Development Consultant

About Maryland Humanities

Maryland Humanities is a statewide non-profit that employs 14 staff and has a 27-person board. The organization’s current main programs include a robust grant program, One Maryland One Book, Maryland History Day, and Museum on Main Street. A comprehensive overview is available online at
https://www.mdhumanities.org/about-us/.

Mission

Maryland Humanities creates and supports bold experiences that explore and elevate our shared stories to connect people, enhance lives, and enrich communities.

Scope of the Work

Maryland Humanities seeks a Development Consultant with a proven track record for excellence in developing fundraising plans and an organization’s fundraising capacity.

This consultant will work in partnership with the Executive Director and capitalize on the creativity and networks of the Maryland Humanities board and staff.

Scope of Services

• Develop a strategic multi-year fundraising and implementation plan that includes strategies to increase Maryland Humanities’ fundraising efforts from the private sector, corporations, governments, foundations, individuals and others that is reflective and in alignment with the organization’s mission/vision/values and capacity.
• Create a prospect list that includes potential donors (private sector, corporations, governments, foundations, individuals and others) that work to support MH’s vision. List will also contain upcoming RFPs and relevant application procedures and deadlines.
• Develop a communications strategy with appropriate marketing materials based on the fundraising plan.

Criteria

Proposals will be rated and ranked on the following criteria:

• Overall match between the RFP requirements and proposal: Understanding of scope, objectives and completeness and coherence of response
• Qualifications and previous work of consultant
• Demonstrated ability of consultant to carry out fundraising plan of similar character and size
• Ability to work within the timeframe and budget

Timeline & Budget

• Project will begin no later than January 2023 and be completed by June 2023.
• Most of the work will be done virtually. If possible under Covid-19 safety guidelines, some work may be done in person.
• The anticipated budget for the project is $15,000-$30,000 including expenses.

Proposal Content Requirements

Your proposal must be submitted electronically as a PDF, be no more than ten (10) pages and include the following:

• Summary of your interest and qualifications
• Documentation of your experience working in fundraising
• Documentation of your ability to work through a racial equity lens and/or incorporate community-centric fundraising
• An executive summary of the highlights of the proposal, which should not exceed one page in length, which conveys the consultant’s understanding of the purpose and expected outcomes of the project
• List of key personnel who would be involved in the project and their expertise/experience
• Estimated cost and timeline
• References, including similar cultural organizations if possible

Proposal Submission

Those wishing to submit proposals should do so by no later than January 2nd at 5pm EST by submitting the proposal and any company materials indicating qualifications to: Lindsey Baker, lbaker@mdhumanities.org

The Selection Committee will conduct interviews during January 2023 with prospective consultants to discuss their proposal in more depth and evaluate its alternatives with an expected agreement by mid January 2023.

You may contact Lindsey Baker, Executive Director at lbaker@mdhumanities.org for further information or with questions.