Grants & Services for Organizations
Peer Review Panel
The GCAC/City of Columbus Grants Program enlists the expertise of a peer review panel in the evaluation of Project Support applications. The panel process is being implemented in 2007 as a pilot process and will be subject to ongoing review and revision.
Panel nomination process and criteria
Panelists are nominated through an open process. Click here for bios of our current panelists. Self-nominations are welcome. Nominations for the 2008-09 panel are due May 30. The term of service is one year and may be renewable. Terms run from August 1st through July 31st.
Nominees must meet the following criteria:
- Residency: the nominee must live or work in the Greater Columbus Metropolitan Statistical Area.
- Experience: the nominee should posses experience in one or more of the following areas:
- Knowledge of and familiarity with Columbus' nonprofit arts community
- Artistic experience in an arts discipline (music, theatre, visual arts, etc.) as a creator, administrator, board member and/or general supporter of the arts;
- Experience in nonprofit sector or arts management, including, but not limited to, organizational planning & management, finance & accounting, development & fundraising or marketing;
- Arts education; and
- Experience with cultural facilities and venues (acquisition, building, renovation, management) as an architect, contractor, builder, operations/programming manager and/or owner.
- Conflict of interest: Panelists are required to declare a potential conflict of interest prior to the application review process and to submit a conflict of interest form to staff. Conflicts do not disqualify panelists from serving; however, panel members are required to withdraw from consideration of a proposal affecting an organization where a conflict of interest has been indicated. Conflicts of interest include direct financial or employment interest relating to any grant proposal under review. Affiliations may include employment, board memberships, consultant relationships, familial relationships with individual applicants or staff or board members of applicant organizations.
Selection process
- Nominations are reviewed by staff, which then provides the Grants Committee with recommendations. Staff and the Grants Committee Chair conduct interviews. Once the Grants Committee finalizes the slate of panelists it is then submitted to the Board of Trustees for final approval.
- In the initial year ten panelists will be selected. After the implementation year the Grants Committee will review the panel size and make recommendations for necessary changes.
Panelist Responsibilities and Conduct
Panelists must be available to fulfill the following responsibilities:
- Read and become familiar with written applications and supplementary materials received at both the Fall and Spring deadlines;
- Review and score each application according to published Guidelines and review criteria;
- Attend and participate fully in public panel meetings;
- Be available to discuss applications with the Grants Committee if necessary;
- Declare all actual or apparent conflicts of interest prior to the discussion of any application.
Timeline
Panelists will meet at least three times a year. A panel orientation will be held at the beginning of each term and public meetings will be held for the September and March Project Support deadlines. In addition, panelists will be able to score applications online within a week of each deadline, and will receive a print docket that includes copies of the applications and supplemental materials by mail at least three weeks prior to the public review.
Click here to download the panelist nomination form (pdf)
