Find Funding Magazine

When writing a grant, the “reader” becomes this large, shadowy figure behind the walls of the fortress of funding. You have read the grant guidelines, and maybe even the selection criteria, but how do you know what really goes on in those meetings? An easy way to find out: become a grant reader and reviewer!

Most state and federal agencies search for peer reviewers when making grant awards, and even some local foundations or charities will invite community members to serve on grant committees. These opportunities are out there – you simply need to find them. Check the websites of various grant giving agencies, or call your local United Way to see if they have any positions open in their committees for an interested community member. There is no better way to understand what a grant reader looks for than becoming one yourself.

Here is an opportunity to get you started, taken from the Department of Education website:

The U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools (OSDFS) is currently seeking qualified peer reviewers to read and evaluate grant applications that will be submitted under the Grant Competition to Prevent High-Risk Drinking or Violent Behavior among College Students. In anticipation of this review, the Department is requesting prospective reviewers to send an e-mail message indicating interest and a copy of their current resume to Rich Lucey in OSDFS. Qualified reviewers for this grant competition should have experience and expertise in alcohol abuse prevention, violence prevention, and/or research and evaluation, especially as it relates to college students. Reviewers selected by the Department will read and evaluate up to 12 grant applications, post scores and comments online over an 8- to 10-day period, and participate in three mandatory conference calls. This review is scheduled to occur from March 9 through March 23, 2007.

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