity about what each of us is contributing.  

We’re excited to take this step with you. And we’ve created a myriad of tools to support each organization’s ability to navigate this new process.  We are also offering several virtual information sessions you can register to attend an upcoming one here:  https://bit.ly/IAInfoSession2026  

Let’s measure what matters — and build a Future Ready Bexar County, together.   

For more guidance on how to complete your institutional agreement, you can read the following resources:

2026–2028 Institutional Agreement KPI Guidance Doc

Future Ready Partner Portal Guide