Consultancy Opportunities at the Scottish Maritime Museum

The Scottish Maritime Museum is seeking proposals for two time-limited consultancy commissions as part of the Museum Futures / Unlocking Potential project, funded by Museums Galleries Scotland.

This 12-month programme (February 2026 – January 2027) is focused on strengthening the Museum’s fundraising capacity, financial governance and digital infrastructure to support long-term sustainability.

We are inviting proposals for the following commissions.

1. Fundraising Consultancy

We are seeking an experienced fundraising consultant to develop a clear, realistic and implementable multi-year fundraising strategy aligned to the Museum’s scale and capacity.

The commission will include:

• Strategic review of current fundraising position
• Development of a three-year fundraising strategy
• Preparation of a concise case for support and messaging framework
• Advisory input into fundraising-related CRM requirements
• Structured handover to internal staff and Trustees

The consultancy is capped at 25 days total input and is expected to be delivered primarily between March and July 2026.

20260216 Request for Proposal – Fundraiser Consultancy

2. Accounting and Financial Process Consultancy

We are seeking an experienced charity finance consultant or accountancy practice to undertake a focused review of financial processes and governance arrangements.

The commission will include:

• On-site review of financial and administrative processes (including paper-based systems)
• Assessment of management reporting and internal controls
• Review of restricted and unrestricted fund monitoring
• Prioritised recommendations to strengthen clarity and governance
• Briefing session for senior staff and Trustees

The commission is expected to require 5–6 consultancy days in total and has a maximum budget of £3,600 (ex VAT).

20260216 Request for Proposal – Accounting and Financial Process Consultancy

Procurement timetable (both commissions)

• Clarification period: 17 February – 3 March 2026
• Proposal submission deadline: 6 March 2026 (5pm)
• Appointment decision: by 16 March 2026
• Anticipated commencement: week commencing 23 March 2026

All proposals must be submitted in accordance with the instructions set out in the relevant RFP document.