Peer Review

Do you have expertise in addressing sexual assault, intimate partner violence, or stalking?  Do you care about what the Office on Violence Against Women funds to support victims and ensure justice?  If so, then consider applying to be a peer reviewer.

What is OVW peer review?

Every year, OVW receives thousands of applications requesting grant funds to help communities prevent and respond to domestic and sexual violence. These applications are submitted under grant programs where Congress has established by statute what types of organizations can receive the grants and what they can do with the funding. To help us identify the best applications to support with the limited federal dollars we have available, we turn to people who do the work of assisting victims and holding offenders accountable.

Peer review is an objective, independent process for reviewing grant applications. Reviewers identify strengths and weaknesses of applications to assist OVW in making funding decisions. Reviewers’ assessments are advisory in nature; reviewers do not select who receives a grant.

Who are OVW peer reviewers?

OVW peer reviewers understand the importance of a victim-centered approach and can make the time commitment to carefully and objectively read and score applications. Reviewers come from diverse communities, professional backgrounds, and regions of the country. They include victim advocates, judges, prosecutors, law enforcement officers, civil attorneys, and more. While some reviewers are expert consultants, the majority are practitioners or recent retirees from the professions mentioned above. OVW is especially interested in recruiting peer reviewers who work directly with victims in their day-to-day professional lives.

All reviewers are required to adhere to OVW’s peer review conflict of interest policy, which is designed to obviate any issues that may call into question a reviewer’s impartiality or objectivity regarding an application.

OVW will provide reasonable accommodations for reviewers that require such.

What does a peer reviewer do?

Reviewers are assigned up to 10 applications. Before they start reviewing, they participate in an orientation call, receive instructions, and return paperwork. Reviewers then read and score grant applications according to OVW’s instructions and the criteria outlined in a notice of funding opportunity (NOFO). Reviewers write clear and detailed comments on each section of the grant application. Comments must be professional in tone and free of gross errors. Reviewers may be required to participate in meetings to discuss applications with their fellow reviewers.

See our peer review guidelines (PDF)

Are reviewers compensated?

Yes. Reviewers are paid $200 for each application they review in accordance with the instructions we provide. 

How are reviewers selected?

We choose peer reviewers based on the extent to which reviewers’ expertise and availability lines up with our needs and peer review schedules. Prior experience as a peer reviewer is not required. If you are interested in reviewing for OVW, email your current resume or curriculum vitae (CV) to OVW.peerreview@usdoj.gov. Resumes/CVs must list your name, email address, telephone number, and mailing address or they will not be considered.

Who may I contact if I have questions?

You can call us at 202-307-6026, or you can send us an email.