RFQ 2026-045 Fundraising Consulting Services; Maine Graduate and Professional Center

Agency:	University of Maine
State:	Maine
Type of Government:	State & Local
NAICS Category:	541611 - Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services 541618 - Other Management Consulting Services 541990 - All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Posted Date:	Feb 21, 2026
Due Date:	Mar 13, 2026
Solicitation No:	2026-045
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Administered by University of Maine System

Office of Strategic Procurement

Request for Qualifications (RFQ)

Fundraising Consulting Services;

Maine Graduate and Professional Center

RFQ #2026-045

Issued Date: February 20, 2026

Response Deadline Date/Time: March 13, 2026, 11:59 p.m. EST

Response Submission Information:

Submitted electronically to UMSResponses@maine.edu

Email Subject Line – DH: Fundraising Consulting Services - RFQ#2026-

045

Response Contact Information:

Email: UMSResponses@maine.edu

Request for Qualifications – Fundraising Consulting Services

Dated: February 20, 2026

Contents

1.0 2

1.1 3

1.2 6

1.3 10

2.0 12

2.1 12

2.2 12

2.3 13

2.4 13

2.5 13

3.0 14

3.1 14

3.2 14

Appendix A – University of Maine System Response Cover Page................................... 16

Appendix B – Debarment, Performance and Non-Collusion Certification...................... 17

Appendix D – Master Agreement ............................................................................................... 18

Appendix D1 – Evaluation Question(s) – Master Agreement ............................................. 28

Appendix E – Organization Reference Form .......................................................................... 32

Appendix F – Qualifications Information Packet ................................................................... 33

University of Maine System RFQ

Rev. 08/16/2023

Page 2 of 33

Request for Qualifications – Fundraising Consulting Services

Dated: February 20, 2026

1.0 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Definitions, Background, Purpose and Specifications

1.1.1 Definitions

The University of Maine System will hereinafter be referred to as the "University."

Respondents to the document shall be referred to as "Respondent(s)” or

“Respondent”.

The Respondent to whom the Agreement is awarded shall be referred to as the

"Contractor."

The University of Maine System and other components of the University shall be

referred to as “Multi-Institution”.

1.1.2

Background

Overview

Established in 1968, the University unites six distinctive public universities and a

law school, comprising 10 campuses and numerous centers, in the common

purpose of providing quality higher education while delivering on its traditional

tripartite mission of teaching, research, and public service.

A comprehensive public institution of higher education, the University serves more

than 30,000 students annually and is supported by the efforts of more than 2,000

full-time and part-time faculty, more than 3,000 regular full-time and part-time staff,

and a complement of part-time temporary (adjunct) faculty.

Reaching more than 500,000 people annually through educational and cultural

offerings, the University also benefits from more than two-thirds of its alumni

population residing within the state; more than 123,000 individuals.

The Universities six universities and a law school, include The University of Maine

(UMaine), including its regional campus the University of Maine at Machias (UMM);

the University of Maine at Augusta (UMA); the University of Maine at Farmington

(UMF); the University of Maine at Fort Kent (UMFK), the University of Maine at

Presque Isle (UMPI), the University of Southern Maine (USM), and the University

of Maine School of Law (Maine Law).

Campus thumbnails

Maine Graduate and Professional Center (Maine Center)

Located in Portland but serving students and employers statewide, the Maine

Center brings together academic programs in law, business, public policy, and

engineering and computing to train the workforce of the future and grow Maine’s

economy.

The Maine Center, which resides within the Chancellor’s Office of the University,

is an academic consortium composed of the University of Maine School of Law,

the University of Maine Graduate School of Business, and the graduate programs

of the USM’s Muskie School of Public Service, and Maine College of Engineering

and Computing. This consortium develops cross-disciplinary, experiential, and

market-driven programming for graduate students in the Maine Center’s focus

areas.

University of Maine System RFQ

Rev. 08/16/2023

Page 3 of 33

Request for Qualifications – Fundraising Consulting Services

Dated: February 20, 2026

The Maine Center also delivers programming for members of Maine’s civic,

business, entrepreneurial and legal communities, including executive education,

certificates, workshops, externship placements, and small business programs and

services, amongst others.

The Maine Center’s collaborative model is designed to foster student success and

career opportunities while expanding partnerships to ensure responsiveness to the

state’s industry, entrepreneurial and innovation community, and economic

opportunities.

The Maine Center is supported by a challenge grant from the Harold Alfond

Foundation as part of UMS TRANSFORMS, as well as funding through the

University.

1.1.3

Purpose

The University is seeking responses to provide fundraising consulting services as

defined in the RFQ to support the Maine Center and related University initiatives.

This RFQ provides instructions for submitting responses, the procedure and

criteria by which the Respondent(s) will be selected, and the contractual terms

which will govern the relationship between the University and the awarded

Respondent(s).

The University is seeking qualified fundraising consultants to support the Maine

Center in development, planning, advancement of fundraising initiatives, including

but not limited to feasibility studies, campaign planning, fundraising strategy and

support, strategic fundraising counsel, training, prospect analysis and wealth

screening, amongst other related fundraising initiatives.

The Maine Center, in collaboration with its academic partners across the

University, is focused on planning, developing and launching a capital campaign

and sustainable fundraising operation to further its programmatic objectives and

enhance the Maine Center facilities located at 300 Fore Street and 7 Custom

House Street in Portland, Maine.

This engagement represents an opportunity for experienced fundraising

professionals to leverage their expertise to support the establishment of a capital

campaign plan and a sustainable fundraising blueprint for the Maine Center and

support related fundraising initiatives across the University. Qualified applicants

may also have the opportunity to support University fundraising initiatives in

addition to the Maine Center.

Respondents should review 1.1.4 Specifications / Scope of Work of this

document to see the full Scope of Services/Products required.

The University is committed to providing increased access and opportunity to

diverse businesses include and not limited to: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and

Transgender Business Enterprise (LGBTQ+BE); Minority Business Enterprise

(MBE); Service-Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise (SDVBE); Small Business

Enterprise (SBE); veteran-owned; service-disabled veteran-owned; HUBZone;

small disadvantaged business; women-owned; minority-owned; Veteran Business

Enterprise (VBE); and Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE).

University of Maine System RFQ

Rev. 08/16/2023

Page 4 of 33

Request for Qualifications – Fundraising Consulting Services

Dated: February 20, 2026

Though this document is primarily for Maine Center all campuses in the University

must be afforded the use of this solution, with all the same terms and conditions

applicable to the various University locations.

1.1.4 Specifications / Scope of Work

A. Engagement Scope: Consultants will be engaged to support the Maine Center

in advancing their fundraising, including:

● Feasibility Study: To support the creation and execution of a study to assess

the Maine Center’s readiness and potential for a successful capital campaign

to advance the Maine Center’s programmatic and infrastructure objectives.

The consultant will work with the Maine Center to develop the best approach

to develop and execute the plan.

● Capital Campaign Plan: Support the planning and establishment of a capital

campaign to raise funds to advance the Maine Center’s programmatic and

infrastructure objectives. The plan will include clear goals, purpose, timelines,

budgets, case for support, donor prospects, leadership team, and stewardship

efforts, and coordination processes among the UMaine, USM, and Maine Law

foundations and advancement leaders. These efforts may also include

supporting the development of a fundraising case statement and other related

marketing materials and launching and supporting the capital campaign.

● Fundraising Strategy, Support and Counsel: Assist in developing a

strategic blueprint that outlines how the Maine Center can raise money to

reach its goals through a capital campaign and on an ongoing, annual basis

outside of the capital campaign plan.

● Training: Provide training and feedback to key University and Maine Center

leadership and representatives, as necessary, to ensure effective fundraising

execution and to help the Maine Center achieve its goals.

● Donor Prospect Analysis and Wealth Screening: Support the Maine Center

in identifying donor prospect’s financial ability and willingness to support the

Maine Center.

B. Engagement Structure

● Professional Fee Model: Detailed fee structure will be discussed with

qualified candidates but may include project-based structure for specified

deliverables, such as a feasibility structure and campaign planning, and/or

monthly rates based on an agreed upon scope of work for services rendered.

● Work Arrangement: Remote engagement for US-based consultants. In-

person engagement at the Maine Center or other locations is not required, but

negotiable as needed.

● Duration: Anticipated for an initial 4-to-6-month period, with anticipated

extensions for durations agreed upon by both parties.

C. Preferred Qualifications: Consultants should demonstrate:

● Proven Track Record: Demonstrated success fundraising preferably in

academic, higher education, and nonprofit settings, including but not limited

to experience and success in planning and execution of capital campaigns,

securing six- and seven-figure gifts, holding leadership roles in fundraising

management, and engaging with executive leaders and governance boards

at a strategic level.

University of Maine System RFQ

Rev. 08/16/2023

Page 5 of 33

This page summarizes the opportunity, including an overview and a preview of the attached documents.

bid #	due date	due time	commodity	attachments	addenda
2026-045	13-Mar-2026	11:59 pm	RFQ 2026-045 Fundraising Consulting Services; Maine Graduate and Professional Center	No attachments available	No addenda file(s) available

RFQ 2026-045 Fundraising Consulting Services; Maine Graduate and Professional Center

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