Posted: October 2025
Deadline: November 17, 2025
The Institute of Consumer Money Management (ICMM), in partnership with Carolina Community Impact (CCI) and the NC CDFI Coalition, is seeking proposals for an independent, mixed-methods evaluation of the InSPIRe pilot program in Western North Carolina.
About the InSPIRe Pilot
The Insurance Supplement Program for Inclusive Recovery (InSPIRe) is a new initiative designed to help small businesses recover from the economic effects of Hurricane Helene. The program provides supplemental, insurance-style grants—ranging from $3,000 to $5,000—to fill critical coverage gaps left by traditional insurance and disaster assistance.
With a focus on equity and inclusion, InSPIRe prioritizes rural, low-to-moderate income (LMI), and minority- or women-owned small businesses in affected communities. The pilot will distribute 30–50 grants, with some participants receiving combined grant-plus-technical assistance or loan support.
Evaluation Purpose
ICMM is funding an external evaluation to assess the program’s impact and document lessons for scaling inclusive recovery models. The evaluation will:
- Measure the extent to which InSPIRe grants close insurance coverage gaps
- Assess how funds are used to support recovery and continuity
- Evaluate business and employment outcomes (e.g., jobs retained, operations sustained)
- Analyze equity in outcomes across community, demographic, and business types
- Capture participants’ experiences with recovery and financial resilience
- Identify design lessons for future supplemental insurance models
Funding and Scope
- Funding range: $35,000–$50,000 (fixed-price contract)
- Timeline: Approximately 12 months (data collection, analysis, and reporting)
- Deliverables: Work plan, interim memo, final report (conference-ready), presentation slides, and de-identified dataset
Who Should Apply
Proposals are invited from universities, research institutes, evaluation firms, and independent researchers with experience in:
- Program evaluation using mixed methods
- Small business, disaster recovery, or LMI equity contexts
- Working with community-based partners or CDFIs
- Conducting applied, translational research relevant to financial resilience
Proposal Submission
Proposals should be concise (no more than 8 pages, excluding appendices) and include:
- Cover letter and summary of team, timeline, and budget
- Technical approach and data collection plan
- Team qualifications and relevant experience
- Deliverables and timeline
- Budget (narrative and spreadsheet)
All proposals must be submitted electronically to InspireResearch@ccifund.org by November 17th at 5:00 pm EST.
Download the Full RFP
For questions or clarifications, please contact InspireResearch@ccifund.org.
Responses to all inquiries will be shared publicly to ensure transparency and fairness in the review process.
About the Partners
The Institute of Consumer Money Management (ICMM) is a nonprofit research foundation dedicated to improving the financial wellbeing, resilience, and equity of low-to-moderate income (LMI) households.
Carolina Community Impact (CCI) is a North Carolina CDFI committed to expanding equitable access to capital and financial solutions that strengthen communities across the state.
