CCUIH 20th Anniversary Gala Event Planner:
Celebrating Two Decades of Wellness, Visibility, and Resilience
California Consortium for Urban Indian Health (CCUIH) Overview
Established in 2006, CCUIH is a statewide alliance of Urban Indian Health Programs and substance abuse treatment facilities. For 20 years, CCUIH has served as a collective voice for the “invisible” population—the over 90% of American Indians and Alaska Natives in California who live in urban areas. Our mission is to facilitate shared development resources for our members and raise public awareness to support a health and wellness network that meets the needs of American Indians living in urban communities.
We celebrate the principle that Culture is Prevention. Our work is centered on:
– Increasing Visibility: Ensuring Urban Indians are included in health care planning and policy.
– Leading Community Engagement: Driving awareness through trauma-informed and traditional Indian programming.
– Creating Systems Change: Reducing health disparities through culturally specific advocacy and research.
As we reach our 20th year, we are looking to celebrate our history, honor our elders and champions, and solidify the “Urban Reservation” support network that sustains our people across California.
1. Opportunity
CCUIH is seeking a visionary event planner and experienced fundraiser to design and execute our 20th Anniversary Gala. This event will be a premier gathering of community and tribal leaders, health advocates, policy makers, and community members.
The event is tentatively scheduled for Fall 2026 in the Sacramento area. The gala will highlight two decades of legislative victories, health equity advancements, and the vibrant cultural resilience of California’s Urban Indian communities.
Qualified applicants should have experience with high-profile nonprofit galas, a deep respect for Native American protocol (including land acknowledgments and traditional protocols), and the ability to weave cultural storytelling into a sophisticated and impactful event format that also serves as a fundraising event for CCUIH.
2. Event Details
Event Date: Tentatively October 2026.
Location: A premier, accessible venue in the Sacramento area.
Audience: Approximately 200–300 attendees, including CCUIH member clinics, philanthropic partners, state officials, former employees, and community leaders.
Tone: Celebratory, prestigious, and culturally grounded. It should feel like a “Homecoming” for the Urban Indian community.
Partnership: The successful vendor will be expected to work closely with CCUIH staff to ensure the event represents the agency and community appropriately. Major decisions for the event shall be approved by CCUIH Executive Director or designee.
Proposed Objectives:
– Honor the Legacy: Recognize the founding members, Directors, staff, and the 20-year journey of the consortium.
– Fundraise for the Future: Secure commitments to sustain CCUIH’s advocacy and technical assistance programs with a goal of $20,000 for our 20th Year!
– Cultural Showcase: Feature Native American artists, traditional dancers and Indigenous cuisine.
– Award Excellence: Host an awards ceremony for those who have championed Urban Indian health.
– Defined Success Metrics: Success will be evaluated based on meeting specific sponsorship revenue targets, achieving ticket sales benchmarks, maintaining high guest experience indicators, and providing comprehensive post-event ROI reporting.
3. Scope of Work
The Event Planner will lead the following working closely with CCUIH staff and Leadership:
– Theme & Design: Develop a cohesive 20th Anniversary brand/theme (e.g., “The Urban Journey: Two Decades of Visibility and – Voice” “Medicine for the People: Two Decades of CCUIH Excellence”).
– Venue & Logistics: Secure a venue, manage catering (incorporating Indigenous ingredients where possible), and oversee AV/production.
– Cultural Coordination: Work with CCUIH to curate traditional performances and entertainment, land acknowledgments, and guest speakers.
– Sponsorship Support: Create sponsorship decks and manage benefit fulfillment for corporate and philanthropic donors with the goal of making the event self-sustaining and supporting CCUIH’s continued work.
– Run-of-Show: Detailed management of the evening, including registration, dinner, and the awards program.
– Native-Owned Business Preference: CCUIH strongly encourages proposals that prioritizes Native American-owned vendors, caterers, and artists.
4. Funding and Period of Performance
The intent for the 20th Anniversary Gala is that the event will incorporate fundraising elements so that it covers the costs of the event and raises funds to support CCUIH’s continued work. The event budget is estimated to be approximately $80,000.
– Period of Performance: May 2026 – November 2026.
– Phase 1 (May–June): Discovery, Venue Selection, Branding, Budget Development.
– Phase 2 (June–August): Sponsorship Outreach and Early Bird Ticket Sales.
– Phase 3 (September): Vendor Finalization and Full Marketing Push.
– Phase 4 (October): Event Execution and On-site Management.
– Phase 5 (November): Post-event Reporting and Donor Stewardship.
– Gala event Date TBD – October 2026
-Fundraising Goal: cost of the event + $20,000 for CCUIH’s 20th Anniversary
5. Application Questions
1. Cover Letter: Introduction to your firm and your connection/interest in Urban Indian health.
2. Experience: Detail your history with large-scale galas and fundraising events (250+ guests). Highlight any experience working with Indigenous communities or Tribal organizations.
3.Proposed Approach: How will you integrate CCUIH’s mission into the guest experience? Provide a preliminary planning timeline.
4. Budget & Fees: Provide a transparent breakdown of your management fee vs. estimated event costs.
6. Submission & Timeline
RFP Release: March 30, 2026
Proposals Due: April 20, 2026
Finalist Interviews: April 23, 2026
Award Notification: April 27, 2026
Anticipated Contract Start Date: May 1, 2026
Submission Email: communications@ccuih.org
Subject Line: RFP Submission – CCUIH 20th Anniversary Gala Consultant
7. Evaluation Criteria
Criteria & Weight
Experience & Portfolio: Success in high-end nonprofit galas: 30%
Cultural Competency: Understanding of Urban Indian issues & Native protocol: 30%
Project Approach: Clear timeline and innovative design ideas: 20%
Budget Realism: Quality of service relative to cost: 15%
Native/Union Bonus: Use of Native American-owned or Union vendors: 5%
To apply for this job email your details to communications@ccuih.org