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?

1. Watch the Full Workshop on YouTube
2. Download the Presentation Slides
   • CS – Becoming a Fresno Unified Vendor (PDF)
3. Start Your RFQ Application
   • Visit the FUSD Purchasing Portal to create an account and browse current opportunities.
4. 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.