NetRaising’s RFP Statement
When it comes to pricing our services, our focus is on how low we can keep our fees while remaining a sustainable business. Since we still need our net income to remain high enough to sustain operations, we’ve cut out as much of the traditional business overhead as possible. Two of the areas where we’ve cut overhead expenses are marketing and project bidding.
NetRaising follows 501 Commons’ best practices when it comes to new client engagement and typically will not prepare a traditional proposal in response to individual RFPs (Requests for Proposals).
Rather than respond to individual RFPs, we provide a lot of information about our business practices and our services online, and in a format that is consistent with many RFPs.
Writing individual proposal bids for projects under about $25,000 US dollars is not a cost-effective business practice, yet many nonprofits are still required to obtain at least three bids on any project, regardless of its size. We respect and understand why some nonprofits need bids on all projects and that’s why we’ve included so much information in our website.
If you send us your RFP, and we are interested in your project, then we will put together an email that helps direct you to where you’ll find answers to most of your questions at our site or through examples of our work, and then respond to any remaining requests in writing.
Best Practice take-aways from 501 Commons: Choosing a Consultant
Engaging with Vendors
- Start with a conversation rather than a document
- Ask for previous examples of work and references
- Research potential vendors well
- Meet the whole team, not just sales-people
- Do a trial if possible
- Focus on the relationship – cultivate partnership
Selecting a Consultant
- Engage consultant after in-depth discussion.
- What questions did the vendor/consultant ask to get to know your org better?
- Do they seem to “get” your organization?
- Did you learn anything from the interview?
- How will your staff and/or board respond to the consultant’s style and way of communicating?
- If you need her to, will the consultant be able to tell staff and/or board members hard truths?
- Is the consultant most comfortable working with leadership, management, the front line, or all three?
- Does the consultant admit to what she doesn’t know?