NOTICE: Reviewers are required to be available on Thursday, November 19, 2009, from 4 to 6 pm and Wednesday, December 2, 2009, 9 am – 12 pm. Reviewers will participate in a two hour training session on Thursday, November 19, 2009, and a consensus review session on Wednesday, December 2, 2009. Please see the remainder of the announcement for further details.

Summary: Serve DC is seeking individuals to review grant proposals for the 2010 AmeriCorps*State funding competition. This is an excellent opportunity to network with colleagues in the national service field, learn more about the grant-making process, develop your own grant-writing skills, and contribute your knowledge and experience to Serve DC’s efforts to select high-quality Washington, DC-based programs for AmeriCorps funding.

What does a grant reviewer do? Grant reviewers will help to evaluate funding applications for the 2010 AmeriCorps*State grant competition. Reviewers read, score and evaluate proposals, and discuss their findings with a small group of fellow reviewers and a facilitator. The panel then comes to consensus to rank the proposals according to quality and recommend them for the next level of review.

What qualifications should reviewers have? Serve DC is looking for a diverse group of reviewers--males and females of all ages, races and ethnicities--that have experience with national service or community-based programs, and grant writing. For example, reviewers may be community service practitioners, educators, students, youth participants, national service alumni, people working in foundations, or individuals working on public policy issues.

Reviewers must be comfortable reading a large volume of material in a short period of time and providing analysis in a small group.

Can members currently serving in AmeriCorps or any other streams of service serve as reviewers? No, you must have completed your AmeriCorps service before being selected as a reviewer. Alumni of AmeriCorps programs are strongly encouraged to apply to serve as reviewers.  AmeriCorps members must have completed service by September 1, 2009.

Can people who work for a Corporation for National and Community Service-funded program serve as a reviewer? Yes, people who work for organizations affiliated with other Learn and Serve America, AmeriCorps or national service programs may serve as reviewers. For instance, an individual who works for an organization that hosts a VISTA volunteer may review AmeriCorps applications. However, people cannot serve as a reviewer for the AmeriCorps programs if they work for an organization that is being considered for funding in this competition.

What is the time commitment? Reviewers must be available on November 19, 2009 (4 – 6 pm) and December 2, 2009 (9 am – 12 pm; this session may run later depending on the number of applications received). Reviewers will participate in an evening training session on November 19, 2009, and a consensus review session on December 2, 2009.  The period between training and consensus session will be dedicated to reviewing and scoring the proposals.

What are the benefits to reviewers? The grant review experience is an excellent opportunity to meet and network with colleagues in the national service field; find out about exciting programming and trends in national service; develop a deeper understanding of the grant-writing and grant-making processes; and contribute experience to the selection of high-quality programs for the District of Columbia. This is a volunteer opportunity.  

How does one apply to become a reviewer? To apply, please forward your resume to: Natalie Wasserman, AmeriCorps Program Officer, Serve DC, 441 4th Street, Suite 1140N, Washington, DC 20001 or e-mail natalie.wasserman@dc.gov, (202) 727-9579. Please share this announcement with others who are qualified reviewers.

Is there a deadline to apply? We will begin reviewing resumes and contacting potential reviewers as resumes arrive. Please submit resumes as soon as possible, but no later than 5pm on Friday, October 30, 2009 for consideration.

What are the next steps after submitting a resume? Serve DC will review resumes and begin contacting qualified applicants. We will check for conflicts of interest and confirm availability at that time.

Thank you for your interest in serving as a reviewer and for sharing this announcement with others who may be interested. This is a very important part of our review process and our efforts to recommend high quality programs for funding.