Aside from founding the Brunel International African Poetry Prize,[16] she has judged many prizes. In 2012 she was chair of the jury for both the Caine Prize for African Writing[91] and the Commonwealth Short Story Prize.[92] In 2021, she was Chair of the Women's Prize for Fiction panel of judges.[93] In 2023, she chaired the Forward Poetry book prizes. In 2024, she chaired the inaugural Nero Gold Prize of the Nero Book Awards and the inaugural Global Black Women's Prize for Non-Fiction founded by Cassava Republic Press.
Evaristo has also served on councils and advisory committees for various organisations including the Council of the Royal Society of Literature (RSL) since 2017, the Arts Council of England, the London Arts Board, the British Council Literature Advisory Panel, the Society of Authors, the Poetry Society (Chair) and Wasafiri international literature magazine.[94][16] Evaristo was elected as President of the Royal Society of Literature from the end of 2021 (following the retirement of her predecessor Dame Marina Warner), becoming the first writer of colour and only the second woman to hold the position in the Society's 00-year history,[95] and she stated at the time of the announcement: "Literature is not a luxury, but essential to our civilisation. I am so proud, therefore, to be the figurehead of such an august and robust literature organisation that is so actively and urgently committed to being inclusive of the widest range of outstanding writers from every demographic and geographical location in Britain, and to reaching marginalised communities through literature projects, including introducing young people in schools to some of Britain's leading writers who visit, teach and discuss their work with them."[11][96] As a Sky Arts Ambassador, Evaristo spearheaded the Sky Arts RSL Writers Awards, providing mentoring for under-represented writers.[97]
A portrait of Evaristo (2002) by photographer Sal Idriss is in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery, London.[98]
