The Portland Children’s Levy (PCL) is recruiting 75-80 volunteers to review and score large grant applications.

This is your opportunity to ensure the Levy funds high-quality programs responsive to community needs. The scores from reviewers help the PCL Allocation Committee decide which grants to recommend to the City Council for final approval.

We seek reviewers who reflect Portland’s diverse communities.

PCL offers an optional stipend of $250 to reviewers who complete 7- 8 grant reviews on time and outside of paid work time.

Background information

PCL grew out of a need to increase opportunity for all Portland’s children. Historical policies and practices have a direct relationship with disparities in outcomes for children navigating poverty and children of color. PCL strives to change this trajectory by supporting community-based programs that help prepare children for school, support them to be successful in and out of school, and eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in children’s outcomes.

Portland voters first approved the Levy in 2002 and have overwhelmingly renewed it four times. Funding for the current Levy runs through June 30, 2029. The property tax raises approximately $23 million annually.

PCL supports services in six program areas: after school, child abuse prevention and intervention, early childhood, foster care, hunger relief and mentoring.

Reviewer qualifications

Reviewers must live, work, play, worship, or go to school in Portland, and have at least one of the following qualifications:

  • Experience working for or advocating for racial equity, diversity, and/or disability inclusion in organizations and services for children, youth, and families.
  • Lived and/or professional experience in one or more of PCL’s 6 program areas (such experience includes teachers, community leaders, advocates, researchers, volunteers, others working with children and families, or parents/caregivers who use services for children and families.)

Reviewer responsibilities and commitments

  • Attend 1 virtual trainings led by PCL staff to learn how to review and score applications in the WebGrants online grant portal.
    • Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024, 5:30-7:30 p.m. or
    • Wednesday, Nov. 20, 5:30-7:30 p.m. or
    • Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024, noon-2 p.m. or
    • Friday, Nov. 22, 2024, 9-11 a.m.
  • Create a WebGrants account using a laptop or desktop computer. (Smartphones and tablets are not compatible.)
  • Notify staff if you have a conflict of interest with any assigned application.
  • Between Nov. 19, 2024 – Jan. 10, 2025, independently review and score grant applications using PCL’s scoring criteria in WebGrants. Reviewers are asked to score about 7- 8 applications (approximately 25 pages per application), which is estimated to take 20-24 hours.
  • Reviewers must score at least 2 applications by Dec. 10, 2024, and the rest by Jan. 10, 2025.
  • Email info@portlandchildrenslevy.org if you have any questions during the review process.
  • Reviewers requesting the stipend must complete an IRS W9 form and ACH direct deposit form. If you are selected as a reviewer, PCL staff will provide the forms and provide assistance.
  • Meet individually with PCL staff at the end of the review process for a 15- to 20-minute wrap-up meeting.

Reviewer sign-up

PCL estimates needing 75-80 reviewers. Sign up by 8 a.m. PST on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024.  

Sign up to be a reviewer

Selection process

PCL staff screens sign-up forms as they are received. People who meet the qualifications and commit to fulfilling the responsibilities will be invited to serve as a reviewer.

PCL staff will notify you by 5 p.m. PST on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024 if you are selected to serve as a reviewer. If selected, staff will also confirm which training session you will attend, based on the preferences you chose on your sign-up form.

PCL staff will:

  • assign reviewers a set of grant applications based on their experience and knowledge in a specific program area.
  • create groups of 5 reviewers to read and score the same set of applications.
  • balance each reviewer group to include experience and knowledge in PCL’s program areas and racial equity, diversity, and disability inclusion.

After PCL receives grant applications and balances the reviewer groups, it’s possible we may not need everyone who signed up to review.

Questions or accommodation requests

If you’re interested in volunteering as a reviewer and do not have access to a computer or need other assistance or accommodations, please email info@portlandchildrenslevy.org or call 503-823-2936 (extension 2 or 4).

The City of Portland ensures meaningful access to City programs, services, and activities to comply with Civil Rights Title VI and ADA Title II laws and reasonably provides: translation, interpretation, modifications, accommodations, alternative formats, auxiliary aids and services. Request these services online or call 503-823-4000, Relay Service: 711.

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