Grant Assessment

What the framework is

Grant assessment compares funding proposals against the same criteria, so a panel can show how it reached its decision. The template starts with five criteria: Potential Impact, Feasibility, Innovation, Value for Money and Community Benefit. The criteria can be changed, added to and weighted.

What the result looks like

When it earns its place

Use it for grant rounds, small community funds, accelerator intakes and research or innovation calls, wherever several reviewers must agree on which proposals to fund. Publishing the criteria and weights in the call makes the decision easier to explain to applicants who were turned down.

The trap is the persuasive writer. A polished proposal can win on every criterion through prose alone. Comparing proposals two at a time on one criterion at a time keeps the judgement on the substance.

How to run it with a group

1. Publish the criteria and weights with the call, and use the same ones to assess.
2. Add the eligible proposals as the options. Three to six options keep it manageable: with five options and five criteria, each person makes 50 comparisons. For a longer list, shortlist first.
3. Each reviewer compares the proposals two at a time on each criterion. Participants do not need an account to respond.
4. Read the overall ranking, then the ranking per criterion. Fund from the top, and record why any proposal was funded out of order.

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