Kismet Arts Tangent

A detailed Request for Proposal (RFP) and Scope of Work (SOW) designed for an hourly fundraising consultant, tailored to your 2027 devised fringe show.
This document includes an itemized hourly allocation across all four phases of production, clear deliverables, and a structured contract framework.
Request for Proposal & Scope of Work
Project: 2027 Fringe Theater Production (Devised Performance)
Position: Development & Fundraising Consultant
Engagement Model: Hourly / Deliverable-Based
Total Estimated Allocation: ~115–140 Hours (Spread over 14 Months)
1. Executive Summary & Project Goal
We are producing an original, ensemble-devised fringe theater production set to premiere in Fall 2027. To ensure the production is fully capitalized and artistically protected, we are engaging a Fundraising Consultant to design, execute, and oversee our multi-channel development strategy.
Key Objectives:
* Secure non-profit fiscal sponsorship to accept tax-deductible contributions.
* Draft and submit 3–5 regional and national arts/theater grants.
* Direct a 30-day public crowdfunding/individual donor drive in Q3 2027.
* Establish major-donor stewardship and post-show reporting pipelines.
2. Detailed Hourly Breakdown by Phase
Phase 1: Foundation, Strategy & Fiscal Sponsorship (Q4 2026)
Estimated Allocation: 25 – 30 Hours
| Task / Deliverable | Description | Estimated Hours |
|—|—|—|
| Kickoff & Strategy Alignment | Onboarding session, artistic alignment, and budget audit to establish campaign target. | 4 – 5 hrs |
| Fiscal Sponsorship Onboarding | Research, select, and process application for a 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor (e.g., Fractured Atlas, Intersection for the Arts). | 6 – 8 hrs |
| Fundraising Plan & Calendar | Draft a comprehensive 12-month development timeline with grant deadlines, donor touchpoints, and milestones. | 8 – 10 hrs |
| Donor Case for Support | Write core messaging, project narrative, and value statement for grant templates and donor outreach. | 7 – 7 hrs |
Phase 2: Grant Pipeline & Application Execution (Q1–Q2 2027)
Estimated Allocation: 40 – 50 Hours
| Task / Deliverable | Description | Estimated Hours |
|—|—|—|
| Grant Prospecting & Matrix | Identify 6–8 viable small-to-mid scale arts grants; select top 4–5 priority targets. | 8 – 10 hrs |
| Grant Writing & Narrative Design | Draft custom grant proposals, artist statements, and budget narratives for selected applications. | 20 – 24 hrs |
| Application Proofing & Submission | Final polish, attachment assembly, budget matching, and submission management. | 6 – 8 hrs |
| Funder Relationship Management | Strategy guidance on pre-application funder inquiries and follow-up touchpoints. | 6 – 8 hrs |
Phase 3: Individual Giving & Crowdfunding Campaign (Q3 2027)
Estimated Allocation: 35 – 42 Hours
| Task / Deliverable | Description | Estimated Hours |
|—|—|—|
| Crowdfunding Campaign Strategy | Campaign architecture setup (Kickstarter/Indiegogo/Donorbox), tier structure, and stretch goals. | 10 – 12 hrs |
| Email & Social Copywriting | Draft a 6-part email launch/closing sequence and template posts for ensemble outreach. | 8 – 10 hrs |
| Donor Salon / Work-in-Progress Event | Structure strategy and invitation flow for an intimate major-donor preview showing. | 5 – 6 hrs |
| Live Campaign Optimization | Mid-campaign tracking, donor re-engagement strategy, and major donor matching-grant pushes. | 12 – 14 hrs |
Phase 4: Production Stewardship & Grant Acquittals (Q4 2027)
Estimated Allocation: 15 – 18 Hours
| Task / Deliverable | Description | Estimated Hours |
|—|—|—|
| Donor Stewardship & Updates | Draft thank-you templates, backer updates, and post-opening performance invites. | 5 – 6 hrs |
| Grant Reporting & Acquittals | Compile financial reporting and narrative summaries for awarded grant foundations. | 8 – 10 hrs |
| Post-Mortem & Future Roadmap | Final debrief session and transition strategy for ongoing ensemble development. | 2 – 2 hrs |
3. Summary of Estimated Hours & Retainer Cap
Phase 1 (Strategy & Fiscal Sponsor):     25 – 30 hrs
Phase 2 (Grant Pipeline):               40 – 50 hrs
Phase 3 (Individual Campaign):          35 – 42 hrs
Phase 4 (Stewardship & Reports):        15 – 18 hrs
—————————————————
TOTAL ESTIMATED HOURS:                 115 – 140 hrs

* Billing Terms: Monthly invoicing with detailed, itemized time-tracking down to 15-minute increments.
* Not-to-Exceed Cap: Work for each phase will be authorized via written approval, capping maximum monthly hours to protect production cash flow.
4. Proposed Consultant Qualifications & Terms
* Required Experience: Proven track record in grassroots arts fundraising, non-profit grant writing, and fringe/independent theater campaigns.
* Communication: Bi-weekly 30-minute syncs during active phases (Phases 1 & 3); monthly updates during writing/rehearsal phases (Phases 2 & 4).