Funding - How to Prepare Your Proposal

All proposals must be submitted using Fastlane. For more information, please see the latest version of the Grant Proposal Guide, which contains the requirements for proposal preparation. The Guide to Getting Started on FastLane provides additional guidance on preparing your proposal for electronic submission. Printed copies of the Grant Proposal Guide, and other NSF publications can be obtained from the NSF Publications: telephone: (703) 292-7827, email: pubs@nsf.gov.

NSF requires the use of electronic signatures on proposals. This eliminates the requirement for organizations to submit a paper signed Proposal Cover Sheet.

A list of other types of proposals is available on the Other Types of Proposals page.

The Policy Office, in the Division of Institution and Award Support, provides general policy guidance for proposers. The Policy Office page includes NSF regulations, other Federal regulations, notices of important policies and other information for proposers and awardees.

The NSF conducts outreach on proposal preparation and award adminstration, through Regional Grant Conferences, and FastLane outreach activities.