Reviewing Applications

Reviewing Applications

Evaluate applications, coordinate with your review team, make decisions, and notify applicants.

The Applications page

Open the Applications tab from your organization dashboard. You'll land in a two-column layout: opportunities on the left, the applications table on the right.

Pick an opportunity from the rail to see its applications. The table shows everything in one view: applicant, status, score (if scoring has started), submission date, and reviewer assignments.

Filter and sort using the controls above the table:

• Status (new, in review, shortlisted, accepted, rejected)
• Score
• Reviewer assignment
• Submission date

Sort by clicking the chips above the table — they show your current sort at a glance.

Review an application

Click an application to open the review workspace — a three-column layout:

• The queue rail on the left shows every application for this opportunity in your current sort order. Click any one to jump to it without losing your place.
• The applicant is in the middle: their answers, portfolio works, CV, statement, and contact card on one continuous canvas.
• The review panel is on the right: scoring controls, recommendation chips, your notes, and the activity timeline.

Click Next at the bottom of the review panel to score the next applicant in your queue — your filters stay applied and the rail stays put.

On mobile, the workspace takes over the screen. Use the queue sheet to jump between applicants and the score peek sheet to score without scrolling away from the applicant.

Score applications

Artsume supports three scoring modes — your opportunity's review settings determines which one reviewers see.

Recommendation

• Pick "Yes / Maybe / No" from a row of icon chips
• Best for fast triage or single-pass review

Sliding scale

• A single overall score from low to high
• Best when you want a clean ranking without per-criterion detail

Rubric

• Score each criterion in your rubric, weighted as you set it up
• Best for funded grants, awards, and any review where you need defensible scoring

To score:

1. Open an application
2. Use the scoring panel on the right (or the score peek sheet on mobile)
3. Score against your mode
4. Add notes explaining your reasoning
5. Click Next to move to the next applicant — saving happens automatically

If multiple reviewers score, Artsume calculates averages and shows you the spread.

Scoring tips

• Score against your criteria, not against other applications
• Use the full range of your scale
• Add notes. You'll forget why you gave that score later
• Be consistent across applications

Assign reviewers

Distribute applications among your team:

Manual assignment:

1. Go to the applications list
2. Select applications to assign
3. Choose reviewer(s)
4. Assign

Automatic assignment:

• Set up rules to distribute applications evenly
• Useful for large applicant pools

Reviewers only see applications assigned to them (unless you grant broader access).

Blind review

For impartial evaluation:

1. Enable blind review in opportunity settings
2. Reviewer names are hidden from applicants
3. Optional: Hide applicant names from reviewers

Blind review reduces bias but may not work for all opportunity types.

Make decisions

After review:

Shortlist:

• Mark top applications as shortlisted
• Request additional materials if needed
• Schedule interviews if applicable

Accept:

• Change status to Accepted
• Prepare acceptance communications
• Set up next steps (contracts, payments, logistics)

Reject:

• Change status to Not Selected
• Prepare rejection communications

Communicate with applicants

Send notifications to applicants:

Bulk notifications:

• Select multiple applications
• Choose notification type (acceptance, rejection, request for materials)
• Customize message
• Send

Individual messages:

• Open specific application
• Send direct message
• Track communication history

All communications are logged in the application record.

Export data

Export application data for:

• External review panels
• Record keeping
• Reporting

Export formats: CSV, PDF, or custom reports.

Review workflow example

1. Deadline passes: Applications close
2. Initial screening: Staff checks eligibility, completeness
3. Assign reviewers: Distribute to review panel
4. Scoring period: Reviewers score and comment
5. Discussion: Team meets to discuss top applications
6. Decisions: Accept, waitlist, or reject
7. Notifications: Inform all applicants
8. Archive: Close opportunity cycle

What's next

• Team Collaboration: Coordinate with your review team
• Creating Opportunities: Set up your next opportunity