Foundations often send requests for proposals (RFPs) to colleges and universities -- what is an RFP?

Increasingly, funders are determining the issues and problems on which they focus in an effort to maximize the effect of their funding. They will send a document soliciting proposals that focus on a particular area/problem and conform to certain criteria (for instance specific dollar amount, time limit, collaborations). This document, which can be quite lengthy and detailed, is the Request for Proposals. When the Office of Foundation Relations receives them, it distributes RFPs widely across campus.