The Community Fund uses an adjudication system. Each program stream will be assigned an Assessment Team consisting of three to five members recommended by the stream’s Advisory Committee, who will develop assessment criteria.
Once all applications have been processed in any given stream, the Assessment Team will meet and carefully evaluate every eligible application. In the event of a conflict of interest (for example, if an Assessment Team member would receive direct or indirect benefits from a successful application), that member is required to leave the discussion and does not participate in the discussion or the decision making for that applicant. It’s a careful, detailed and documented process that ensures applicants to the Community Fund are treated fairly and effectively and that individuals and groups are given the respect and attention they deserve.
Assessment criteria will be published for all program streams. The exception is the first intake of scholarship applications, in which case assessment criteria will be posted during the intake window.