Request for Proposals: Join GSO’s Community Connect Network

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II. Background and History

Since 2015, the California Earned Income Tax Credit (CalEITC) has supported low-income working families through a refundable tax credit that puts cash back in the pockets of those who need it most. GSO has led education and outreach efforts for the CalEITC since its inception.

With a robust statewide network of Community Based Organizations (CBOs), GSO has helped increase awareness and uptake of these credits among low-income individuals and families. The CalEITC is currently available to individuals who file taxes, are age 18 or older, and meet the income eligibility requirements set annually by the Franchise Tax Board (FTB). For the 2025 tax year, the maximum eligible earned income was $32,900, regardless of family size; FTB will confirm updated 2026 figures ahead of filing season, and GSO will share those once available.

The CalEITC+ program has expanded over the years to include:

• Building awareness of other refundable tax credits that benefit low-income individuals and families, including the Young Child Tax Credit (YCTC), the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), the federal Child Tax Credit (CTC), and the Foster Youth Tax Credit (FYTC).
• Promoting, supporting, and expanding the capacity of Free Tax Preparation Assistance (FTPA) sites operating under the IRS’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
• Supporting individuals and families in securing or renewing Individual Taxpayer Identification Numbers (ITINs), and connecting ITIN filers to free tax preparation services.

About Golden State Opportunity: GSO is a nonprofit dedicated to ending poverty by providing all Californians with the tools to build financial well-being. GSO’s flagship program, CalEITC+, uses digital outreach and storytelling, grassroots organizing, media outreach, public advocacy, and mobile messaging — in thirteen languages — to increase low-income Californians’ participation in tax credit programs and free tax preparation services.

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IV. Selection Criteria

Minimum Qualifications

• Providing Free Tax Preparation services and operating at least one VITA site with an active or pending IRS Site Identification Number (SIDN)
• Experience developing and implementing tailored outreach and education for low-income, under-resourced communities, including those historically underserved by government
• Nonprofit organization registered with the California Secretary of State
• Serve low-income individuals and families (Income threshold to be confirmed based on updated FTB guidance. The 2025 tax year threshold was $32,900.)
• Understanding of and/or experience with refundable tax credits, free tax preparation, and/or ITIN services

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience as a Contractor or Subcontractor under a California state contract, including compliance with pass-through contractual requirements
• Track record of meeting or exceeding grant scope of services (outcomes/metrics), with a demonstrated ability to proactively communicate challenges to GSO
• Focus on or experience delivering programs that enhance financial security and empowerment
• Experience collecting and measuring outcome data, including narrative success stories
• Serves families with children under 6, single parents, foster youth, young adults, and/or seniors
• Provides multilingual, culturally adapted outreach — particularly in Arabic, Armenian, Cambodian (Khmer), Chinese (Traditional or Simplified), Farsi, Hmong, California indigenous languages, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, or Vietnamese
• Demonstrated success promoting cash-based assistance programs (CalEITC, free tax prep, ITIN services, or similar)
• Track record of scaling programs to increase impact, efficiency, and community benefit

V. Program Expectations

Organizations awarded funding through this RFP must:

• Provide free VITA tax preparation services and conduct CalEITC+ education and outreach, as applicable to the awarded scope
• Submit required performance metrics to GSO on a monthly basis
• Participate in the Program Kick-Off and other mandatory network meetings
• Participate in regular strategy, feedback, training, and update sessions
• Participate in GSO’s educational outreach efforts to elected officials, as requested
• Participate in storytelling efforts, media events, and communications activities
• Use GSO-provided social media content, emails, and materials to amplify outreach messaging
• Coordinate strategy with GSO and other CalEITC+ program partners
• Accept electronic payments via Bill.com
• Execute a subgrant agreement with GSO that incorporates the terms of GSO’s underlying agreement with the State of California
• Comply with all funding restrictions, which will be detailed at the time of contract execution
• Ensure reporting is not duplicated across multiple CalEITC+ state awardees (see Section III)

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VII. Key Dates

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VIII. Contact

For questions about this RFP, please contact GSO’s Programs Department at programs@goldenstateopportunity.org.

IX. Award and Reservation of Rights

Selection of award recipients will be based on GSO’s sole determination of the most responsive applications. Award amounts are at GSO’s discretion, based on the scale and comprehensiveness of the program proposed, target area needs, and funding availability. Awarded organizations will be required to execute a subgrant agreement with GSO incorporating the terms of GSO’s contract with the State of California. GSO reserves the right to modify or cancel this RFP, in whole or in part, at any time prior to contract award, and to reject any non-responsive application or waive minor informalities in submissions received.

X. Protest

Prior to the application deadline, applicants may take exception to the specifications or requirements set forth in this RFP. Protests received after the application deadline will be considered untimely and will not be accepted. GSO management will review the merits and timeliness of any protest and issue a written decision within a reasonable period. GSO’s decision is final.