Instead of using a traditional panel—where all reviewers evaluate all applications in selected categories—you may prefer to:
- Assign a specific number of reviewers per application, or
- Assign a specific number of applications per reviewer
You can do this using random assignments.
Create random assignments
In the Manage workspace, go to Reviewing > Settings > Assignments
Click New random assignment
Select the relevant Score set
Choose the Round—if you haven’t created your reviewing round yet, do this first.
-
In the Randomly assign section:
Enter the number of assignments
Choose whether to assign applications per reviewer or reviewers per application
Select whether assignments should be created minus existing assignments or in addition to existing assignments
Search for reviewers and applications:
Search reviewers by name or role using Advanced search
Search applications by name, ID, status, or category
Click Create assignments
Assignment options explained
Minus existing assignments
Use this when you want to top up reviewers to a new maximum number of assignments.
Example:
- Each reviewer currently has 5 assignments
- You create a batch: 10 applications minus existing assignments
- The system adds only the additional assignments required to bring each reviewer to 10 total
In addition to existing assignments
Use this when you want to add more assignments on top of what already exists.
Example
- Each reviewer currently has 5 assignments
- You assign 10 applications in addition to existing assignments
- Each reviewer will end up with 15 total assignments
Delete random assignments
- In the Manage workspace, go to Reviewing > Settings > Assignments
- Select the checkbox next to the assignment(s)
- Click Delete
Good to know
- Random assignments do not require panels.
- Good Grants does not automatically notify reviewers when they receive assignments.
- When you're ready for reviewers to begin, send a broadcast from Reviewing > Settings > Assignments.
- Random assignments can be combined with manual assignments and panel-based reviewing.
- Deleting an assignment does not delete an application.
- If a reviewer has started or completed scoring, the assignment becomes a stray assignment instead of being fully removed. Stray assignments are excluded from reporting but preserved for recovery. To recover stray scores, create a new manual assignment between the same reviewer and application.
Assignment scenario:
Scenario: 80 applications, 10 reviewers
Applications per reviewer
If reviewers can score no more than 5 applications each, set:
- Applications per reviewer = 5
This creates 50 total assignments (5 × 10).
Not all 80 applications will necessarily be covered.
Reviewers per application
If every application must be reviewed by 5 reviewers, set:
- Reviewers per application = 5
This creates 400 assignments (5 × 80), evenly distributed.
Video overview