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Funding at NSF

The U.S. National Science Foundation offers hundreds of funding opportunities — including grants, cooperative agreements and fellowships — that support research and education across science and engineering.

Learn how to apply for NSF funding by visiting the links below.

Finding the right funding opportunity

Learn about NSF's funding priorities and how to find a funding opportunity that's right for you.

Preparing your proposal

Learn about the pieces that make up a proposal and how to prepare a proposal for NSF.

Submitting your proposal

Learn how to submit a proposal to NSF using one of our online systems.

How we make funding decisions

Learn about NSF's merit review process, which ensures the proposals NSF receives are reviewed in a fair, competitive, transparent and in-depth manner.

NSF 101 answers common questions asked by those interested in applying for NSF funding.

Research approaches we encourage

Learn about interdisciplinary research, convergence research and transdisciplinary research.

Newest funding opportunities

Coupling, energetics, and dynamics of atmospheric regions (cedar), emerging mathematics in biology (emb), equitable and transformative approaches to educating the semiconductor workforce (eta-esw), growing research compliance support and service infrastructure for nationally transformative equity and diversity.

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

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The National Institutes of Health is the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world. The NIH invests most of its nearly $48 billion budget in medical research seeking to enhance life and to reduce illness and disability. NIH-funded research has led to breakthroughs and new treatments helping people live longer, healthier lives, and building the research foundation that drives discovery.

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Grants Home Page

NIH’s central resource for grants and funding information.

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Find Funding

NIH offers funding for many types of grants, contracts, and even programs that help repay loans for researchers.

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Grant applications and associated documents (e.g., reference letters) are due by 5:00 PM local time of application organization on the specified due date.

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How to Apply

Instructions for submitting a grant application to NIH and other Public Health Service agencies.

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As you begin your journey in search of NIH grant funding, learn about the structure of NIH and why it’s important to successfully navigate the grants process.

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Policy & Compliance

By accepting a grant award, recipients agree to comply with the requirements in the NIH Grants Policy Statement unless the notice of award states otherwise.

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Grants News/Blog

News, updates, and blog posts on NIH extramural grant policies, processes, events, and resources.

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Explore opportunities at NIH for research and development contract funding.

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Loan Repayment

The NIH Loan Repayment Programs repay up to $50,000 annually of a researcher’s qualified educational debt in return for a commitment to engage in NIH mission-relevant research.

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Redirect Notice

Sample applications and documents.

As you gain experience writing your own applications and progress reports, examples of how others presented their ideas can help. NIH also provides attachment format examples, sample language, and more resources below.

Sample Grant Applications

With the gracious permission of successful investigators, some NIH institutes have provided samples of funded applications, summary statements, and more. When referencing these examples, it is important to remember:

The best way to present your science may differ substantially from the approaches shown here. Seek feedback on your draft application from mentors and others.
Samples are not available for all grant programs. Because many programs have common elements, the available samples can still be helpful as a demonstration of effective ways to present information.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Sample Applications and Summary Statements (R01, R03, R15, R21, R33, SBIR, STTR, K, F, G11, and U01)
NIAID Sample Forms, Plans, Letters, Emails, and More

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Behavioral Research Grant Applications (R01, R03, R21)
Cancer Epidemiology Grant Applications (R01, R03, R21, R37)
Implementation Science Grant Applications (R01, R21, R37)
Healthcare Delivery Research Grant Applications (R01, R03, R21, R50)

National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI)

Ethical, Legal, and Social Implications (ELSI) Applications and Summary Statements (K99/R00, K01, R01, R03, and R21)
NHGRI Sample Consent Forms

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

K99/R00: Pathway to Independence Awards Sample Applications and summary statements
NIA Small Business Sample Applications (SBIR and STTR Phase 1, Phase 2, and Fast-Track)

National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)

Research Project Grants (R01) Sample Applications and Summary Statements
Early Career Research (ECR) R21 Sample Applications and Summary Statements
Exploratory/Developmental Research Grant (R21) Sample Applications and Summary Statements

NIH Formats, Sample Language, and Other Examples

NIH provides additional examples of completed forms, templates, plans, and other sample language for reference. Your chosen approach must follow the instructions in your funding opportunity and the How to Apply – Application Guide .

Formats and Templates

Application Format Pages for biographical sketches, other support, fellowship and training data tables, Data Management and Sharing (DMS) plans, reference letters, additional senior/key persons, additional performance sites, and more
Animal Documents for animal welfare assurances, checklist, study proposal, and more from the Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW)

Sample Plans

Authentication of Key Biological and/or Chemical Resources Plans
Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Plans
Model Organism Sharing Plans
Multiple Principal Investigators, Project Leadership Plans

Other Examples

Allowable Appendix Materials
Application Titles, Abstracts, and Public Health Relevance Statements: Communicating Research Intent and Value
Biosketches
Informed Consent for Certificates of Confidentiality
Informed Consent for Secondary and Genomic Research
Other Support
Scientific Rigor
Person Months FAQ on Calculations
Project Outcomes for Research Performance Progress Report (RPPR)

Looking for application forms?

For a preview, go to Annotated Form Sets .
To access fillable forms for your opportunity, you must use one of the Submission Options .

Check online guidance and direct your questions to staff in your organization's sponsored programs office. If you still need assistance, find NIH contacts at Need Help?