Request for Proposal: Business development consultant — international mobility programs and domestic scholarships

Universities Canada is seeking a Business Development Consultant with expertise in international mobility educational programs and scholarship program development. The consultant should have a proven track record in developing comprehensive funding strategies and established networks across international higher education, public and private sectors.

The consultant will be expected to conduct a gap analysis, develop a high-level engagement plan with current and potential program funders and create a strategic narrative and key messaging tools for use with government and private partners.

About Universities Canada’s scholarship management expertise

Universities Canada has over 60 years of experience in managing scholarship programs both domestically and internationally. Universities Canada has developed and/or implemented international scholarships for students and researchers, funded by various federal ministries, public corporations, foundations and foreign governments. In addition, through Scholarship Partners Canada , we provide comprehensive scholarship management services to over 40% of Canada’s Top 100 employers.

Our expertise includes:

• Designing customized scholarship programs aligned with organizational objectives
• Managing full administration of scholarship applications and selection processes
• Providing financial management and disbursement services

Key deliverables

The successful consultant will deliver four tangible outputs:

1. Comprehensive gap analysis report and strategic funding framework: In-depth analysis of past decade’s program performance and funding patterns, identifying successes and improvement areas. Includes sustainable funding models considering evolving governmental support and economic conditions, plus adaptable strategic plans with contingency pathways.
2. High-level engagement plan with prioritized funder prospects: Strategic approach for engaging qualified prospects across corporate, government, and foundation sectors. Features tailored solicitation strategies for international mobility and domestic scholarship programs, plus innovative revenue stream recommendations.
3. Strategic narrative and key messaging toolkit: Compelling narratives and essential messaging for government and private partner engagement, ensuring consistency and impact across all outreach efforts.
4. Business development system recommendations and implementation roadmap: CRM software/database recommendations for tracking, efficient pipeline management processes and a clear implementation timeline.

Scope of work

The consultant’s activities to achieve the deliverables will include, but are not limited to, the following:

Strategic analysis and planning

• Conduct gap analysis of Universities Canada’s program performance and funding patterns over the past decade
• Develop sustainable funding models accounting for the changing governmental landscape
• Create adaptable strategic plans with multiple contingency pathways
• Assess internal business development structure, staffing roles and operational processes to identify gaps, duplication or opportunities for improvement in support of sustainable program growth.

Prospect development

• Identify and qualify diverse funding prospects across all sectors
• Design tailored solicitation strategies for both program streams
• Research innovative revenue opportunities aligned with international education

Systems and tracking

• Evaluate and recommend CRM solutions for business development
• Design efficient pipeline management processes
• Establish regular reporting mechanisms to the Director (Partnerships and Programs (P&P)

Compliance and representation

• Maintain adherence to all relevant policies and legislation
• Represent Universities Canada’s mission and values in external interactions

Submission requirements

All proposals must include:

1. Professional qualifications (2 pages max)
   • Relevant experience in higher education funding strategies
   • Demonstrated success building cross-sector partnerships
   • Track record of securing funds ($250,000+) for educational programs
   • Knowledge of international scholarship landscape
2. Project approach (3 pages max)
   • Methodology for conducting gap analysis
   • Framework for assessing program successes
   • Approach to environmental scanning (political, economic, global)
   • Data collection and analysis methods
   • Timeline with key deliverables and milestones
3. Case studies (2 pages max)
   • Two brief case studies demonstrating relevant experience
   • Must include quantifiable results and scalable strategies
   • One example should feature international education funding
4. Network assessment (1 page)
   • Overview of established networks in higher education
   • Existing relationships with public/private funding sources
   • International connections relevant to educational mobility
   • Strategy for leveraging networks for this project
5. Financial proposal (1 page)
   • Fixed project fee with payment schedule linked to deliverables
   • Hourly rates for additional services if required
   • Estimated expenses (if applicable)
6. References
   • Three professional references from comparable projects
   • At least one reference must be from international higher education sector
7. Supporting materials (optional, 5 pages max)
   • Sample strategic funding plan (anonymized)
   • Relevant publications or thought leadership pieces
   • Evidence of successful framework development

Submissions must be provided in PDF format not exceeding 15 pages total (excluding references).

Key success metrics & project milestones

Strategic analysis metrics

• Completion of targeted gap analysis covering 2018-present with emphasis on high-impact programs
• Identification of 2-3 key program successes with quantifiable outcomes
• Development of 2 viable funding models with projected sustainability metrics
• Focused environmental scan addressing 5-7 critical political/economic factors

Weeks 1-3: Rapid assessment

• Complete focused review of 2018-present program data
• Conduct targeted stakeholder consultations
• Deliver concise gap analysis with key findings
• Present initial assessment to Director P&P

Prospect development metrics

• Identification of 15-20 qualified funding prospects across priority sectors
• Development of 3 tailored solicitation strategies for immediate implementation
• Identification of 1-2 innovative revenue streams with implementation roadmaps
• Prioritization framework for prospect engagement

Weeks 4-6: Strategy development

• Develop priority funding models
• Create prospect identification framework
• Complete targeted environmental scan
• Present strategic recommendations with implementation pathways

Systems and collaboration metric

• Practical recommendation for leveraging existing Microsoft 365 tools for BD tracking
• Development of 1-2 compelling cases for support for priority prospect groups
• Creation of core proposal template adaptable for different contexts
• Documented handover process for internal team implementation

Weeks 7-9: Implementation framework

• Develop high-priority solicitation strategies
• Document Microsoft 365 BD tracking protocol
• Create essential communication materials
• Identify immediate outreach opportunities

Weeks 10-12: Handover and sustainability

• Finalize strategic framework with 12-month implementation roadmap
• Document processes for internal team continuation
• Complete knowledge transfer sessions
• Present final strategic plan with clear next step

---

Maximum Budget: $35,000

Submission deadline: July 25, 2025, 5:00 pm EST

It is anticipated that the work required for this project will start in August 2025 and will be completed by November 30, 2025

Contact info:

For inquiries or submission of proposals, please contact:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 613-698-8238

Please inform us of any accessibility needs during the recruitment process; all information will be kept confidential.