Our Winning Process

Understanding the grants process and how our program mirrors the grants process, is key to understanding why you need to work with us. In the grant process, after your application is submitted, it goes through a two stage review.

Initial Computer Review:

Once your application is submitted, it is ranked on the substance of the application, relative to the established funding priorities for the type of community you serve. Answers to the application’s activity-specific questions provide information used to determine each application’s ranking, relative to the stated priorities. Applications that best address the grant funding priorities will score higher than applications that are inconsistent with the priorities. Applications scoring the highest will be determined to be within the “competitive range” and will undergo further evaluation through a peer review process.

Peer Review:

A panel of at least three peer review panelists evaluates each application in the competitive range using the project narrative, answers to the general, and the activity-specific questions. During the panel review process, panelists provide a subjective but qualitative judgment on the merits of each request. Panelists evaluate and score the following project elements:

1. The clarity of your proposed project, including the project’s budget detail.
2. The organization’s financial need.
3. The benefits that would result from an award, relative to the cost.
4. The extent to which the grant would enhance daily operations.

Panelists review each application in its entirety and numerically score the application according to the established evaluation criteria. Those who score the highest go to the award phase.

Grantmasters Application Process:

It's our job to provide our customers with the tools and recommendations to assure that their funding request matches the highest funding priority possible. This will allow for the best chance of getting their application to peer review. Our needs assessment and matching projects to funding priorities is the key to success at the initial computer review.

Our panel of independent Grantmasters “peer reviewers” gives your application a final review and suggested changes prior to submitting your application. These reviewers, much like the program’s peer reviewers never interact with our customers or have any knowledge of their projects until they receive the completed application to review and score. No previous knowledge or contact with the department representatives helps to keep the familiarity of the department, project, and community needs out of this review. This allows for maximum non-biased scoring and suggestions.