Call for Reviewers
AmeriCorps is looking to expand our pool of qualified external reviewers to support future reviews, including our upcoming FY 2024 grant application reviews. External reviewers will assess grant applications that align with the priority areas stated in the Serve America Act. Qualified reviewers will have five or more years of demonstrated experience in the fields of disaster services, education, environmental stewardships, healthy futures, economic opportunity, veterans and military families, or capacity building.
About AmeriCorps Grant Reviews
- External reviewers will collaborate on a panel of review participants and complete their review tasks remotely.
- Each grant application is reviewed individually by the panel of external reviewers and then all reviewers participate in virtual panel discussions during business hours.
- Reviews include an evaluation of both the application narrative and budget for compliance.
Time Commitment
- The review process includes a training period, review period, and closeout period.
- Most reviews require an estimated 60-70 hour commitment over 4-6 weeks.
- Each grant competition may include unique elements and timeframes.
- AmeriCorps will conduct additional outreach for each grant competition and provide specific details and timeframes.
Eligibility and Honoraria Information
- Reviewers must have at least five years or more experience in: disaster services, education, environmental stewardship, healthy futures, economic opportunity, veterans and military families, or capacity building.
- Reviewers must use and access Microsoft Office Excel (version 2010 or later) and web-based programs such as SharePoint, eGrants, and webinars to participate in the AmeriCorps grant reviews.
- External reviewers must remain responsive with the AmeriCorps staff points of contact throughout the entire review period.
- AmeriCorps may pay reviewers, except for federal employees and possibly those receiving unemployment benefits, a discretionary honorarium payment for their participation in a grant review. The honorarium payment amount varies as it depends on the participant’s role and the expected deliverables. The historical honorarium payment for a reviewer in a 4-6 week review is up to $1,000. Expected honorarium payment amounts may be adjusted depending upon the unique elements and timeframes of each review process.
- All reviewers are carefully screened for conflicts of interest to ensure a fair process for applicants. For example, we would prioritize members of the public who are not affiliated with a current grantee or applicant to reduce the conflicts they have.
How to Respond
If you would like to be considered as an external reviewers for AmeriCorps, please follow the steps listed below to be added to our recruitment pool:
- Create an eGrants profile using the following link: https://egrants.cns.gov/espan/main/newaccount.jsp
- Click “Become a Peer Reviewer”
- On the next screen click “Become a Peer Reviewer” again (Note: you may have to temporarily enable pop ups)
- Follow the prompts entering all requested information. (Fields with a red asterisk are required)
If you know someone with the appropriate qualifications who could be interested in the AmeriCorps Grant Review opportunity, please direct them to this website.
AmeriCorps will reach out to qualified reviewers periodically as review opportunities arise. Responding with your availability does not guarantee your participation in this review. The names of all participating external reviewers for AmeriCorps grant competitions may be made public after the review.
The following information applies to the external reviewer application in eGrants:
OMB Control Number: 3045-0090
Expiration Date: 5/31/2026
PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated to average 45 minutes per submission, including reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, completing the form, and reviewing the collection of information. Comments on the burden or content of this instrument may be sent to AmeriCorps, Attn: Amy Borgstrom, 250 E. Street SW, Washington, D.C. 20525. You are not required to respond to the collection unless the OMB control number and expiration date displayed are current and valid. (See 5 C.F.R. 1320.5(b)(2)(i).)
Privacy Act Statement
Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552a (e)(3), this Privacy Act Statement explains why AmeriCorps is requesting the information on this form.
Authority:
AmeriCorps is authorized to collect the information requested on this form pursuant to National and Community Service Act, as amended by National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993.
Purpose:
The principal use of this information will be to assess qualification and eligibility of external reviewer for AmeriCorps grant competitions and process honoraria.
Routine Uses:
The information you provide on this form may also be disclosed internally with authorized AmeriCorps employees and contractors who may have a need to know it in connection with your application. A list of routine uses associated with this form can be found in the Privacy Act System of Records Notice (SORN), CNCS-04-CPO-MMF-Member Management Files (MMF), available at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/01/23/2020-01080/privacy-act-of-1974-system-of-records.
Disclosure:
Providing this information is voluntary, however failure to provide it may result in inability in processing your application.