We highly recommend setting up a judging panel so that you can select grantees with team members and/or relevant stakeholders. Make sure to arrange this well in advance to ensure everyone can attend.
How does a judging panel work?
Judging panels can take place virtually or in person, and typically include:
- A presentation of each shortlisted project covering what the project aims to tackle, the proposed solution, how much funding is needed, & the expected impact
- A discussion around each project including questions and opinions from the panellists (get ready for an interesting and valuable debate!)
- A time to score each project: invite each panellist to give each project a score out of 5 (everyone should feel free to go as high as 5, and as low as 1!)
Who should be included in the panel?
Your team – Judging panels are a fantastic way to engage with colleagues and raise awareness of your community fund internally.
Local partners and stakeholders – If your community fund aims to benefit a local area, we highly recommend inviting local elected representatives, business owners and/or residents.
Experts – If your community fund focuses on a specific cause, we recommend inviting experts on the given topic. And, no matter what your fund is aimed towards, inviting community groups you’ve already funded or know to join the panel is a great way to ensure there’s community know-how in the room with you.
How long should it take?
Before launching your fund, we recommend finding a date to meet with stakeholders and review the projects that have applied, ideally within a few weeks of the fund closing. The length of your Judging Panel will depend on how many projects you’ve shortlisted. We recommend giving yourselves at least 5-10 minutes to review and discuss each project.
Is there any preparation needed?
Send a judging pack to everyone involved in the panel in advance, so they have time to read about the projects in their own time. Judging packs typically include:
- An overview of your organisation and the community fund’s objectives
- A note on the format of the panel and what will be asked of the panellists
- The list of criteria each project will be judged against
- A little bit of info about each project and/or a link to the project page on ActionFunder
ActionFunder can manage and run your judging panel for an additional service charge. Reach out to us at hello@actionfunder.org for additional information.