The National Science Foundation (NSF) awards funding to researchers affiliated with institutions of higher education, non-profit and for-profit organizations, and state and local governments to conduct research relevant to engineering, natural, and social sciences. These grants allow researchers to undertake significant data-gathering projects and to conduct field research in settings away from their campus that would not otherwise be possible. Proposals are judged based on their scientific merit, including the theoretical importance of the research question and the appropriateness of the proposed data and methodology to be used in addressing the question.

...

• You and your co-writers will need NSF IDs in order to access the FastLane system (see Registering for an NSF ID). 

Proposal Development Steps 

1. Review the program solicitation from the applicable NSF program. Talk with your colleagues and collaborators to determine which program is a good fit for your research interests. 

2. Review recent awards using the "What Has Been Funded (Recent Awards Made Through This Program, with Abstracts)" link on the program page.  

3. Leverage your network to find successful proposals and/or peers who have been through the application process (whether successful or not). 

4. Prepare a 1-page summary of your project to send by email to the NSF program officer(s) for your chosen program. Request a phone call to discuss your project, including its fit with the program, or feedback by email.  

5. Read carefully pertinent sections of the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG). Highlight or otherwise take note of important information. 

6. Draft your Project Description, Budget Justification, and other components of your application, carefully following the content and format requirements as described in the program solicitation and PAPPG. 

7. Obtain written documentation from hosting institutions, collaborators, or other auxiliary resources, if applicable. 

8. Request required documents/information from collaborators and co-writers and mark your calendar to follow up to ensure you receive all documents/information well in advance of the submission deadline.

9. Finalize and submit your proposal and all necessary paperwork to Caroline McMullin (cmcmulli@syr.edu) in OSP well in advance of the deadline. Caroline will review, work with you to revise as needed, and submit the application to the NSF.