Creating Requests for Proposals (RFPs): A Topical Resource List

The following resources are designed to provide grantmakers with information on how to write a request for proposal (RFP).

Arrick, Ellen. Using Competitions & RFPs. New York, NY: Ford Foundation. 2002. 21 p.

Explains what situations are appropriate for the use of competitions and RFPs to serve program goals. Suggest that it may be useful to work with outside consultants for some aspects of setting up a competition, and warns that it is essential to consider administrative issues that will be pertinent. Many organizations will not be selected via the competition, so there are recommendations for how grantmakers can work with them. A checklist for the contents of an RFP is given. Avalaible online.

Porter-Roth, Bud. Request for Proposal: A Guide to Effective RFP Development. Indianapolis, IN: Addison-Wesley. 2002. xxii, 307 p.

Covers the entire spectrum of the process of creating a request for proposal (RFP), and explains what elements go into the two major types of RFPs. Specific details about administrative and technical requirements, pricing, evaluation and other factors are given. Checklists and sample documents are provided in the appendices. Indexed.

"Three Funders: About Access." Foundation News & Commentary vol. 36 (July-August 1995) p. 14-7.

Presents interviews with representatives from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Hitachi Foundation, and the New York Community Trust. Offers their responses to the question, "Is the move to Request for Proposals (RFPs) by foundations signaling a closing off of important conversations between grantseekers and lessening access to foundation dollars for innovative, cutting edge groups and thinkers?"