About VT PoC

The Vermont Professionals of Color Network (VT PoC) is a nonprofit organization advancing the social and economic prosperity of the Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) community across Vermont. We help community members build relationships, access resources, pursue professional and entrepreneurial opportunities, and create lasting lives in Vermont.

VT PoC believes that systems supporting communities of color benefit the entire state. Our frameworks are guided by the following core values:

• Community: Creating opportunities to provide structure, relationships, affinity, safety, and openness.
• Growth: Fostering relationships with community members and organizations by engaging in mutual learning, challenges, risks, and personal development.
• Leadership: Using what we learn to advocate and lead by example, foster respect, and earn trust from the community.
• Service: Meeting the needs of the community with care, joy, respect, and humility.
• Equity: Disrupting traditional norms to build and dismantle oppressive systems because we are not free until we are all free.

About the Work

The Vermont Community Data Assessment report combines findings from VT PoC’s statewide BIPOC community survey data with publicly available data, bringing together lived experience and quantitative evidence to create one of the most comprehensive pictures to date of Vermont’s growing BIPOC community. To VT PoC, this represents more than a report. It is an opportunity to help shape how Vermont understands the opportunities, challenges, and contributions of its BIPOC community. 

VT PoC is seeking a qualified graphic designer or design firm to create a professionally designed, full-color report of up to 50 pages that reflects our brand and transforms complex information into an engaging, accessible publication. A report that people don’t just skim once, but read, reference, share, and return to for years as a trusted resource for understanding Vermont’s BIPOC community. The report will be distributed to BIPOC community members, policymakers at the local, state, and federal levels, employers, educators, funders, researchers, and the broader Vermont public.

Please note data visualizations developed may be included in a webpage developed separately from the report. 

Experience Requirements

• Research reports
• Annual reports
• Public policy reports
• Impact reports
• Data storytelling

Project Scope

The selected designer will be responsible for the following:

1. Concept development

• Develop 2-3 distinct design concept drafts for client review
• Incorporate organizational branding guidelines (VT PoC brand guidelines will be provided)

2. Cover and Front Matter

• Design front cover, inside front cover, table of contents, and back cover
• Design executive summary spread

3. Layout and Production

• Design all interior pages including chapter openers, data spreads, and text-heavy sections
• Create or redesign all charts, graphs, and data visualizations based on VT PoC-supplied data
• Design custom infographics as specified in the content outline
• Place and resize all photography and imagery provided by VT PoC
• Ensure visual consistency, hierarchy, and readability throughout

4. Revisions

• Up to 2 rounds of revisions per design concept phase
• Up to 2 rounds of revisions on final layout

5. File Delivery

• Print-ready PDF with bleed and crop marks
• Screen-optimized PDF for digital distribution
• Packaged and editable source files with linked images and fonts
• Individual chart/infographic files as PNG and SVG

Project Timeline

The anticipated schedule is as follows. The exact dates will be confirmed with the select designer.

• Week of August 24, 2026: Project Kickoff – discovery call, brand asset handoff, content outline review
• Week of September 7, 2026: Concept Development – 2-3 design concepts for client review
• Week of September 14, 2026: Concept Approval – Client selects and approves one design direction
• Week of September 21, 2026: Final Report Draft – VT PoC delivers final report draft to consultant
• Week of October 12, 2026: Draft Layout (Round 1) – Full document layout, all pages, placeholder content as needed
• Week of October 19, 2026: Client Review (Round 1) – Consolidated feedback delivered to designer
• Week of November 2, 2026: Draft Layout (Round 2) – Revisions applied, updated layout submitted
• Week of November 9, 2026: Client Review (Round 2) – Final consolidated feedback delivered
• Week of December 7, 2026: Final Files Delivered – Print-ready PDF, screen PDF, packaged source files

Proposal Requirements

Please include:

• Values alignment and why work with VT PoC
• Company overview and relevant experience, including project descriptions and roles
• Creative approach to this campaign
  • 1–2 high-level creative concepts or narrative directions (no spec work required)
• Portfolio samples (links to relevant work)
• Budget proposal
• 2 client references

Evaluation Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated based on:

• Alignment with VT PoC mission and values (15%)
• Quality and feasibility of proposal (20%)
• Portfolio examples of similar work (20%)
• Creative approach (20%)
• Budget and overall value (20%)
• Accessibility/digital (5%)

Project Budget

Our anticipated budget for this project is $8,000.00–$10,000.00. Please provide an itemized cost proposal, inclusive of the following items, estimated hours per item, and cost per item (at minimum). 

Additionally, we value transparency in budgeting. Please clearly identify any assumptions, exclusions or items that would constitute additional costs beyond the proposal total. Thank you!

Submission Instructions

Proposals must be submitted via email to VT PoC at thefam@vtpoc.net with the subject line: RFP Response – Graphic Design Services for VT PoC – [Your Name/Firm Name]

All documents should be consolidated into one PDF file. Portfolio samples may be submitted as URLS to an online portfolio, but please embed these links into the proposal.

Deadline

Proposals must be received no later than 11:59 PM on August 10, 2026. Late submissions will not be considered. 

Questions

Questions regarding this RFP must be submitted in writing to thefam@vtpoc.net no later than August 3, 2026. Responses to all questions will be shared with all prospective respondents. 

Terms and Conditions

• This RFP does not constitute a commitment to award a contract. VT PoC reserves the right to reject any or all proposals, to waive technical irregularities, and to accept the proposal deemed to be in the best interest of the organization.
• Costs incurred in responding to this RFP are solely the responsibility of the respondent.
• All proposals, and supporting materials submitted in response to this RFP become the property of VT PoC.
• The selected vendor will be required to sign a contract that includes standard nonprofit terms, confidentiality provisions, and intellectual property clauses assigning all work products to VT PoC.
• Vendors must disclose any actual or potential conflicts of interest in their proposal.
• VT PoC is committed to supporting and employing people from underrepresented communities in the marketing and communications sector. We encourage proposals from all such vendors. 
• The selected vendor must provide a W9, Certificate of Insurance, and any other documentation requested by VT PoC.

VT PoC was created by a group of community members who represent the global majority with the goal of connecting our community. Over the last five years, we have operated with the following organizational mission: Vermont Professionals of Color Network (VT PoC) exists to advance the social and economic prosperity of Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) across the state.

Our team is a reflection of our desire to represent the community we serve. We represent different races, educational levels, cultural practices, sexual identities and orientations, abilities, immigration stories, work experiences, life experiences, and more. And these identities make us stronger as a team because each of us find strength and empowerment within our respective identities, and (we believe) we have built and organization that gives an opportunity for each person to shine.

Internally, we have worked to expand our own understanding of work culture, what professionalism means, and how we can accommodate different working, learning, and living styles. We are continuously working towards increasing accommodations as we grow and as our team expands; and we know this is going to take time because we're also working with a bigger system of constraints.