NSF Grant Format
PAPPG-compliant formatting: 11pt minimum, 1in margins, 15-page Project Description, structured Project Summary. Non-compliance = return without review.
The required structure
| Section | Pages | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Project Summary | 1 | Three labeled sections required |
| Project Description | 15 | Main research narrative |
| References Cited | unlimited | Standard bibliography |
| Biographical Sketch | 3 each | SciENcv-generated |
| Data Management Plan | 2 | Required for most programs |
| Mentoring Plan | 1 | If postdocs are involved |
| Facilities, Equipment, Other Resources | unlimited | Brief description |
| Budget & Justification | unlimited | Provided by university |
Typography requirements (PAPPG)
- Font: Minimum 11pt. 10pt allowed only for figures, tables, math. Approved fonts: Computer Modern, Arial, Courier New, Helvetica, Palatino, Times New Roman.
- Margins: 1 inch on all sides. No exceptions.
- Spacing: Single-spaced or 6 lines per inch density.
- Page numbers: Required, top-right or bottom (PI's choice).
- PDF format: Text-searchable. NSF rejects scanned/image PDFs.
LaTeX preamble for NSF compliance
\documentclass[11pt]{article}
\usepackage[margin=1in]{geometry} % 1in margins on all sides
\usepackage{times} % Times font (one of approved)
\usepackage{setspace}
\singlespacing
\setlength{\parskip}{6pt}
\usepackage{fancyhdr}
\pagestyle{fancy}
\fancyhf{}
\fancyhead[R]{\thepage} % page number top right
\begin{document}
% Project Summary (1 page)
% with three required sections...
% Project Description (15 pages)
% main narrative...
\end{document}Project Summary structure
The Project Summary MUST have three explicit headings:
- Overview — brief description of the project
- Intellectual Merit — how the project advances knowledge in the field
- Broader Impacts — societal benefits, education, diversity
Missing any of these three headings is grounds for return-without-review. Use bold or heading styles to make them clearly visible.
Common reasons NSF returns proposals
- Margins less than 1 inch (even slightly).
- Font smaller than 11pt in body text.
- Project Description over 15 pages.
- Project Summary missing one of the three required headings.
- Project Summary over 1 page.
- Biographical Sketch not in SciENcv format.
- PDF not text-searchable.
- Missing required sections (DMP, mentoring plan if postdocs involved).
TypeTeX includes PAPPG-compliant NSF templates with the right margins, font, page numbering, and Project Summary structure built in. Just replace the placeholder text.
Frequently Asked Questions
PAPPG = Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide. The official NSF document specifying every formatting and content requirement for NSF proposals. Updated periodically — always check the current version on nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappg/. Non-compliance = automatic return without review.
Minimum 11-point font (10-point allowed only for figures, tables, mathematical formulas). Approved fonts: Computer Modern, Arial, Courier New, Helvetica, Palatino, Times New Roman. Bold/italic/underline allowed. Color text discouraged for accessibility but not prohibited.
1-inch margins on all sides. No exceptions. Page numbering at top right or bottom of each page (PI's choice). Single-spaced text or 6 lines per inch density. Most authors use \usepackage[margin=1in]{geometry} \setlength{\parskip}{6pt} for compliance.
15 pages for the main Project Description (most NSF programs). Some specific programs (CAREER, PostDoc) have different limits. Always check the specific program solicitation for variations. 15 pages is hard-enforced — even one extra line gets the proposal returned.
1 page only, with three labeled sections: 'Overview', 'Intellectual Merit', 'Broader Impacts'. The Overview section briefly describes the project. Intellectual Merit explains the research significance. Broader Impacts describes societal benefits, education, diversity, etc. Failure to include all three explicit headings = return without review.
A 3-page CV-like document for each Senior Personnel. As of 2023, NSF requires SciENcv (Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae) generation for the Biographical Sketch — you must use sciencv.science.gov to generate it, not a custom LaTeX template. The output is a standardized PDF.
Yes — NSF accepts PDF submissions. LaTeX is the most common authoring tool among NSF applicants. Use the geometry package for 1in margins, set \documentclass[11pt]{article}, and ensure your final PDF is text-searchable (default with LaTeX). NSF templates are widely available online and TypeTeX includes ready-to-use NSF templates.
2 pages, supplementary document. Describe how you'll handle data: collection, storage, sharing, archiving, ethics. Specific requirements vary by program (CISE, BIO, etc.). NSF has waived 'Data Management Plan' in favor of 'Data Management and Sharing Plan' (DMSP) for some programs starting 2023 — check current PAPPG.
Two review criteria: Intellectual Merit (advances knowledge in the field) and Broader Impacts (benefits society). Reviewers explicitly score both. Strong proposals: clear research question, novel approach, qualified PI, feasible plan, specific Broader Impacts (not vague 'will train students').