Volunteer as a Grant Review Panelist

*** Volunteer Panelist Opportunities are NOW available for Spring 2012 ***
Click here to search and sign up for 2012 Spring Panelist Volunteer Opportunities

United Way of Greater Topeka invites community-minded volunteers to serve as Grant Review Panelists to assist in making funding decisions supporting community goals in the areas of Education, Income, Health and Basic Needs. Panels are held throughout the year.  To receive invitations and information on upcoming volunteer opportunities as they become available, please fill out the Grant Review Panelist interest form (click here).

What is involved in being a Grant Review Panelist?

First, each panelist attends a two-hour training session.  Training sessions are conducted prior to the review panels convening.  During the training sessions, reviewers will receive background information about United Way and the community goals we are working toward.  They will receive information specifically relating to the proposal review process along with a checklist/evaluation form.

Next, the panelist reviews applications in one of more area of service.  These reviews are conducted on the volunteers own time.  Most volunteers will have a week to review material and prepare for a panel.  Review time varies from panel to panel and could take up to eight hours dependent on the number of proposals for that panel.

Finally, the volunteer will meeting with other memebers of the panel and discuss the merits of each of the proposals.  The outcome of the panel discussion is a consensus on which programs should receive funding and how much.  The Board of Directors is then notified of the panel’s decisions.

How do you sign up to be a Grant Review Panelist?

Please register your interest by submitting a Grant Review Panelist interest form.  After submission, a member of the volunteer engagement team at United Way will contact you with upcoming opportunities.  You can also call Tom Baumgartner at United Way at (785) 273.4804 with questions.