Awarding a grant is a detailed process involving peer review and final approval by the Society's Trustees. Qualified research personnel associated with accredited institutions of higher learning or appropriate research institutes, and qualified graduate students, may apply. Submissions are reviewed by the AOS Research Committee at its spring and autumn meetings. Grants received by January 1 are reviewed at the Spring Trustees Meeting and those grants received by July 1 are reviewed at the Fall Trustees Meeting. The money they dispense is the membership's.
Members have a right to know how it is spent.
Pamela Giust checks to make sure each proposal is complete, and then sends copies of all proposals to each member of the Research Committee several weeks prior to the Trustees Meeting. At the Research Committee's meeting, committee members compare notes, discuss the options and, through debate and discussion, recommend to the Trustees which grants to fund. Often, the number of grants worthy of funding exceeds the monies available. After the meeting, researchers are notified if their grant has been funded. Thereafter, each recipient is required to prepare a report every six months to inform members of the Research Committee of their progress.