The Federal government distributes more than $700 billion in grant funds annually.  A large majority of these dollars are awarded to discretionary grant programs, through a competitive process.  Engaging as a peer reviewer offers participants a host of benefits. 

Understanding the Federal grant review process and learning how to effectively engage with grant-making agencies is a tool for future success.  Grants professionals will find opportunities to grow their careers through information sharing and networking.  They will identify opportunities to support their organizations by gaining insight into the field and processes and ultimately educate themselves on topic-specific funding opportunities.

Subject matter experts will find out how what makes a successful federal peer reviewer.  They will learn more about the federal grants process and identify methods for finding opportunities to participate in peer reviews at HHS, the largest grant-making agency.

Benefits to reviewer:

- Stay on top of what's happening in your field

- Find out what's new and innovative

- Networking

- Understand teaming opportunities and grant partnerships

- Deepen understanding of how information is consumed by peer reviewers to improve grant writing skills, information delivery, and ultimately lead to more awards

- Engaging with information about how state and local governments are problem-solving, and how small and large organizations are delivering on innovative solutions

Presenter:

Ms. Emily Trencher is the Director of Grants Services with over 20 years of professional experience, with a focus on technical project management for Federal grants programs.  She currently leads a line of business delivering hundreds of Federal peer reviews annually. Ms. Trencher is an expert in Federal grants lifecycle processes and best practices, and played a key role in the development of reviewer recruitment and grant review web-based systems.

Katie Kirstein has more than ten years of experience in business management and analytics with seven years focused on grants management. As Director of Outreach and Communications at GrantSolutions, Ms. Kirstein currently leads a team which focuses on ways to improve communication, feedback and gather requirements related to the improvement of the GrantSolutions' Partner community and find ways to implement the best grants management solutions.

 
Skill Level:
Mid-Career

Learning Path: 
Federal Grants

GPC Competencies:
How to craft, construct, and submit an effective grant application

Organizational development as it pertains to grant seeking

Methods and strategies that cultivate and maintain relationships between fund-seeking and recipient organizations and funders

Practices and services that raise the level of professionalism of grant developers