Putting Community Voice at the Heart of Grantmaking
By: Erica Weinberg
Centering community isn’t a new idea in philanthropy — but doing it well requires more than listening sessions or advisory panels. It requires shifting who holds decision-making power.
External review committees — groups of people with lived experience, local knowledge, and practical expertise — are one of the strongest ways to make that shift real. When designed thoughtfully, they help funders move from good intentions to grounded, community-centered decisions.
“The most effective funders don’t just consult community members — they share the table with them.”
At Ideas in Philanthropy, we’ve supported funders across sectors in establishing and facilitating community grantmaking review processes — involving dozens of reviewers, hundreds of proposals, and multi-million-dollar grant portfolios. Through that work, we’ve learned that success hinges less on mechanics and more on mindset: respect, access, and shared accountability.
What Makes a Review Committee Work?
→ Treat participation as partnership
Community members bring expertise that deserves compensation and respect. Paying reviewers fairly makes participation accessible and signals that lived experience counts as professional knowledge.
→ Design selection with community, not for it
Who sits at the table determines what perspectives shape the outcomes. Use open nominations, co-developed criteria, and rotating seats to ensure the committee reflects the diversity and dynamism of the community itself.
“Selection is where inclusion begins. Openness builds legitimacy.”
→ Build clarity around roles and power
Avoid the trap of “advisory ambiguity.” Define where the committee’s influence begins and ends — which decisions are binding, which are shared, and how recommendations will be used. Transparency prevents tokenism and builds trust.
→ Create mutual learning
Training shouldn’t be one-way. Yes, reviewers need grounding in proposal assessment and funding priorities — but funders should also learn from reviewers about local realities, systemic barriers, and what success looks like on the ground.
→ Facilitate real deliberation
A good committee isn’t a collection of score sheets — it’s a space for thoughtful dialogue. Blend anonymous scoring with structured conversations that elevate qualitative insight and local nuance.
→ Close the loop
After decisions are made, report back. Let reviewers see how input shaped outcomes, and invite committee members to stay involved in evaluation or strategy. Visibility reinforces trust — and turns one-time participation into long-term partnership.
Shifting From Input to Influence
When funders share decision-making power, they strengthen both outcomes and relationships. External review committees don’t just add a layer of accountability — they make philanthropy more connected, transparent, and credible.
“Community voice isn’t a step in the process — it’s the source of better strategy.”
At Ideas in Philanthropy, we help funders design grantmaking processes that embed community expertise from start to finish. Whether through external review committees, participatory approaches, or co-design sessions, we help make community partnership a core feature of how decisions get made. Reach out if you would like to think through how you engage community in your grantmaking!
