Federal grant proposals are selected through a scoring process that assigns point values to specific criteria outlined in the request for proposals. Private funders have more flexibility in their selection process and may involve conversations about applications among their entire board of trustees. The review process can vary between public and private funders, with private funders sometimes having more personal communication with applicants. Understanding the specific review process used by the funding source can help applicants better prepare their proposals to meet the criteria and standards of that process.