How to get good scores from federal grant review panels
Most applications for federal grants are reviewed and scored by a group of people from outside
the government agency who have expertise in the subject area for which a grant is requested.
These review panels are a key influence on the grant decisions made by the federal agency.
Despite their particular expertise, members of the panels are not permitted to review
applications from groups with which they have connections, and they review only applications
from outside their own geographic area. Each reviewer scores applications independently of the
other reviewers. The average of their scores becomes the official score used to rank the
application. If the scores of different reviewers on the panel vary greatly, the agency will
convene the reviewers to discuss the discrepancies; then the reviewers rescore the application.
The federal agency then uses the official scores for the applications as a critical factor in
deciding which applicants will receive grants.
Some tips on how to improve your score:
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Given that the reviewers will not be from your geographic area and are unlikely to be
familiar with your organization, make sure your proposal is explicit about ways in which
your location or the history of your group will enhance your ability to carry out your
program.
Always follow the proposal guidelines for typeface, font, and page limits.
Make sure the section headers you use in the proposal narrative match the categories to
be scored.
Include citations from relevant research that supports the strategies and methods you
will use in your program.
Be careful with acronyms; the first use of any acronym should be immediately after the
complete name from which it is derived.
Use language that indicates your readiness to proceed with the program for which you
are requesting the grant. Avoid terms like "we hope" or "hopefully."
If the program for which you are requesting funds involves collaborating organizations,
make sure to include letters of commitment verifying their participation.
Appendices may not be read, so they should never contain crucial information that doesn't
appear elsewhere.
From “The Grantsmanship Center” newsletter, December 2012.