Key Information & Guidance

About NSF

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) offers hundreds of funding opportunities — including grants, cooperative agreements and fellowships — that support research and education across science and engineering.  The NSF's directorates and offices support research and education across all fields of science and engineering.  NSF Directorates include: Biological Sciences; Computer and Information Science and Engineering; Engineering; Geosciences; Mathematical and Physical Sciences; Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences; STEM Education; and Technology, Innovation and Partnerships.

How to Find the Right Funding Opportunity

• Use the NSF Funding Search:  NSF posts its active funding opportunities on the NSF Funding Search page. You can search opportunities by keyword or filter results by a specific NSF directorate or division you're interested in and other criteria.
• Subscribe to email alerts: Subscribe to NSF's email updates to receive information on NSF funding opportunities and updates in the topic areas you choose.
• Explore funded projects:  Search NSF's database of previously funded projects to find projects in similar areas to yours and see which NSF programs funded them.
• Visit NSF's directorate pages: NSF is organized into directorates reflecting the major areas of science and engineering funded by the foundation. On their pages you can find additional information about programs they fund.
• Learn how to submit an unsolicited proposal to NSF when there is no natural "home" for it in one of NSF’s existing programs.
• Have a question about a funding opportunity? NSF offers regular webinars, virtual office hours and other opportunities to interact with its program staff.  Visit NSF's events page to see upcoming informational sessions, and subscribe to NSF's email alerts to receive emails about some upcoming sessions.

Preparing Your NSF Proposal

NSF's standard guidance for preparing a proposal is outlined in Chapter II of the PAPPG.

Applying in response to a specific program solicitation? NSF program solicitations may modify NSF's standard proposal preparation guidelines; in these cases, follow the guidelines outlined in the solicitation.

This checklist highlights critical items that shouldn't be overlooked as you prepare your NSF proposal.  The checklist does not provide an exhaustive list of proposal requirements and guidelines. For the full requirements, refer to Chapter II of the PAPPG.