Serving as a Federal Grant Peer Reviewer
Why Serve as a Peer Reviewer?
Serving as a grant peer reviewer is a wonderful professional development opportunity that offers several benefits:
- Enhance Your Grant Writing Skills – You will see firsthand what makes a strong proposal.
- Expand Your Professional Network – You will have the opportunity to connect with agency staff and fellow experts who are also serving as reviewers.
- Strengthen Future Grant Applications – You will gain a better understanding of the common pitfalls and best practices.
- Potential Honorarium or Travel Support – Some agencies offer stipends or cover travel expenses. Note: Many agencies now offer remote reviewer options with meetings taking place virtually.
What Does Peer Review Involve?
- Application Evaluation – Read and assess proposals based on specific review criteria.
- Scoring & Feedback – Provide written comments and score applications.
- Panel Discussions – Participate in virtual or in-person review panels to discuss applications.
- Time Commitment – Varies by agency but typically requires reviewing multiple proposals over a few weeks, plus panel meetings.
Federal Peer Reviewer Opportunities
Please check the agency or program website if there is an opportunity you are interested in that is not listed below.
National Science Foundation (NSF)
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
U.S. Department of Education (ED)
National Endowment for the Humanities
National Endowment for the Arts (NEA)
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)