Your grant was awarded. Your fundraising efforts went astonishingly well. You’re ready to bring your dream of new exhibits to fruition. How are you going to take on such a huge task? Requests for Proposals are often the go-to method to solicit vendors or partners for museum and exhibit projects. However, before you haphazardly issue an RFP that is open to the public, consider the following:

Postscript: Ask for help if you feel you need it. A number of folks write RFPs professionally. If you are going to spend a chunk of change on new permanent exhibits, isn’t it worth a second set of eyes? Your visitors, stakeholders, and staff will all reap the benefits of a good solicitation and selection process.