Overview
Grant reviewers are community members who evaluate applications for a variety of competitive grants we implement throughout the year. We use these reviewer scores and recommendations to help determine which proposals are awarded grants.
Interest form
We’re looking for individuals from diverse backgrounds and regions of Minnesota who are interested in serving as reviewers for MDA grants. We want people who have knowledge, expertise, or lived experience across a wide range of food and agriculture areas.
If you’re interested in serving as a grant reviewer for the MDA, fill out our online interest form.
Responsibilities
Grant reviewers must be able to dedicate time over the two- to four-week period after a grant closes. The number of hours varies depending on the grant program. Most, if not all, tasks can be completed remotely.
Reviewers will:
- Go over the orientation and training materials we provide.
- Declare any conflicts of interest that may exist due to a relationship with any individual or entity involved in a project proposal.
- Prepare for the grant review process by reviewing the request for proposals (RFP) and other related documents.
- Read and score a certain number of proposals within the time specified. Proposals might include narrative, workplan, and budget documents, along with other information required by the RFP.
- Participate in a review committee meeting if needed for a particular grant (in-person or remotely).
- Complete a follow-up survey about the application and review processes so we can improve them in future rounds of funding.
We provide stipends to eligible community reviewers who complete the review process in the allotted time. To be paid, reviewers must be registered in SWIFT, the State of Minnesota’s online accounting system, and have signed a contract with the state.
To gather a team of reviewers with multiple perspectives, we will consider geographic distribution across the state, different life experiences and areas of expertise, and varied levels of prior grant review involvement.
The information provided as part of the Grant Reviewer Interest Form will be used to select reviewers for grants. Completing this application is voluntary; applicants are not legally required to provide the MDA with the information requested, but only completed applications will be considered. While much of the information applicants provide is classified by Minnesota law as public, some of the information may be classified by law as private or nonpublic at the MDA. Data classified as private or nonpublic will be accessible only to MDA employees and contractors that have a work assignment that requires access to the data, and to other entities authorized by state or federal law to receive the data. The MDA may be obligated to provide the data to law enforcement, the Minnesota Department of Administration, Minnesota Management and Budget, the Office of the State Auditor, or the Office of the Legislative Auditor. Finally, private data about you may be released to third parties through your informed consent, or pursuant to a valid court order or federal subpoena.
Internal Revenue Service Code Section 6109 requires reviewers to provide their correct taxpayer identification number to payers who must file information returns with the IRS. The MDA will use the information provided on the applicant’s W-9 form in order to report payments received as part of the grant reviewer payment to the IRS. The IRS uses the numbers for identification purposes and to help verify the accuracy of the applicant’s tax return. For more information on how the information provided on a W-9 may be used, refer to the Privacy Act Notice on page 6 of the W-9 form.
