News
February 16th, 2024
Our Grant Review Process – Now Recruiting!
JOIN OUR REVIEW TEAM! Spots are limited and going fast! Apply HERE. Questions or concerns, please contact Gloria at gcoicou@cftompkins.org.
In the realm of community foundations, transparency is a cornerstone that builds trust and strengthens the relationship between the foundation and the communities it serves. Nowhere is this transparency more critical than in the grant review process. Community foundations that actively involve community members in grant reviews are more likely to stay true to their intended impact and not only enhance the quality of their decision-making but also contribute significantly to fostering trust and engagement.
Involving our community members in the grant review process is a powerful means of empowering your voices. When you actively participate in reviewing grant applications, it ensures that the decision-making process is reflective of the diverse perspectives, needs, and aspirations of our community. This inclusivity not only adds depth to the review process but also instills a sense of ownership among community members.
Transparency in the grant review process is a clear signal of our commitment to openness and fairness. When community members can witness and understand the steps involved in selecting grant recipients, it builds trust in the foundation’s decision-making. This transparency not only assures applicants that their applications are evaluated fairly but also assures the broader community that resources are allocated in a manner aligned with community needs. We also encourage feedback through open communication. This feedback loop creates opportunities for continuous improvement, allowing us to refine our processes based on insights from both reviewers and applicants. This iterative approach helps the foundation adapt to evolving community needs and ensures that its grantmaking remains responsive and relevant.
Our review team members actively participate in shaping our community’s future and become ambassadors for the foundation’s mission. This engagement extends beyond the review process; as community members feel a deeper connection to the foundation and its broader initiatives by becoming committee members and sometimes, board members!
Here’s what our review team members had to say:
Being a review team member was the most important thing I have done in 2023. I felt heard, supported, and appreciated from staff and I loved our facilitator.
There is no greater way to learn more about what is happening in our community then to hear directly from organizations through their applications. I loved getting to know the organization that I was the lead on.
It was fun to connect with my team members who had differing perspectives than I did. We worked well as a team and was happy that our organizations were funded! Kudos to Gloria for putting together an amazing process.