FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sep 25, 2009

Washington, DC - The Corporation for National and Community Service is seeking peer reviewers and facilitators to assist in the review of its competitive grant applications.

The Corporation engages experts from various fields to read applications and provide an analysis and rating of the quality of each application based upon published criteria. Peer reviewer comments and ratings are considered in funding decisions.

The Corporation is seeking a diverse group of people with expertise in a variety of areas who can assess the quality of grant applications. Reviewers should be comfortable reading a large volume of material in a short period of time and be capable of providing in-depth individual analysis and participating in small group discussions about the applications. Facilitators should have skills and experience facilitating small groups and managing individual and group processes.

Past reviewers have been practitioners in the national service community, educators, administrator, managers, analysts, researchers, evaluators, and volunteers. Their expertise may be in the areas of national service, volunteer management, education, literacy and tutoring, human services, nonprofit management, public health and health services, disaster preparedness and response, public safety, and the environment and clean energy. In order to address the need of several specialized programs, the Corporation is particularly looking for individuals with backgrounds in healthcare or public health; clean energy or recycling fields; or those who have worked with public lands or the environment. In addition, individuals with experience working with senior citizens or retirees, military veterans, or individual experienced in working with veterans or military personnel are also sought.

Some of the places reviewers work or volunteer in are community or faith-based organizations; national organizations; national or community foundations; local non-profits; municipal, state or federal agencies; higher education; or elementary, middle and high schools.

Participating in a review is an excellent opportunity for professional development and service. The Corporation provides extensive training and preparation and individual support for each review. Peer reviewers will be exposed to new and innovative ideas in their field and engage in the grant-making process of a major funder of service and volunteering while meeting and networking with other experts in several professions.

Most reviewers and facilitators, with the exception of federal employees, receive a modest honorarium for their participation in the grant review. For some reviews, the Corporation might seek individuals to serve as peer reviewers on a voluntary basis.

Those interested in being considered as a peer reviewer or facilitator should complete the peer reviewer application in eGrants. Visit http://www.nationalservice.gov and follow the eGrants link. Additional information is available by contacting the Corporation via e-mail at PeerReviewers@cns.gov. Please share this information with interested individuals.

AmeriCorps, a federal agency, brings people together to tackle the country's most pressing challenges through national service and volunteering. AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities. AmeriCorps helps make service to others a cornerstone of our national culture. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.