This worksheet is designed to help researchers organize their ideas and align their proposal with NSF’s review criteria. This worksheet is a supplemental tool and complements the current NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG), which is the official source of proposal preparation and submission guidelines. Along with section descriptions, it offers questions and sentence templates to support you in drafting a competitive NSF proposal.

Adapted from The Grant Application Writer’s Workbook: National Science Foundation Research.gov Version.

PROPOSAL TEMPLATE

Project Summary (1 page)

Project Description (15 pages)

Overview and Objectives

Expected Significance / Intellectual Merit

Background

Relation to Other Work In Progress

Research Plan

Broader Impacts

SECTION-BY-SECTION GUIDANCE

Project Summary (1 page)

A self-contained description of the project that would result if the proposal is funded.

Should include a statement of objectives and methods to be employed.

Clearly address the intellectual merit and broader impacts of your research in separate statements.

Use accessible, non-technical language.

Think of this as the “elevator pitch” for reviewers and program officers.

Project Description (15 pages)

Overview and Objectives

Use background to illustrate the critical need.

Succinctly describe your innovation and how it aligns with NSF.

Comment specifically about what your proposal intends to do.

State the overarching goal of your research.

Clearly articulate measurable objectives:

“Objective X: Demonstrate/achieve/develop [X] by [method]. We hypothesize that [short hypothesis if applicable].”

Expected Significance/Intellectual Merit

Why is the research important?

How does it advance knowledge beyond what exists?

What new theories, methods, or practices might result?

Why is what already exists insufficient?

Reviewers will ask: Why is now? Why you?

Include figures, tables, and diagrams as needed.

Clearly articulate what the intellectual merit is:

“The intellectual merit of this project lies in [novelty / rigor / advancement].”

Background

Review of Relevant Literature by citing and synthesizing sources.

Results from Prior NSF Support (if applicable).

Include preliminary studies and prior research (your own, if applicable).

Relation to Other Work in Progress

By the PI.

By Investigators Elsewhere.

Research Plan

For each objective:

Introduction/Rationale

Research Design and Methods

Expected Outcomes

Potential Problems and Alternative Approaches

Also include:

Management Plan (for projects with multiple PIs)

Evaluation and Assessment Plan (how success will be measured)

Dissemination Plan (publications, outreach, education)

Timetable

Clearly articulate what you anticipate the outcomes to be:

“We expect to find [anticipated result]. These results will [advance field / enable X]. If challenges arise, we will [alternative approach].”

Broader Impacts

How does this work benefit society or contribute to desires social outcomes?

Possible areas: STEM education, research infrastructure, outreach, societal benefits

Include partnerships, training, and mentoring activities

Any activities to broaden participation.

Clearly articulate how this research contributes to broader impacts:

This project will broaden impact by [example: engaging undergraduates, creating open-source tools, working with local schools].

Robertson, John D, S. W. (Stephen W.) Russell, and David C Morrison. The Grant Application Writer’s Workbook : National Science Foundation Research.gov Version. May 2024 edition. Buellton, CA: Grant Writers’ Seminars and Workshops, LLC, 2024.