> This is the Markdown of a Backed Help Centre page, https://admin.backed.giving/help/administrator/decisions/appeals.md. Every page is listed at https://admin.backed.giving/help/llms.txt.

> This page uses Backed's default terms, such as Funding Round and Application Template. An organisation may rename them, so read each as your organisation's own term if you've renamed it.

An applicant whose application was declined can appeal the decision, if the grant round accepts
appeals and the round's appeal window is still open. Each appeal comes to your organisation's
administrators, who assign a reviewer. The reviewer reads the grounds and records whether the
appeal is upheld or dismissed. `Application` and `Grant` are your organisation's own terms if
you've renamed them.

## Before you start

You need `Can access Applications > Funding Decisions` to see appeals and assign a reviewer. Only
an enabled administrator with the same permission, who can see the round's applications, can be
assigned as a reviewer.

## The appeals list

Go to `Decide > Publication` and select the `Appeals` tab in the strip at the top. It lists every
appeal you can see, newest first. Each row shows the application, the grant, the appeal's status
and its reviewer:

- `Submitted`: the appeal is waiting for a reviewer.
- `Under review`: a reviewer has been assigned.
- `Upheld` or `Dismissed`: the reviewer has recorded the outcome.

Filter the list by grant or by status. Select an application to open its appeal.

When an appeal is submitted, every administrator who can see it gets an email and a task. A task's
`Review` link opens the application's page, where the `Appeal` panel under `Application Decisions`
shows the appeal's status and reviewer, with `Open the appeal`.

## An appeal

An appeal's page shows the applicant's grounds (or their answers, if the round uses an appeal form),
the application, the grant, the status, the reviewer and who submitted it and when. `History` lists
each step: submitted, under review and the outcome, each with who took it and when.

## Assign a reviewer

1. Open the appeal and select `Assign reviewer`.
2. Search for an administrator if you need to, and choose one.
3. Select `Assign reviewer`.

The appeal is now under review. The reviewer is emailed and given a task. If Backed refuses the
choice, it says why under the choice. If someone else changed the appeal while you had it open,
Backed says so: select `Reload` to see where it stands.

## Change the reviewer

While an appeal is under review, select `Change reviewer`, choose another administrator and select
`Change reviewer`. Use this when the reviewer has left, been disabled or lost access to the round.

## Record the outcome

Only the assigned reviewer can record the outcome.

1. Open the appeal and select `Record outcome`.
2. Choose `Upheld` or `Dismissed`.
3. In `What the applicant reads`, write the outcome. The applicant is emailed it.
4. In `Internal reasoning`, add a note for administrators if you like. The applicant never sees it.
5. Select `Record outcome`.

Upholding an appeal changes nothing by itself. To change the decision, revoke the decline and
issue a new decision (see [Funding decisions](funding-decisions.md)).

## See also

- [Funding decisions](funding-decisions.md)
- [The decision register](decision-register.md)
- [Decline reasons](decline-reasons.md)