At Every Neighborhood Partnership, we believe in equipping community-based organizations to deepen their impact. One major opportunity we see is helping grassroots and faith-based groups become approved vendors with Fresno Unified School District (FUSD) — particularly through its Community Schools initiative.
To support this, I recently co-hosted a workshop with Darrin Person, Director of Community Schools for FUSD. Our goal: demystify the RFQ process and help local organizations navigate their way into becoming trusted partners with the district.
Here’s a quick recap of what we covered — and how you can get started.
What Is an RFQ?
RFQ = Request for Qualifications. It’s how FUSD screens and approves vendors to work within specific programs (like mentoring, after-school, or arts education).
When you’re approved through an RFQ, you’re not automatically hired. You’re added to a pool of qualified providers who can then be contracted by specific departments or school sites.
Why It Matters
FUSD is actively using RFQs across the district to bring in community-rooted organizations to support students. This is especially true in the Community Schools model, which values local partnerships as core to student success.
Recent RFQs include:
- Expanded Learning (after school)
- Arts enrichment
- Mentoring
- Curriculum and instruction services
You can find all open RFQs here: https://fresnousdpurchasing.procureware.com
What You’ll Need:
To apply, you’ll need to provide:
- Organization information and mission
- A clear scope of services
- References or evidence of past success
- Insurance documentation (general liability, worker’s comp, and in some cases, abuse & molestation coverage)
Need help with insurance?
Some providers to explore include:
- Church Mutual
- Brotherhood Mutual
- Gallagher Risk Management
- State Fund
- Dibudo & Defendis
What’s Next?
- Watch the Full Workshop on YouTube
- Download the Presentation Slides
- Start Your RFQ Application
- Visit the FUSD Purchasing Portal to create an account and browse current opportunities.
- Need Support?
- For RFQ or vendor process questions: Contact David Her at (559) 457-3580
- For Community Schools questions: Email Darrin Person – Darrin.Person@fresnounified.org
This is about more than paperwork. It’s about equipping trusted neighborhood partners to be part of a bigger system of support for our students. If you’ve ever asked, “How can my organization get involved with schools?” — this is one powerful way.
Let’s get you connected.