The Baltimore Abortion Fund and the DC Abortion Fund are seeking proposals from consultants for a collaborative project.

Timeline

• RFP Sent: RFP Sent: August 4, 2025
• Responses Due: August 22, 2025
• Finalists Selected & Contacted for Interviews: September 5, 2025
• Chosen Applicant Selected & Contacted: September 15, 2025
• Project Kick-off: October 6, 2025

• Send proposal and any questions on the RFP to: [email protected]

Organizational Overviews

The Baltimore Abortion Fund (BAF) is a community-based nonprofit organization that provides financial assistance to pregnant people who live in or travel to Maryland for abortion care. BAF also offers logistical support to remove barriers to abortion care, such as transportation, lodging, childcare, and translation services. Through advocacy and community conversations, BAF actively works to reduce abortion stigma within Maryland.

The DC Abortion Fund (DCAF) helps pay for the abortion care of anyone living in or traveling to the DC Metro region, without restrictions or requirements. DC is a vital access point for the entire East Coast, so we help break down the legal, financial, and geographic hurdles that abortion seekers, near or far, are forced to face—all thanks to the power of mutual aid. Alongside our sibling funds, national organizations, and clinics around the DMV, we work to supersede any and all systemic barriers to abortion access.

Invitation for Proposal 

BAF and DCAF are long collaborators in the Mid-Atlantic region and work together to support thousands of abortion seekers in accessing abortion care every year. While our work is collaborative, we are autonomous organizations with different staffing and funding models. 

It is not hyperbolic to say our region is the most important destination for abortion access in the world. Our region is home to three all-trimester clinics able to provide care past 26 weeks–of only five or six in the entire country–and no clinic outside the United States provides care after 26 weeks. Because of this, our work requires a higher level of collaboration as we regularly support callers with funding gaps of $10,000 or more. 

Both funds acknowledge that we have been funding abortions the same way for roughly thirty years and are interested in exploring how we can simplify the funding process for our callers. 

We are seeking an outside consultant who will evaluate our current funding practices and provide recommendations ranging from small to radical on how we can improve our funding models. 

Fundamental Questions

Much of this process will be about exploring the possibilities of how we could shift our funding model in collaboration and reject the individual approach to funding we have used for decades. Both funds are coming to this process with an open mind and are prepared to consider a variety of options. To get there, we need to ask: 

• Is our funding model even working?
• How would our work shift in the event of a national or local ban?
• Are there ways we should consider integrating our services, processes, and organizations more closely?
• Should we consider clarifying roles or establishing priority areas for each organization to focus on, to reduce overlap and improve coordination?
• How can we strengthen partnerships with clinics? 
• What would it look like to streamline the later care experience?

Desired Deliverables

Planning 

• Process Map: Collaborate with the funds to create the overall design of the project. 
• Project Plan: Develop a project plan that includes clear roles, milestones, and communication points. 
• Project Committee: Create and manage the project committee. 
• Retreat: Planning and facilitation of in-person retreat. 

Assessment Phase

• Org Review & Analysis: Review our current funding models and how we collaborate.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Analysis: The assessment should engage key stakeholders (internal and external) including but not limited to staff, current and former Board of Directors, community partners, callers, clinics, volunteers, etc. Some of this feedback will be gathered from the in-person retreat.
• Feedback, Recommendations, & Priorities: Produce a report detailing feedback from the assessment phase, recommendations, and priorities with a focus on clear opportunities for action and deeper collaboration. 

Recommendations

• Strategy, Approach, and Tactics: Provide a report analyzing key data and outlining recommended strategies, approaches, and tactics to accomplish identified goals.

Implementation and Iteration

• Implementation Roadmap: Guide project committee in developing a timeline for implementation, including any deliverables, responsible parties, and action items related to implementation. 
• Objectives & Key Results (OKRs): Develop evaluation strategies with the project committee to ensure desired outcomes and determine thresholds for success and re-alignment. 

Proposal Requirements

Please include the following in your proposal: 

• A brief executive summary.
• A clear explanation of your proposed process, discussion of deliverables, and draft timeline. 
• A detailed budget that outlines expenses, including the estimate of hours for each activity. 
• Credentials and qualifications of key personnel who will take responsibility for working directly on this project.
• Provide at least two (2) work samples from previous projects related to organizational planning. 
• Provide two (2) references from past clients with similar organizational structures and needs.
•  If applicable, please share more about your relationship to abortion funds and/or practical support networks as either a staff member, board member, volunteer, or supporter. 

Budget

BAF and DCAF are abortion funds and work to use every dollar available for our callers. We have a modest budget of $10,000 for this project but are open to proposals in the range of $10,000-$20,000. 

Values alignment

It is important to us that we work with individuals, organizations, and businesses that proudly and publicly support abortion access and are comfortable with the full scope of reproductive justice. If this is not something you or members of your team are comfortable with, we ask that you not submit a proposal. 

Evaluation Criteria

BAF and DCAF will examine a number of factors and criteria, which include:

• The extent to which the proposal addresses the stated needs and clearly describes the scope of work.
• Specific plans or methodology to be used to perform the services.
• Qualifications and experience. 
• Availability for work to be conducted over a 6-month period.
• Familiarity with abortion access landscape in the Mid-Atlantic region and nationally. 
• Project cost.
• Values alignment. 
• Connection to the Mid-Atlantic region.

How to Apply

Please submit proposals to [email protected].

We look forward to your proposal!