City of London Community Grants Program, Community Review Panel Application

The City of London Community Grants Program is seeking up to nine community members to be a part of the Community Review Panel to review and evaluate grant applications. Benefits of joining this review panel include; decision making experience, working with a team of experienced community leaders, enhancing your knowledge of community needs and organizations, and gaining insight into the municipal grants process. The individuals must have expertise in one or more of the strategic areas listed below, and/or be an expert in outcomes measurement or finances. 

• Reconciliation, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion 
• Housing and Homelessness 
• Economic Growth, Culture, and Prosperity 
• Mobility and Transportation 
• Wellbeing and Safety 
• Climate Action and Sustainable Growth 
• Safe London for Women, Girls, and Gender-Diverse and Trans People

Applications are due by Monday, October 16th at 9:00am

About the City of London Community Grants Program 

The City of London Community Grants Program provides annual investments of approximately $2.8 million to not-for-profit organizations and community groups who need funding to implement their programs and finance their construction projects. Grants are provided to not-for-profit organizations and community groups whose programs or services impact the lives of Londoners and align with the City of London’s Strategic Plan. Grant streams include: 

• Multi-Year Grants, which provides financial support to London-based not-for-profit organizations and community groups to implement programs or services in London, with funding provided for up to four years
• Innovation, Capital and Grassroots Grants, which provide financial support to London-based not-for-profit organizations and community groups to implement programs, services or construction projects in London, with funding provided for one year

Role of the Community Review Panel 

Members of the Community Review Panel will make decisions about the allocation of Community Grants on behalf of the City of London. Drawing on their knowledge, expertise, and/or lived experience, members of the panel will review and evaluate applications based on the evaluation criteria. 

Mandate: The Community Review Panel is tasked with making decisions on the allocation of grant funding for all applications to the Community Grants Program. Members will conduct online application review and evaluations prior to committee meetings. 

The composition of the Community Review Panel will align with the Government of Canada 50/30. This commitment to the 50/30 challenge will ensure that the members on the panel are representative of Community Members with lived experience as a member of an equity-denied group. 

Composition: The Community Review Panel will be composed of the following members: 

• Community member/expert in subject matter specific to priorities of the Strategic Plan, (6 to 7 members)
• Funder (1 member)
• Outcomes measurement expert (1 member)
• Financial expert (1 member)
• City of London staff (1 to 2 members) 

Skills and attributes of panel members: 

Members of the panel should:

• have knowledge and/or expertise in one or more strategic area of focus, outcomes measurement or finance;
• have an interest in working with an interdisciplinary team;
• be able to attend both virtual and in-person meetings in London;
• have an understanding of the not-for-profit sector;
• have knowledge of the London community; and
• past experience in making decisions on distributing funds 

In addition, special consideration will be given to applicants who have lived experience as a member of an equity-denied group. 

Successful applicants will be required to sign a conflict of interest and confidentiality agreement prior to participating on the Community Review Panel. All panel members will remain anonymous until final funding decisions are released to the public after the four-year funding cycle (2024-2027)

This is a volunteer opportunity

Time Commitment: To allocate the funds, panel members will be required to attend approximately 4 to 6 meetings per funding program. Panel members will serve a term of 4 years as follows: 

• Year 1: Multi-Year Grants Program applications (winter 2023/2024); Innovation, Capital and Grassroots applications (Spring 2024)
• Year 2 – 4 (2025-2027): Innovation, Capital and Grassroots applications 

In 2023: 

• An orientation session for panel members will be held in November 
• Members will review and evaluate grant applications individually from November 13 to December 15
• The Community Review Panel will meet 4 to 5 times from January to February 2024 to discuss all applications and allocate funds for the Multi-Year Grants Program