Request for Proposals: Freelance Graphic Designer (1099 Contractor)

Purpose of RFP

Lead for America (LFA) is soliciting proposals from qualified freelance graphic designers to support our visual communication needs across print, digital, and event-related materials. The selected contractor will collaborate with LFA’s Marketing and Communications team to produce clear, compelling, and brand-aligned design assets.

LFA seeks a designer with a strong portfolio demonstrating clean, effective design and the ability to transform complex information into accessible visual formats. Contractors should be comfortable working within established brand guidelines while offering thoughtful creative recommendations. Experience supporting nonprofit, civic, philanthropic, or social impact organizations is highly valued.

This work is project-based, with an estimated 8–12 hours per week depending on organizational needs. Special projects or defined scopes of work may be contracted and billed separately.

Scope of Work:

Project needs will fluctuate throughout the year and may include, but are not limited to:

• Branded collateral for programs and recruitment
• Event-related materials (e.g., slide decks, signage, programs)
• Promotional graphics and social media templates
• Institutional and development materials
• Website and email campaign graphics
• Design of promotional items
• Occasional special projects or one-off campaigns

The selected designer should be comfortable working within established brand guidelines while offering creative recommendations when appropriate.

Qualifications

Design Skills

• Strong portfolio showing versatility in digital and print design
• Demonstrated skill in typography, layout, color, and visual hierarchy
• Ability to translate complex or text-heavy content into clear visual formats
• Familiarity with preparing files for both digital use and professional printing
• Experience with light motion design, simple animations, or GIF-based graphics is a plus

Technical Skills

• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite and Canva
• Experience using email marketing tools (e.g., Mailchimp)
• Experience with Google Workspace

Experience

• Experience designing for nonprofits, civic organizations, or social impact work (preferred)

Work Style & Collaboration

• Strong time management and ability to prioritize multiple projects
• Comfortable collaborating in a remote-first environment