Fundraising Consultant (RFP)

Fundraising Consultant

Founded in 1981, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is an independent, non-profit organization that promotes press freedom worldwide. CPJ defends the right of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal. Through its documentation, advocacy, and emergency assistance work, CPJ protects journalists and safeguards the public’s right to access diverse and independent information.

Project Summary

CPJ invites qualified consultants to submit proposals to support the growth and diversification of its fundraising program. The selected consultant will help CPJ identify and close the gap between current fundraising performance and its full revenue potential, assessing what is working well, where we are performing below our potential, and where the greatest opportunities for growth exist across all revenue streams. The full RFP document is available here.

Project Scope

The selected consultant will be responsible for the following:

• Discovery and Assessment: Conduct a comprehensive review of CPJ’s current and historic fundraising performance across all revenue streams, including meetings with relevant organizational leadership and the development team, a review of existing external fundraising partnerships and consultants, and access to relevant financial and fundraising data.
• Strategy Development: Present a multi-year fundraising plan with specific, data-driven strategies across all funder types, including foundations, individuals, and corporate giving, with measurable goals and clear timelines. The plan should address revenue diversification, board activation as active fundraisers, international fundraising opportunities, and recommendations for department structure and roles.
• Growth Readiness Assessment: Advise on how CPJ’s development team, partnerships, and resources can be best positioned to support the next phase of fundraising growth, including recommendations on where to invest, consolidate, or evolve current approaches.
• Prospect Research: Identify a target list of new prospective funders across foundations, corporations, and individual donors that align with CPJ’s mission.
• Reporting: Deliver a final written report and verbal presentation to senior management and the Development Committee.

Proposed Timeline

• RFP Issued: June 12, 2026
• Submission Deadline: July 3, 2026
• Review and Interviews: July 6 - July 17, 2026
• Selection and Award: July 20, 2026
• Project Start Date: July 27, 2026

Eligibility and Requirements

• Demonstrated track record working with organizations in the human rights, civil liberties, or media development space.
• Expertise in major and principal gift fundraising and individual donor pipeline development.
• Experience across multiple fundraising revenue streams, including foundations, individual giving, and corporate partnerships.
• Demonstrated ability to build fundraising capacity that outlasts the engagement, including training of staff and board.
• Ability to provide quantifiable examples of increased fundraising capacity and revenue for past clients.
• Three professional references from clients for whom similar services have been performed.

Submission Instructions

Proposals must be submitted in PDF format to rfp@cpj.org by July 3, 2026. Please refer to the full RFP document for complete details.

CPJ looks forward to receiving proposals from qualified consultants committed to supporting the mission of defending press freedom worldwide.