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Top 10 Collaboration Proposal Templates with Samples and Examples

Sapna Singh

Procter & Gamble (P&G), one of the world's largest FMCG companies that manufactures everything from batteries to shampoo, was founded by two brothers-in-law, William Procter and James Gamble. Their father-in-law convinced them to join forces in business. P&G began with soap manufacturing and has now expanded into a diverse range of items marketed globally. P&G is a fantastic illustration of a business that the collaboration of a mere two individuals can create.

Collaboration is valued in all contexts because it enables individuals to work well in groups. It is also one of the top four most crucial abilities for employees' future success.

Collaboration in business has become an essential component of corporate life. Check out our exclusive Collaboration Slides  to help you standardize and monitor the quality of every partnership process.

Brands employ well-designed collaboration proposals to ensure they have a plan before entering into any partnership or agreement. This allows the company to explore the parameters of collaboration and its ambitions. It also creates a strategic partnership that benefits everyone.

Collaboration Proposal: Start a new business relationship

A collaboration proposal is an efficient strategy to reach out and engage with other businesses. This document enables two or more businesses or influencers to collaborate on a project, campaign, product, or service to capitalize on each other’s resources and audiences for win-win.

A well-prepared business proposal  addresses potential partners’ or clients’ needs and expectations. Click here   to access SlideTeam’s business-specific PPT templates to make that first-impression count and pave the way for successful partnerships and business growth.

This blog helps you craft meaningful collaboration proposals to reach new prospects and grow your business. Use SlideTeam’s ‘Top 10 Collaboration Proposal Templates’  to propose a partnership between your firm and another brand. These templates are powerful networking tools to help your business grow, enter new markets, win clients, and gain brand recognition.

The 100% customizable nature of the templates allows you to edit your presentations. The content-ready slides give you the much-needed structure.

Use SlideTeam’s PowerPoint Templates as an effective way to reach out and connect with other businesses.

Continue reading for some templates and samples to help you build a robust brand collaboration proposal to communicate the mutual benefit of a joint business venture.

Template 1: Project Context of Brand Collaboration Proposal

Use this pre-made PPT Template to establish the ground for your collaboration solutions proposal. Outline the value proposition for your proposal on the project context slide. It contains client requirements and company solutions for displaying your brand's services, testimonials, products, and more. Use this presentation template to help potential partners recognize the benefits of working with you. Get it now!

Download this template

Template 2: How We Work PPT

Use this PowerPoint Presentation to create a step-by-step guide to demonstrate your company’s efforts in partnering with brands. It includes actions like listing brands, browsing matches, connecting with other brands, managing dialogues, and contacting support. This will allow you to talk about what you do and how you do it. Use this download to promote your company's effective and conversational methods for expanding client outreach. Get it now!

Template 3: Brand Collaboration Solutions

Use this PowerPoint Presentation to demonstrate your collaboration solutions for effective campaign launches. This proposal highlights consultant options, such as aligning comparable goals between brands, selecting the correct partners, aligning aims, and delivering your message. This will help clients in defining their brand identity and differentiating from competition. Use this template to demonstrate your knowledge to expand your client's reach and engagement. Get it now!

Template 4: Investment in Brand Collaboration

Use this pricing breakdown PPT Template to demonstrate a clear investment structure for hiring your agency’s collaboration solutions services. This presentation template includes pricing information for services like customer analysis and consultation, as well as work descriptions, costs per task, unit costs, and quantity costs. Clients will be making informed financial decisions and comprehend their return on investment (ROI) much better after a look at this resource. Download it immediately for a smooth collaboration. Get it now!

Template 5: Brand Collaboration Timeline

Create a collaboration timeline using this PPT Template to estimate the length of the collaborative process. This component of the collaboration concept directs everyone towards long-term success. It contains the project timeline, which includes everything from brand seeking, response, blogger acceptance, etc., through renewal and negotiation or publication review. Use this PowerPoint Presentation Template to provide a breakdown of the projected deliverables during the proposed partnership’s lifetime. Save it now!

Template 6: About Us

Use this PPT Template to provide a written introduction to your company to potential clients. This slide enhances the collaboration proposal. Mention your business's principles and history, summary of your work, clientele, and accomplishments.  The resource also emphasizes your business’s guiding principles, familiarize potential partners with your company, and demonstrate why you’re a suitable fit. Use this presentation template to convey the benefits of collaboration to each company’s consumer base and target market. Download now!

Template 7: Our Team

This PPT Template can help you gain the trust and engagement of potential clients for your brand collaboration solutions. This slide highlights your team’s credentials and skills. It contains data, designations, and a brief description of personnel, so that clients can see who they are working with. Use this presentation to summarize your employee credentials that appeal to prospects. Grab it now!

Template 8: Client Testimonials

Client testimonials are effective instruments for promoting your brand collaboration solutions. Use this PPT Template to display client testimonials to back up your collaboration proposal. This will serve as a marketing tool and will help to establish the reputation of your brand agency. Use this presentation template to demonstrate a devoted network of brand enthusiasts and ambassadors. This will help improve your brand campaign and create organic brand ambassadors. Grab it now!

Template 9: Non-Disclosure Agreement for Brand Collaboration

Our non-disclosure agreement enables clients to understand the service offered. This component of your brand collaboration solutions will inform clients about compensation and payments, business and engagement conditions, and cancellation and modification fees. This slide is a perfect tool for business partnerships and/or relationships. Use this presentation template to bind the parties to an agreement's confidential details. Grab it now!

Template 10: Acceptance Contract for Brand Collaboration

Have you earned your clients’ trust with your collaboration efforts? It's now time to close the deal. Use this PPT Template to form a legally binding agreement. This guarantees that everyone is on the same page. This provides a comprehensive grasp of the brand collaboration proposal to establish a positive business connection. Use this Sign-off Template to walk your client through the procedure and clear all doubts. Download it right now!

The roadmap for collaborative success

A Collaboration Proposal gives structure to the collaboration process, ensuring that parties involved are on the same page throughout. Use SlideTeam’s PPT Templates to pitch a new project or a creative idea for a potential collaboration.

P.S. Click here  to download our Brand Portfolio Strategy PPT Templates  to help your organization establish a compelling and consistent brand identity in an ever-changing market context.

FAQs ON COLLABORATION PROPOSAL

What is a collaboration proposal.

A collaboration proposal, also known as a business partnership proposal, is a document that explains two parties’ proposed agreement. It indicates collaborative aims, objectives, and plans for the joint company venture’s mutual benefit. This document describes the participants, the resources required for the project, and the timelines for completion.

How do you write a collaboration proposal?

• Create a well-designed, informative title page to attract readers’ attention and establish your credibility as a potential collaborator.
• Your collaboration idea must be supported by verifiable facts and the benefits of partnership. Outline your idea clearly with bulleted points, etc., to enable simpler skimming and reading.
• Include basic milestones and KPIs to help the reader understand how the process will work, what you need from them, and what they may get from the partnership.
• Add a personalized cover letter and a table of contents to help your reader skip paragraphs and data on subsequent readings.
• Summarize your collaboration proposal on a separate page at the end of your paper; tackle one aspect at a time

How do you write a collaboration proposal email?

• Begin with a catchy subject line to pique the recipient's interest and entice them to read your email.
• Introduce yourself and provide a brief summary of the project you're working on to establish context and set the tone for the rest of the email.
• Clearly state what you aim to accomplish through the collaboration.
• Create a project timeline to keep everyone on track and ensure that the project is completed on time.
• Include your email address, phone number, and any other information to make it easier for people to contact you.
• Encourage open communication to set a good and constructive tone for the project.

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• How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates

How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates

Published on October 12, 2022 by Shona McCombes and Tegan George. Revised on November 21, 2023.

A research proposal describes what you will investigate, why it’s important, and how you will conduct your research.

The format of a research proposal varies between fields, but most proposals will contain at least these elements:

Introduction

Literature review.

• Research design

Reference list

While the sections may vary, the overall objective is always the same. A research proposal serves as a blueprint and guide for your research plan, helping you get organized and feel confident in the path forward you choose to take.

Table of contents

Research proposal purpose, research proposal examples, research design and methods, contribution to knowledge, research schedule, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about research proposals.

Academics often have to write research proposals to get funding for their projects. As a student, you might have to write a research proposal as part of a grad school application , or prior to starting your thesis or dissertation .

In addition to helping you figure out what your research can look like, a proposal can also serve to demonstrate why your project is worth pursuing to a funder, educational institution, or supervisor.

Research proposal length

The length of a research proposal can vary quite a bit. A bachelor’s or master’s thesis proposal can be just a few pages, while proposals for PhD dissertations or research funding are usually much longer and more detailed. Your supervisor can help you determine the best length for your work.

One trick to get started is to think of your proposal’s structure as a shorter version of your thesis or dissertation , only without the results , conclusion and discussion sections.

Download our research proposal template

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Writing a research proposal can be quite challenging, but a good starting point could be to look at some examples. We’ve included a few for you below.

• Example research proposal #1: “A Conceptual Framework for Scheduling Constraint Management”
• Example research proposal #2: “Medical Students as Mediators of Change in Tobacco Use”

Like your dissertation or thesis, the proposal will usually have a title page that includes:

• The proposed title of your project
• Your supervisor’s name
• Your institution and department

The first part of your proposal is the initial pitch for your project. Make sure it succinctly explains what you want to do and why.

Your introduction should:

• Introduce your topic
• Give necessary background and context
• Outline your  problem statement  and research questions

To guide your introduction , include information about:

• Who could have an interest in the topic (e.g., scientists, policymakers)
• How much is already known about the topic
• What is missing from this current knowledge
• What new insights your research will contribute
• Why you believe this research is worth doing

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As you get started, it’s important to demonstrate that you’re familiar with the most important research on your topic. A strong literature review  shows your reader that your project has a solid foundation in existing knowledge or theory. It also shows that you’re not simply repeating what other people have already done or said, but rather using existing research as a jumping-off point for your own.

In this section, share exactly how your project will contribute to ongoing conversations in the field by:

• Comparing and contrasting the main theories, methods, and debates
• Examining the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches
• Explaining how will you build on, challenge, or synthesize prior scholarship

Following the literature review, restate your main  objectives . This brings the focus back to your own project. Next, your research design or methodology section will describe your overall approach, and the practical steps you will take to answer your research questions.

To finish your proposal on a strong note, explore the potential implications of your research for your field. Emphasize again what you aim to contribute and why it matters.

For example, your results might have implications for:

• Improving best practices
• Informing policymaking decisions
• Strengthening a theory or model
• Challenging popular or scientific beliefs
• Creating a basis for future research

Last but not least, your research proposal must include correct citations for every source you have used, compiled in a reference list . To create citations quickly and easily, you can use our free APA citation generator .

Some institutions or funders require a detailed timeline of the project, asking you to forecast what you will do at each stage and how long it may take. While not always required, be sure to check the requirements of your project.

Here’s an example schedule to help you get started. You can also download a template at the button below.

Download our research schedule template

If you are applying for research funding, chances are you will have to include a detailed budget. This shows your estimates of how much each part of your project will cost.

Make sure to check what type of costs the funding body will agree to cover. For each item, include:

• Cost : exactly how much money do you need?
• Justification : why is this cost necessary to complete the research?
• Source : how did you calculate the amount?

To determine your budget, think about:

• Travel costs : do you need to go somewhere to collect your data? How will you get there, and how much time will you need? What will you do there (e.g., interviews, archival research)?
• Materials : do you need access to any tools or technologies?
• Help : do you need to hire any research assistants for the project? What will they do, and how much will you pay them?

If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Methodology

• Sampling methods
• Simple random sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Cluster sampling
• Likert scales
• Reproducibility

 Statistics

• Null hypothesis
• Statistical power
• Probability distribution
• Effect size
• Poisson distribution

Research bias

• Optimism bias
• Cognitive bias
• Implicit bias
• Hawthorne effect
• Anchoring bias
• Explicit bias

Once you’ve decided on your research objectives , you need to explain them in your paper, at the end of your problem statement .

Keep your research objectives clear and concise, and use appropriate verbs to accurately convey the work that you will carry out for each one.

I will compare …

A research aim is a broad statement indicating the general purpose of your research project. It should appear in your introduction at the end of your problem statement , before your research objectives.

Research objectives are more specific than your research aim. They indicate the specific ways you’ll address the overarching aim.

A PhD, which is short for philosophiae doctor (doctor of philosophy in Latin), is the highest university degree that can be obtained. In a PhD, students spend 3–5 years writing a dissertation , which aims to make a significant, original contribution to current knowledge.

A PhD is intended to prepare students for a career as a researcher, whether that be in academia, the public sector, or the private sector.

A master’s is a 1- or 2-year graduate degree that can prepare you for a variety of careers.

All master’s involve graduate-level coursework. Some are research-intensive and intend to prepare students for further study in a PhD; these usually require their students to write a master’s thesis . Others focus on professional training for a specific career.

Critical thinking refers to the ability to evaluate information and to be aware of biases or assumptions, including your own.

Like information literacy , it involves evaluating arguments, identifying and solving problems in an objective and systematic way, and clearly communicating your ideas.

The best way to remember the difference between a research plan and a research proposal is that they have fundamentally different audiences. A research plan helps you, the researcher, organize your thoughts. On the other hand, a dissertation proposal or research proposal aims to convince others (e.g., a supervisor, a funding body, or a dissertation committee) that your research topic is relevant and worthy of being conducted.

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McCombes, S. & George, T. (2023, November 21). How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates. Scribbr. Retrieved August 18, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/research-proposal/

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Interdisciplinarity

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All together now: how to write an interdisciplinary research proposal

Advice on drafting successful research proposals to secure support and funding for interdisciplinary projects, from three academics with experience developing research partnerships and collaborations

Catherine Healy

.css-76pyzs{margin-right:0.25rem;} ,, catherine lyall, isabel fletcher, additional links.

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Enter interdisciplinarity, or research drawing on two or more disciplines. It’s a term sometimes opportunistically applied to any project involving multiple subjects, but what it requires is the actual integration of knowledge from these fields – not just a few researchers working independently around a common interest.

Academic collaboration is rarely simple, and moving beyond disciplinary boundaries can throw up even more quandaries. How might political scientists work effectively with artists, say, or epidemiologists with historians? Will differences in training and methodology always be surmountable? Should one discipline take the lead over another?

Then there are the obstacles that come with transdisciplinarity, which incorporates both academic and societal partners. Working with civic organisations can involve having to negotiate very different expectations and communication styles, or even simply different levels of availability.

One of the most common dilemmas is how to go about preparing such research proposals.

Team members will understand what their own disciplines can contribute to the project, but how to make the case for a truly collaborative approach?

That’s one of the questions addressed by a major European Union-funded project championing interdisciplinarity.  SHAPE-ID provides tailored guidance for stakeholders interested in pursuing such partnerships, with a range of multimedia resources designed to guide you through the process. The following guidance comes from the project’s new online toolkit .

Ten tips for preparing interdisciplinary research proposals:

• Remember that your proposal will be read by a range of people, not just those within your research area: don’t assume knowledge of your discipline – describe (concisely) why your research is important, innovative and impactful.  
• Don’t just describe your proposal as interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary. Explain why an inter- or transdisciplinary approach is necessary to achieve the intended research outcomes.  
• Inter- and transdisciplinary proposals may be evaluated by those with expertise in collaborative research rather than your discipline. Write clearly for a general reader – use the minimum of technical language and abbreviations and define specialist terms when they are first used.  
• Collaboration and integration take many forms and work to achieve. Outline what kind(s) of collaboration or integration you envisage (theoretical, methodological, etc) and the specific ways in which you hope to achieve this.   
• Explain the methods that you plan to use and, if they are novel, give examples where they have been successfully used in other fields.   
• Bear in mind the extra costs associated with inter- or transdisciplinary research, such as additional network building, and budget for them accordingly.   
• If the research involves new collaborations, assume that these relationships will take time to develop and provide opportunities, both formal and informal, for this to happen, especially at the start of the project.   
• If the research includes different types of stakeholders, describe what they bring to the research, what and when they are expected to contribute, and how they will benefit from taking part.   
• Plan for a range of outputs to be produced across the lifetime of the project – this protects against failure and satisfies the needs of different collaborators. Academic publications are usually of little importance to societal partners who will often need more focused outputs – a programme of activities or a new tool to pilot – to justify their continued involvement in the project.   
• Criteria for authorship vary considerably across disciplines. Describe how authorships for project outputs will be allocated – or a process for agreeing on this early in the project – otherwise this can become a major problem.

Reflective questions to ask when planning an interdisciplinary research collaboration:

• Does everyone know who all the partners are and what they will bring to the project? Have all partners been able to contribute to the design of this project? Do the research questions frame the topic in ways that are engaging and fruitful for all partners? Has a shared understanding of the project’s aims and purpose been explicitly stated and agreed upon?   
• Is the research design predefined in the project proposal or to be negotiated among the group? Will there be opportunities for partners to learn about each other’s research methods and perspectives on the topic? How will you avoid making assumptions about partners’ approaches to the topic?   
• How will you ensure that no one group or perspective dominates the research process? Are there mechanisms in place to enable the ongoing exchange of ideas and opinions across disciplines and sectors? Will there be regular meetings that all project partners are expected to attend? Will all partners have the opportunity to provide feedback on project development and outputs? What happens if they cannot reach consensus?

It can be a tricky process, but the potential rewards of such collaborations are great. Getting these first steps right is crucial in paving the way to a successful outcome.

Catherine Healy recently completed an Irish Research Council-funded PhD at the Department of History at Trinity College Dublin .   Catherine Lyall and Isabel Fletcher of the University of Edinburgh are partners of SHAPE-ID, a project that brings together scholars from across Europe to examine interdisciplinary practices.

If you found this interesting and want advice and insight from academics and university staff delivered directly to your inbox each week,  sign up for the THE Campus newsletter .

SHAPE-ID has received funding from the EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme , under grant agreement number 822705. The above guidance is just one example of the many multimedia resources available through the project’s online toolkit , which covers questions such as how to engage with collaborators from other disciplines, and how to support and assess these projects.

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NSF Collaborative Proposals

Collaborative proposals are those in which investigators from two or more organizations wish to collaborate on a unified research project. They may be submitted to NSF in one of two methods: as a single proposal, in which a single award is being requested (with subawards administered by the lead organization); or by simultaneous submission of proposals from different organizations, with each organization requesting a separate award (lead institution links the separate awards in Research.gov).

Single Proposal

To complete a subaward budget:

• As lead institution/PI: On the "Form Preparation" screen, select "Budgets" and "Go to Form." On the "Organization Selector" screen click on "Add New Org.", and pull up the subaward organization. Then on the "Organization Selector" screen click on "Use" to create a budget for an organization (may need to “Add Senior Person”). You will need to add the subaward total amount of request to item G.5 Subawards of the PI's Awardee organization budget.

For proposals involving subawards, see Obtain Subrecipient Information .

Simultaneous Submission

The collaborative proposal mechanism requires that one institution be named the "lead" for the purpose of submitting the proposal. The lead institution is typically the one whose scientists are doing the bulk of the work in terms of writing the proposal and/or those that will manage the largest portion of the funds should the proposal be awarded. 

Who does what

• Both the lead and non-lead institutions must create a new proposal in Research.gov.
• When completing the cover sheet, institutions should list only those PIs and coPIs affiliated with their own institution.
• The proposal title must begin with "Collaborative Research:" and all titles, start dates, durations, and NSF programs must be the same across the institutions.

Lead institutions’ submission will include a:

• Proposal Cover Sheet;
• Project Summary;
• Project Description;
• References Cited;
• Biographical Sketches (for senior personnel affiliated with their institution);
• Budgets and budget justification (for the portion of work to be managed by their institution);
• Current & Pending Support;
• Data Management Plan; and
• Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources (for their institution).
• Post-doc Mentoring Plan (if required) for the entire project
• All supplementary single copy documents (ie conflicts of interest tables)
• Any other supplementary documents (ie letters of commitment, quotes, etc.) allowed by the program

Non-lead institution  submissions must include the following for their organization. The project summary, project description, and references cited (which are the same for all collaborating organizations) are only submitted by the Lead. 

• Cover Sheet
• Budget and budget justification (for the portion of work to be managed by their institution)
• Facilities, Equipment & Other Resources (for their institution)
• Proposal Classification Form (if submitting to BIO)
• Biographical Sketches (for senior personnel affiliated with their institution)
• Current & Pending Support (for senior personnel affiliated with their institution)

While it is acceptable for the non-lead institutions to upload their own supplementary documents, it is recommended that this only be done by the lead institution so that the order of the documents can be controlled.

Linking the Proposals Together

Important: None of the proposals should be submitted to NSF until they are all linked together. 

• Once the proposals are linked, Research.gov will combine the proposal submission for printing or electronic viewing.

Collaborative proposals require simultaneous submission of proposals. One organization has the lead role but all are required to submit their original proposal to NSF .

For Research.gov, this means that

• Each organization prepares their proposal (thus creating a temporary proposal number).
• Each non-lead institution provides the temporary proposal number to the lead institution.
• The lead institution initiates linking by entering each non-lead institution’s proposal ID in Research.gov by using the “Link Collaborative Proposals” option found on the “Form Preparation Screen.”  The lead institution will 'SEND LINK REQUEST' to the non-lead.
• The request must be accepted by the non-lead in the non-lead institution proposal in the Link/View Collaborative Proposals page.
• The lead institution will see the non-lead institutions that have accepted or rejected links as well as any pending link requests. 
• Each institution can continue to do work on their own institution’s proposal, and submit when ready "within a reasonable timeframe of one another" (thus non-lead institutions can submit before the lead institution, as long as the lead institution has linked the proposals; non-lead institutions can also submit after the lead).
• When you are working with no external deadline, coordination and communication between the collaborators becomes more important. Historically, NSF has required that collaborative proposal be submitted within "a reasonable timeframe of one another" but hasn't stated what they consider reasonable.
• After linking, each institution submits their proposal. Thus, each institution comes up with a different proposal number – but, in Research.gov, those separate proposals are linked together for printing or electronic viewing (with NO new collaborative number).

OSP is not able to see the submission status of linked proposals. Therefore, PI’s should verify the successful submission of lead and non-lead institution proposals.

Reviewing Linked Proposals

It is important to review the full proposal document that will be submitted. Both the lead and non-lead institutions can review the proposal when linked. To do this, simply click the "Print Proposal" button in Research.gov. All components of proposal that have been uploaded into Research.gov will appear as a PDF file.

NOTE: While non-lead proposals do not have to be submitted on the same day as the lead collaborative, PAPPG states that all components of the collaborative proposal must meet any established deadline date, and failure to do so may result in the entire collaborative proposal being returned without review. NSF requires submission of linked proposals within "a reasonable time" of one another but does not set a specific timeframe. OSP recommends within 48 hours of each other to help ensure a successful submission.

• NSF Proposals and Award Policies Preparation Instructions (PAPPG) 22-1

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University Collaboration Proposal Template: A Comprehensive Guide + Free Template Download + How to Write it

Creating a successful university collaboration proposal.

As a university researcher or educator, collaboration is at the heart of our work. Whether it’s working with other academic institutions, industry partners, or community organizations, collaboration allows us to leverage resources, share expertise, and achieve our goals more effectively. However, crafting a comprehensive and compelling collaboration proposal can be a daunting task. That’s where the University Collaboration Proposal Template comes in. This template is designed to guide us through the process of creating a well-structured and professional proposal that clearly outlines our objectives, methods, and expected outcomes . In this article, I will discuss the importance of utilizing a template specifically tailored for university collaborations, as well as highlight what sets it apart from a standard proposal template.

University Collaboration Proposal Template

Project overview.

The University of XYZ (University) is proposing a collaboration with [Name of Partner University] to undertake a joint research project in the field of [insert field of study]. The aim of this collaboration is to combine the expertise and resources of both universities to address a specific research question or problem within this field.

The University of XYZ proposes to collaborate with [Partner University] to investigate the impact of climate change on marine life in the Pacific Ocean. This project will bring together researchers from both universities to conduct fieldwork, analyze data, and develop innovative solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change on marine ecosystems.

My advice on project overview : Be specific and clear about the research problem or question that the collaboration aims to address. Clearly state the significance and potential impact of the project.

The main objectives of this collaboration are to: 1. Conduct joint research activities 2. Exchange knowledge and expertise 3. Publish research findings in high-impact journals 4. Organize joint workshops and conferences

The objectives of the collaboration are to study the effects of climate change on marine biodiversity, develop sustainable conservation strategies, and disseminate our findings through peer-reviewed publications and international conferences.

My advice on objectives: Clearly outline the specific goals and outcomes that the collaboration aims to achieve, and how these objectives align with the broader research goals of both universities.

Methodology

The collaboration will involve a combination of research methods , data collection techniques, and analytical tools to address the research question. This may include fieldwork, laboratory experiments, data analysis , and modeling.

The methodology for this collaboration will involve conducting underwater surveys to assess the diversity and abundance of marine species, collecting water and sediment samples for analysis, and using statistical models to forecast the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems.

My advice on methodology: Provide a detailed description of the research methods and techniques that will be used in the collaboration, and how they will contribute to achieving the research objectives .

Resources and Timeline

The collaboration will require access to specific resources, such as laboratory facilities, equipment, and funding. A detailed timeline for the project, including milestones and deliverables, should also be provided.

The collaboration will require access to state-of-the-art laboratory facilities for sample analysis, funding for fieldwork and research assistants, and collaboration with local stakeholders in the Pacific Islands. The project will be conducted over a period of two years, with specific milestones for data collection , analysis, and dissemination of results.

My advice on resources and timeline: Provide a realistic assessment of the resources needed for the collaboration, and a clear timeline for the project that takes into account the availability of resources and any potential challenges.

The proposed collaboration between the University of XYZ and [Partner University] represents an exciting opportunity to combine our expertise and resources to address a pressing research question in the field of [insert field of study]. We believe that this collaboration has the potential to make a significant contribution to the academic community and to have a positive impact on society.

In conclusion, the collaboration between the University of XYZ and [Partner University] has the potential to advance our understanding of the impact of climate change on marine ecosystems, and to develop innovative solutions for conservation and management. We are excited about the potential of this collaboration and look forward to the opportunity to work together.

My advice on conclusion: Reiterate the significance and potential impact of the collaboration, and express enthusiasm for the opportunity to work together with the partner university.

Download free University Collaboration Proposal Template in Word DocX, Powerpoint PPTX, and PDF. We included University Collaboration Proposal Template examples as well.

Download Free University Collaboration Proposal Template PDF and Examples Download Free University Collaboration Proposal Template Word Document

Download Free University Collaboration Proposal Template Powerpoint

University Collaboration Proposal Template FAQ

Q: what is the purpose of this collaboration proposal template.

A: The purpose of this template is to provide a framework for universities to outline a proposed collaboration with another institution or organization.

Q: Who should use this template?

A: This template can be used by university administrators, faculty members, or staff who are seeking to formalize a collaboration with another university or organization.

Q: What should be included in the proposal?

A: The proposal should include details about the objectives of the collaboration, the scope of work , the timeline, the resources needed, and the potential impact of the collaboration.

Q: How should the proposal be customized for specific collaborations?

A: The proposal should be customized by including specific details about the proposed collaboration, such as the goals, activities, and resources that will be involved.

Q: What are the potential benefits of using this template?

A: Using this template can help universities to clearly communicate their collaboration proposal , effectively plan and organize the collaboration, and ensure that all necessary details are included.

Q: Can this template be used for collaborations with non-academic organizations?

A: Yes, this template can be used for collaborations with non-academic organizations as well.

Q: How should the proposal be presented to the potential collaborating institution or organization?

A: The proposal should be presented in a professional and organized manner, and may be shared in a formal meeting, through email, or through a written document.

Q: Are there any specific guidelines for using this template?

A: It is recommended to review and customize the proposal template to fit the specific needs and requirements of the proposed collaboration. Additionally, it may be helpful to seek input from relevant stakeholders before finalizing the proposal.

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How to Create an Expert Research Proposal (+Templates)

Written by: Idorenyin Uko

Beyond serving as a blueprint for the entire study, it lays the groundwork for a smooth and efficient research process.

Research proposals detail what you’ll cover in a larger research project. Whether you're a graduate student or a seasoned professor seeking to expand your current project, you’re going to need one to secure approvals from relevant committees and request funding for the project.

With a solid proposal in place, your research project can proceed with confidence, clarity and focus.

However, writing a research proposal is daunting and can overwhelm even the most seasoned researchers. In this comprehensive guide, we'll share expert research proposal templates to spotlight your project.

We'll also share tips and best practices to help you create a proposal that will impress reviewers and secure funding for your project.

Let’s get to it.

Table of Contents

What should a research proposal include, research proposal examples, how to create a research proposal with visme, best practices when writing a research proposal.

• A research proposal is a document that outlines the strategy and justification for a research project. It is usually submitted to gain approval and funding for conducting the research.
• This document provides a detailed description of the research question, the methodology, the expected outcomes and the potential contributions of the research.
• A research proposal aims to persuade the reader, usually a funding agency or a research committee, that the proposed research is worthwhile and deserves support.
• To create a research proposal in Visme, use premade templates, write the content, visualize important data, customize your research proposal, download it and share it with relevant stakeholders
• Here are tips and best practices for creating a research proposal: understand the requirements, get feedback from peers and mentors, revise and edit your proposal and incorporate relevant visual aids.
• Visme has a wide range of proposal template s, tools and features to help you create winning research proposals.

First of all, what is a research proposal? A research proposal is a structured document that outlines the plan and rationale for a research project. It is typically submitted to gain approval and funding for conducting the research.

The specific requirements might vary depending on the institution, field of study and purpose of the research.

However, a comprehensive research proposal generally includes the following components:

Made with Visme Infographic Maker

The title page is the first thing readers see when they open your research proposal. It should contain the following details:

• The proposed title of your research proposal
• The institution and department
• Contact details
• Your supervisor's or advisor’s name Date of submission

If an external organization is sponsoring your research, provide client or funder details.

When crafting the title of your research proposal, keep it concise yet informative. Also, make sure it accurately reflects the focus of your research project.

Abstract and Table of Contents

If your proposal is lengthy, consider adding an abstract and table of contents.

A table of contents provides readers (such as reviewers, advisors, or funding committee members) with an organized overview of the proposal's structure. They can easily navigate and find specific information without flipping through the entire document.

• List all the major sections and subsections of your proposal
• Use clear and concise headings that represent the content of each section
• Provide page numbers for each section so that readers can easily locate them
• Keep the table of contents updated if you change the document's structure or page numbers

Introduction

The introduction is a critical part of your research proposal. It sets the tone for the rest of the document and provides a framework for understanding the research. Make sure it piques your audience's interest and briefly explains what you want to achieve and why.

Here are some details you should include in your introduction:

• Background information on the topic
• Relevant literature, theories and existing research in the field
• The objectives of the study and motivations
• Problem statement or research questions
• The significance of the research
• Previous research or studies that have been conducted in the area
• A brief summary of the research methodology being used and how the data will be analyzed

When building your introduction, here are some ideas or questions to guide your thoughts:

• Why is the research necessary?
• How much work has already been done on the topic?
• How does it contribute to the existing body of knowledge?
• What is the gap in knowledge or the specific problem that your research aims to address?
• Who might be interested in this topic? (e.g., Industries and corporations, government agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), think tanks and academia?)

Literature Review

The literature is where you demonstrate your understanding of the existing knowledge in the field. In addition, a well-written literature review achieves these things:

• Justifies the need for your research
• Summarize the key findings and arguments of relevant studies
• Identify gaps in current knowledge and explain how your research will address these gaps

To write a compelling literature review, conducting thorough research beyond a narrow focus on just a few studies is essential. Instead, aim to investigate a broad range of theories, methods and debates within your field.

Not only will this help you identify the similarities and differences between various approaches, but it will also enable you to critically evaluate their strengths and weaknesses. You'll also be able to demonstrate how your own research builds upon, challenges, or synthesizes prior studies.

This approach will enrich your understanding of the subject matter and lend credibility and depth to your review. To provide a comprehensive overview of the subject matter, tap into different information sources, such as:

• Scholarly articles
• Conference papers and proceedings
• Journal publications
• Government statistics and data
• Industry reports and whitepapers
• Surveys and peer group sessions
• Textbooks, monographs and edited volumes
• Online search engines
• News articles
• ​​Social media and online communities
• Professional associations and networks and much more.

Research Design and Methodology

The research methodology is the backbone of any research project. Whether you’re preparing a research proposal or research presentation , it not only shapes the entire research process but also determines the quality, reliability and credibility of the study's outcomes.

The section should outline the specific methods and practical steps you plan to use to conduct your research. Describe the overall approach, including the research design, methods, data collection and analysis techniques and procedures for data interpretation.

Specifically, this section should capture these details:

Research Approach

• Qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods?
• Data sources—primary, secondary and tertiary sources, archival data, unpublished data
• Chosen research designs—experimental, non-experimental, descriptive, correlational, retrospective, prospective, cross-sectional, etc.?

Population and Sample

• Who or what will you study? (individuals, groups, objects, phenomena, or concepts)
• How will you select your subjects, items, or data points from a larger population? Sampling strategy examples include random, non-random, systematic, probability, non-probability, cluster sampling, etc.
• What will the size of the sample be?
• When, where and how will you collect your data?

Research Methods

• What data collection procedures and tools will you use (e.g., surveys, interviews, observations and experiments)?
• Why are you using this design and data collection method?

Data Analysis

• How you will analyze the collected data (e.g., statistical techniques, content analysis, thematic analysis)?
• What data analysis tools are you using?

Ethical Considerations

• How will you get informed consent from participants?
• What approach will you take to protect vulnerable populations, like minors, seniors, or those lacking autonomy?
• How will you respect participants' privacy and prevent unauthorized access to their information?
• What steps will you take to manage and disclose any potential conflicts of interest?

Practicalities

• What is the anticipated timeframe for data collection, analysis and reporting?
• How do you plan to secure access to the target population for your research?
• How will you facilitate effective communication channels among team members, collaborators and stakeholders involved in the research?
• How will you address logistical considerations such as travel, fieldwork arrangements and scheduling interviews or surveys?
• What strategies will you employ to overcome any challenges or barriers?

Contribution to Knowledge

This section should explain how your research addresses the identified gap and its potential contributions and impact on the field of study, policy or society.

To make a compelling case for your research, identify practical applications and policy implications of your study. Also, describe how your research will advance knowledge or understanding in the field.

For example, your research has the potential to make a significant impact in various ways, such as:

• Enhancing best practices in the field
• Informing policy decisions with evidence-based insights
• Contributing to the development or refinement of theoretical models
• Challenging prevailing beliefs or assumptions in the scientific community
• Laying the groundwork for future research initiatives

Reference List

List all the sources cited in your research proposal. Your references must be formatted according to the appropriate citation style (APA, MLA, or Chicago). In the reference list, make sure to include a mix of primary and secondary sources and recent and classic works.

Properly reference your sources to avoid plagiarism and credit the original authors. This will show your commitment to academic integrity and ensure that your research is built on a solid foundation of existing knowledge.

Research Schedule and Timeline

When writing your research proposal, provide a detailed timeline for completing each stage of the research process. Create a table with activities on one side and estimated completion dates on the other. Allow for flexibility in case unexpected issues arise during the research process.

Here’s an example of a research schedule:

When applying for research funding, a detailed budget is typically required. This document outlines your estimated costs and resources needed to complete each aspect of your project,

Before drafting your budget, verify the types of expenses that the funding body will cover. Then, for each item, include the following information:

• Cost: Specify the exact amount of funds requested.
• Justification: Explain why this cost is essential to the research's success.
• Source: Describe how you calculated the amount.

To determine your budget, consider the following categories:

• Travel costs: Will you need to travel to gather data? If so, factor in transportation, accommodation and subsistence expenses. Also, account for the time spent traveling and the specific activities you plan to conduct at each location (e.g., interviews, archival research).
• Materials: Are there any tools or technologies you need access to? Include costs for equipment, software, or other materials essential to your research.
• Assistance: Will you require research assistants for tasks such as data collection, analysis, or transcription? Specify the number of assistants needed, their roles and the compensation they will receive.

Remember to include contingencies and unexpected expenses that may arise during the research process.

Attach any additional materials that support your proposal, such as survey questionnaires, informed consent forms, or supplementary information.

The appendices should be well organized, labeled and easy to navigate. Make sure to only include supplementary materials or documents that:

• Provide additional information to support your proposal
• Enhance the understanding of your research proposal
• Serve as a valuable reference for future use

Wondering what great research proposals look like. Here are a few research proposal examples and templates to help you start on the right foot.

1. Research Proposal Presentation Template

Are you tired of boring research proposals that put your audience to sleep? Look no further! This research proposal sample is just what you need to create a presentation that stands out from the crowd. Not only does our template feature a stylish blend of blue and white color themes, but it also incorporates eye-catching red bars in each slide to grab your audience's attention.

The subtle background images add a touch of elegance. The circular images and icons drive visual interest, while the table helps you visualize the proposed research timeline easily.

But that's not all—the template is also fully customizable, so you can easily tailor it to fit your specific research project.

You can edit content, swap image(s), apply custom colors, use your own fonts and logo and more. Plus, it's easy to follow and navigate, ensuring your audience stays engaged and interested throughout your presentation.

And don't forget about the content! Our template includes sections to help you articulate your research background, questions, objectives, literature review, methods and plan in a concise manner.

2. Research Grant Proposal Template

Unlock the door to funding success with our cutting-edge research proposal template. This template features a bold and modern design with vibrant colors, compelling images, and dynamic graphics.

With a professional layout and engaging visual elements, this template is the perfect tool to help you showcase your ideas and make a lasting impression on funding agencies.

Feel free to change colors or fonts and stand out from the crowd. Take advantage of customizable charts and widgets to help you visualize key data. Download this template and increase your chances of securing the grants you need to drive your research forward.

RELATED: 9 Winning Grant Proposal Templates & How to Write One

3. Health Care Research Proposal Template

Get ready to take your research to the next level with the help of our innovative one-page proposal template.

This template distills your ideas into a concise summary. But despite its brevity, this template captures the essence of a research project, conveying the key elements in a concise and compelling way.

Another key feature of this template is its clean and elegant layout. The structure is organized into clear and logical sections, each building on the previous one to create a coherent narrative.

​​These visuals are well-designed and easy to interpret. But you can spice it up further with Visme's interactive elements . You have the option of adding hover effects or pop-ups to reveal additional information. Or just add hotspots that link to the full research proposal, website or landing page

Whether you're a seasoned researcher or just starting out, this template will inspire your proposals and help you secure funding for your next research project.

4. Sales Research Proposal Template

Confidently present your request for research funding focused on sales-based topics or survey proposals by using this research proposal template.

Its minimalist layout with monochromatic tones allows you to eloquently lay out background information, objectives, methodology, budget, as well as the expected impact, key performance indicators (KPIs), and your research expectations.

You can also change the color palette of the template to a much brighter tone or to match your brand colors with ease. Visme provides a wide range of color palette options you can instantly change your template to or allow you to customize manually.

In addition to customizing it to your brand, you can also add dynamic fields. Dynamic fields enable you to instantly update information, data, dates, and more across multiple projects with just one click. You can use dynamic fields for your company details, results, or modify the proposal's recipient should you plan on sending multiple proposals to prospective funders or clients.

5. General Funding Research Proposal Template

Maybe you're looking for a template that comes with a striking design, one that is sure to create a great first impression with your potential sponsors. This general funding research proposal aligns with all these requirements.

This contemporary design features a soft pink color scheme with black accents and fonts, complemented by warm and brown-toned images. It also incorporates ample empty space, ensuring a clutter-free and straightforward layout to enhance readability while directing the reader's attention to key aspects of the provided text.

This template is not only customizable but can also be effortlessly adapted for any topic, regardless of the type of research request you have in mind. Edit, add, or remove pages as needed until you have completed your research proposal to complete satisfaction.

6. Product Research Proposal Template

As a product manager or expert, you want to ensure that your product research is positioned in a way that stands out against the competition. Here's a product research proposal template that not only neatly packages your request but also leverages the power of storytelling and dynamic graphics and designs to persuade readers to support your proposal.

This template is designed with black tones and fun accents of yellow and white. Each element is balanced to provide a futuristic yet vibrant look and feel.

The pages feature tech-forward and focused layouts, enabling you to present key objectives, use structured flowcharts or diagrams to illustrate your methodology, and include a timeline tree that outlines the entire execution process from start to finish.

7. Tech Research Proposal Template

Most people are visual learners and are more likely to remember your proposals and their content through the visuals you use. If you’re looking for a proposal that smartly uses visuals to make your content more memorable, then this tech research proposal template takes a brilliant approach to balancing text and the heavy use of imagery.

The theme features strong tones of purple, complemented by white and yellow accents. Each page is presented with beautiful visuals that match the content presented. It is also accompanied by simple icons, charts, and graphs that align with the overall theme.

You can easily replace the current images by uploading your own. Maybe the images you have look great but need a bit of editing. Use Visme's AI Touch-Up Tools to quickly unblur, sharpen, remove backgrounds, or erase and replace items until your image is perfect and ready to be used in your template.

8. Marketing Research Proposal Template

For marketers who need a tech-focused design approach to impress potential clients and attract sponsors for funding, this template is tailor-made for you. It was designed with marketers in mind, offering sections for the scope of work, budget overview, research timeline. It includes placeholders for you to add your website, company logo, or brand colors.

Visme allows you to elevate your presentation game, whether you're presenting your research proposal in person or virtually. With Visme, you can:

• Publish your proposals as a live webpage that reflects real-time updates.
• Use Visme's presenter studio to record your proposal presentation and send it to prospective clients or sponsors as an MP4.
• Download it as a PDF for online or print, giving your readers the flexibility to review it as they prefer.
• And so much more.

9. Environmental Research Proposal Template

This environmental research proposal template is an excellent choice for nonprofits and environmentalists who want to create effective proposals without resorting to overused, boring, or rigid designs.

The template features a white background with green tones and imagery. Its composition is separate, spacious, and filled with clean empty spaces, making it easy to read. It also conveys a calm and peaceful tone that complements any environmental or non-profit topic you intend to use it for.

If you're working on this environmental research proposal with a team, utilize Visme's Workflow feature . This feature helps you eliminate endless email chains and Slack messages, allowing you to manage roles, tasks, progress, and deadlines all in one place. You can set deadlines, add and reply to comments, and even work on your proposal simultaneously without conflicts.

10. General Approval Research Proposal Template

If you are a professional in the medical field seeking to craft a research proposal for approval, this template offers a compelling design layout tailored to the aesthetics of your industry. It has been meticulously designed with a minimalist approach, enabling you to present your request in a polished layout while incorporating vivid and stunning imagery.

Not to mention, for any section of your research proposal where you need to showcase previous data or results, you can seamlessly import your data from sources such as Google Sheets, Excel, or other tools directly into your charts and graphs.

Watch the video below to see how the feature works.

Once your data sources are linked, your charts and graphs will automatically update to reflect any changes made in the external data sources, ensuring that your information remains organized and up-to-date. This functionality enhances the professional presentation of your research proposal while streamlining data management.

A research proposal doesn’t have to be a long, boring document.

With the wide variety of features and templates available in Visme, you can whip up a visually appealing and professional-looking research proposal.

Here’s how to write a research proposal using Visme.

Step 1: Register or Log in to your Visme Account

Sign up for a new Visme account or log into your account (if you’re an existing user). Fill in your login details in the form and you’ll be redirected to the dashboard.

Either way, you'll be able to start exploring all the amazing features and tools that Visme has to offer!

Step 2: Use Premade Templates or Start from Scratch

The next step is to create your proposal. You have the option of starting from scratch or using premade templates.

But why start from scratch when you can build on research proposal examples?

Take advantage of Visme's customizable research proposal templates to streamline your workflow and easily create a professional-looking proposal.

By using a pre-designed research project proposal template, you'll save time and effort while ensuring that your proposal adheres to the standard guidelines and best practices of the research community.

With a wide range of templates available in Visme’s library, you're sure to find a research proposal sample that fits your needs

In the Visme dashboard, click Create New>Project and scroll to the category–Proposal . Browse through the collection of templates until you find one that best fits your industry or company.

Step 3: Write the Content

Once you’ve selected your template, the next move is to write the content.

We’ve already broken down the key elements in a professional research proposal. But stick to the sections recommended by the funding agency or academic institution.

All you need to do is swap out the template’s placeholder content with yours. Visme’s intuitive editor makes it easy for you to add, edit or remove content or move design elements around the canvas.

You can modify your text, including adding, removing and adjusting the font size, style and color. The editor also includes options for changing text alignment and arrangement and animating your text.

When it comes to writing content, the Visme AI writer ensures you never run out of ideas. Simply input your prompt and the tool will generate a high-quality copy for you in minutes. You can even prompt the tool to improve your grammar or help flesh out your ideas.

Step 4: Visualize Data

Data visualization is a powerful tool for your research proposal. With Visme’s data visualization software , you can communicate complex ideas and provide context. To access data visualization features in Visme, click “Data” on the left tab. You’ll find options for

• Charts and Graphs
• Data Widgets

In the methodology section, use diagrams , flowcharts , or infographics to illustrate complex concepts and methods.

Incorporate charts , graphs , or tables to display data and visualize your findings or expected outcomes.

Create a section for the timeline and milestones. Use a Gantt chart or calendar to show the start and end dates for each task and milestone. Include key events such as data collection, data analysis and report submission.

Step 5: Customize Your Research Proposal

Enhance the visual appeal of your proposal with the customization features in Visme.

Keep your proposal's branding consistent with Visme’s Brand Design Tool .

Just input your website URL and the wizard will pull up your logo, colors, fonts and other design elements. With your brand assets saved in your brand kit , you can apply your branding to your proposal in one click.

Incorporate high-quality images and graphics to make your proposal captivating. You can reach into Visme’s library of stock photos, icons, graphics and more. Or better yet, generate unique and high-quality ​​photos, paintings, pencil drawings, 3D graphics, icons and abstract art using Visme’s AI image generator .

Engage readers and keep them interested in the proposal with Visme’s interactive elements, including pop ups, hover effects, clickable menus, hotspots and the flipbook effect. You can even embed videos and incorporate animated icons, illustrations and special effects.

To customize this proposal for multiple agencies without breaking a sweat, use dynamic fields to change key details. Set it up so it's easy for you to change information in seconds.

Step 6: Download and Share Your Proposal

Once you’re sold on your design, you can share it with your stakeholders by generating an online link. This option enables you to retain all the interactive elements in your design.

Also, you can download it as a high-resolution JPEG, PNG, PDF or HTML5 file and share it offline.

With Visme’s analytics tool , you can track how many people have viewed, engaged, or taken other actions.

Writing a successful research proposal requires careful planning, attention to detail and a clear and compelling argument for the importance of your research. Here are some best practices to help you write a strong research proposal:

1. Understand the Requirements

Before you start work on your research proposal, review and understand the specific requirements and guidelines set forth by your university or funding agency.

Although we’ve covered the essentials here, every institution has its own set of expectations.

Pay close attention to the requested format, structure and content expectations. Find out about the citation style, page length, word count limit, font size and type, etc.

Find out about their review process. What do they look for? How will they judge your work?

Understanding these details will help you write a better proposal. You can tailor your proposal to meet the needs of the reviewers and maximize your chances of getting funding or support for your research.

2. Get Feedback from Peers and Mentors

Before you send out your reports, share them with colleagues, advisors, or peers. Ask them to review your proposal and provide feedback. Use their suggestions to improve your proposal and make it more competitive.

The best part is that Visme’s collaboration tool makes this process seamless. You can add multiple people to your workspace and set permissions. Depending on their access level, your team members can edit your proposal, leave feedback, reply to comments, draw annotations and much more.

3. Revise and Edit Your Proposal

Academic writing often requires multiple drafts and research proposals are no exception. To ensure that your proposal is clear, coherent and persuasive, revise it multiple times. And if necessary, rewrite sections to make them even better.

Don't be afraid to make significant changes to the proposal. For example, this may entail reorganizing sections, revising the methodology, or even adjusting the research question entirely.

Thoroughly edit your proposal to correct grammar, spelling, punctuation and syntax errors. Also, ensure that your proposal maintains consistent formatting, styling and terminology. This can significantly enhance the quality and effectiveness of your proposal.

4. Incorporate Visual Aids

When writing a proposal , incorporate visual aids like tables, graphs and figures. They enhance the clarity and impact of your proposal. Visual aids simplify complex data and ideas, making it easier for reviewers to understand key findings, trends and patterns.

However, you want to use them sparingly for data storytelling as well. The rule of thumb is to use relevant types of visual aids. Also, visualize the most critical data and concepts that require illustration.

For instance, tables are useful for comparing data, while graphs and charts are ideal for showing trends and patterns. Diagrams and flowcharts can help explain complex processes or systems. Images and photographs are perfect for illustrating specific phenomena or contexts.

Remember, visual aids should supplement and reinforce your argument, not replace it. Embed them seamlessly into the text, providing context and explanation where necessary. This helps the reviewer connect the dots between your arguments and the supporting evidence.

RELATED: 5 Data Storytelling Tips for Creating More Persuasive Charts and Graphs

Easily Create Professional Documents & Proposals with Visme

Whether you're just starting your thesis, seeking research grants, or a professional aiming to make a difference in your field, knowing how to write a compelling research proposal is crucial.

A great research proposal provides a clear sense of purpose and direction. It also increases your chances of obtaining grants, scholarships, or sponsorship.

Ready to create a compelling and effective research proposal? Visme has a wide variety of tools, features and resources to help you create one quickly.

Leverage Visme's proposal templates, intuitive editor and interactive features to make your proposal shine.

Sign up for your own Visme account and start designing your next compelling research proposal!

Easily put together expert research proposals with Visme

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Write Proposal

Plan proposal, develop proposal content.

Investigators and scientific personnel should work with their department research administrators to identify technical and business elements that need to be submitted as part of their research proposals. Requirements will vary depending on the source of funding, or sponsor of the research.

Before preparing your proposal, carefully read the Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)/Sponsor Instructions . This will help guide your proposal development.

Sponsor instructions can be found on the:

• Program announcement (PA)
• Request for Application (RFA)
• Request for Proposal (RFP)
• Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)
• Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)
• Sponsor website
• Sponsor-specific Proposal Instructions, e.g. SF424 (R&R) Guide, NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)

In addition to these instructions, sponsors often have general policies and guidelines that must be followed.  Federal sponsors also adopt Uniform Guidance and agency-specific regulations that may impact proposal preparation. Review select sponsor requirements as well as the hierarchy of federal regulation to understand what these requirements are and where they come from.

Make sure to use current sponsor-provided templates and pay attention to sponsor notifications on updated application requirements.

Review additional considerations guidance for topics such as Human Subjects, Subawards, Industry Clinical trials and more.

Identify and plan for internal deadlines related to the technical and business components of your proposals. Business components often must be finalized ahead of associated technical components. Consider using project management tools, such as the Collaborative Proposal Resources . Adapt the Annotated Workplan to help keep team members accountable for completing required sections by deadlines; use the checklist to ensure you have all your bases covered.

Prepare all UW and sponsor required forms including UW institutional information .

At a minimum, proposals must contain a scope of work, budget, budget justification, collaborator letters of intent, biosketch, and other sponsor-required documentation, as applicable.

If you have not already done so, verify:

• PIs/Senior Key Personnel committed to or identified for the project have not been debarred or suspended .
• Vendors are not considered a covered telecommunications equipment or services supplier.
• Vendors for procurement purchases under $35k are not listed within the SAM.gov exclusions list.

Coordinate letters of support or commitment from any other investigators or research locations to ensure final copies are received and incorporated into your proposal in time for internal and sponsor deadlines.

Early review and planning to include biosketches and collaborators information such as current and pending or other support can help with budget preparation and prevent delays in proposal routing.

There are other unique considerations depending on the scope of work and who is participating on the project.

Scope of Work

The Scope of Work or Research Plan describes the research to be conducted and may include a timeline, milestones, and deliverables. Consult sponsor guidelines and any relevant funding opportunity announcements for guidance. The level of detail will vary depending upon the proposal/award type (grant or contract) and sponsor and should be adjusted appropriately. Generally, it is best to provide as much detail as required to meet the potential sponsor’s needs, but not so much as to restrict your ability to adjust the scope if necessary during the project. Provide enough details about the purpose and aims so your UW administrative and compliance reviewers have the information needed to carry out their review.

Budget Preparation

The budget is a financial reflection of the scope of work. Follow internal and external sponsor guidelines as well as UW policies when preparing proposal budgets .

SAGE Budget is the recommended tool for preparing proposal budgets at the UW. This tool provides streamlined, efficient entry, and reliable calculations leveraged from institutional data (UW salaries, benefits, and F&A rates). Budgets created using this tool also provide an easy-to-read summary view for reviewers and PIs.

Review more guidance on:

• Budget Development
• SAGE Budget
• Sponsor Requirements

Budget Justification

The budget justification accompanies your budget and describes to the sponsor how each cost will support the award. Review budget justification guidance for preparing your proposal.

Collaborator Letters of Intent

Collaborators can be subrecipients, consultants, or other significant contributors. Review more information on formalizing collaborations .

Keep in mind, that incorporating letters of intent from individuals or entities outside the University can take more time. Projects with outside collaborators should allow for this in the timeline .

Biosketches

Most sponsors use biosketches to assess the qualifications of the PI and other key personnel on a project. Biosketches often include education and training background, positions held, research support and publications, as well as honors or other recognition received in the individual’s field of study.

Federal sponsors typically have specific templates or required formats to such as the NSF-approved biosketch formats or the NIH biosketch format template.

All personnel should keep their biosketches up to date and easily accessible, for proposal preparation.  There are tools available to develop and update your biosketch, including SciENcv .

• NSF-Approved Biographical Sketch
• NSF-Approved Current and Pending Support
• Collaborator and Other Affiliations (COA) template

Forms, Templates and Tools

• NIH: Writing Your Application
• NSF: Guide for Proposal Writing
• Grantsmanship Center
• Philanthropy Northwest
• Proposal Development Checklist
• Opportunity Evaluation Matrix
• Proposal Development Timeline
• RFA/RFP Elements Mapped to Deadlines
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• NIH: Sample Grant Applications
• New to UW Research
• UW Approved Sponsored Research Agreement (SRA) Template

Policies, Procedures and Guidance

• GIM 01 – Review and Submission Requirements for Proposals
• GIM 34 – Classification of External Support as Either a…
• GIM 10 – Financial Conflict of Interest Policy
• GIM 19 – Internal Deadlines for Proposals to External Entities
• GIM 07 – Sponsored Program Subaward Administration
• CORE: Blueprint of a Proposal

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Home » How To Write A Research Proposal – Step-by-Step [Template]

How To Write A Research Proposal – Step-by-Step [Template]

Table of Contents

How To Write a Research Proposal

Writing a Research proposal involves several steps to ensure a well-structured and comprehensive document. Here is an explanation of each step:

1. Title and Abstract

• Choose a concise and descriptive title that reflects the essence of your research.
• Write an abstract summarizing your research question, objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes. It should provide a brief overview of your proposal.

2. Introduction:

• Provide an introduction to your research topic, highlighting its significance and relevance.
• Clearly state the research problem or question you aim to address.
• Discuss the background and context of the study, including previous research in the field.

3. Research Objectives

• Outline the specific objectives or aims of your research. These objectives should be clear, achievable, and aligned with the research problem.

4. Literature Review:

• Conduct a comprehensive review of relevant literature and studies related to your research topic.
• Summarize key findings, identify gaps, and highlight how your research will contribute to the existing knowledge.

5. Methodology:

• Describe the research design and methodology you plan to employ to address your research objectives.
• Explain the data collection methods, instruments, and analysis techniques you will use.
• Justify why the chosen methods are appropriate and suitable for your research.

6. Timeline:

• Create a timeline or schedule that outlines the major milestones and activities of your research project.
• Break down the research process into smaller tasks and estimate the time required for each task.

7. Resources:

• Identify the resources needed for your research, such as access to specific databases, equipment, or funding.
• Explain how you will acquire or utilize these resources to carry out your research effectively.

8. Ethical Considerations:

• Discuss any ethical issues that may arise during your research and explain how you plan to address them.
• If your research involves human subjects, explain how you will ensure their informed consent and privacy.

9. Expected Outcomes and Significance:

• Clearly state the expected outcomes or results of your research.
• Highlight the potential impact and significance of your research in advancing knowledge or addressing practical issues.

10. References:

• Provide a list of all the references cited in your proposal, following a consistent citation style (e.g., APA, MLA).

11. Appendices:

• Include any additional supporting materials, such as survey questionnaires, interview guides, or data analysis plans.

Research Proposal Format

The format of a research proposal may vary depending on the specific requirements of the institution or funding agency. However, the following is a commonly used format for a research proposal:

1. Title Page:

• Include the title of your research proposal, your name, your affiliation or institution, and the date.

2. Abstract:

• Provide a brief summary of your research proposal, highlighting the research problem, objectives, methodology, and expected outcomes.

3. Introduction:

• Introduce the research topic and provide background information.
• State the research problem or question you aim to address.
• Explain the significance and relevance of the research.
• Review relevant literature and studies related to your research topic.
• Summarize key findings and identify gaps in the existing knowledge.
• Explain how your research will contribute to filling those gaps.

5. Research Objectives:

• Clearly state the specific objectives or aims of your research.
• Ensure that the objectives are clear, focused, and aligned with the research problem.

6. Methodology:

• Describe the research design and methodology you plan to use.
• Explain the data collection methods, instruments, and analysis techniques.
• Justify why the chosen methods are appropriate for your research.

7. Timeline:

8. Resources:

• Explain how you will acquire or utilize these resources effectively.

9. Ethical Considerations:

• If applicable, explain how you will ensure informed consent and protect the privacy of research participants.

10. Expected Outcomes and Significance:

11. References:

12. Appendices:

Research Proposal Template

Here’s a template for a research proposal:

1. Introduction:

2. Literature Review:

3. Research Objectives:

4. Methodology:

5. Timeline:

6. Resources:

7. Ethical Considerations:

8. Expected Outcomes and Significance:

9. References:

10. Appendices:

Research Proposal Sample

Title: The Impact of Online Education on Student Learning Outcomes: A Comparative Study

1. Introduction

Online education has gained significant prominence in recent years, especially due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This research proposal aims to investigate the impact of online education on student learning outcomes by comparing them with traditional face-to-face instruction. The study will explore various aspects of online education, such as instructional methods, student engagement, and academic performance, to provide insights into the effectiveness of online learning.

2. Objectives

The main objectives of this research are as follows:

• To compare student learning outcomes between online and traditional face-to-face education.
• To examine the factors influencing student engagement in online learning environments.
• To assess the effectiveness of different instructional methods employed in online education.
• To identify challenges and opportunities associated with online education and suggest recommendations for improvement.

3. Methodology

3.1 Study Design

This research will utilize a mixed-methods approach to gather both quantitative and qualitative data. The study will include the following components:

3.2 Participants

The research will involve undergraduate students from two universities, one offering online education and the other providing face-to-face instruction. A total of 500 students (250 from each university) will be selected randomly to participate in the study.

3.3 Data Collection

The research will employ the following data collection methods:

• Quantitative: Pre- and post-assessments will be conducted to measure students’ learning outcomes. Data on student demographics and academic performance will also be collected from university records.
• Qualitative: Focus group discussions and individual interviews will be conducted with students to gather their perceptions and experiences regarding online education.

3.4 Data Analysis

Quantitative data will be analyzed using statistical software, employing descriptive statistics, t-tests, and regression analysis. Qualitative data will be transcribed, coded, and analyzed thematically to identify recurring patterns and themes.

4. Ethical Considerations

The study will adhere to ethical guidelines, ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of participants. Informed consent will be obtained, and participants will have the right to withdraw from the study at any time.

5. Significance and Expected Outcomes

This research will contribute to the existing literature by providing empirical evidence on the impact of online education on student learning outcomes. The findings will help educational institutions and policymakers make informed decisions about incorporating online learning methods and improving the quality of online education. Moreover, the study will identify potential challenges and opportunities related to online education and offer recommendations for enhancing student engagement and overall learning outcomes.

6. Timeline

The proposed research will be conducted over a period of 12 months, including data collection, analysis, and report writing.

The estimated budget for this research includes expenses related to data collection, software licenses, participant compensation, and research assistance. A detailed budget breakdown will be provided in the final research plan.

8. Conclusion

This research proposal aims to investigate the impact of online education on student learning outcomes through a comparative study with traditional face-to-face instruction. By exploring various dimensions of online education, this research will provide valuable insights into the effectiveness and challenges associated with online learning. The findings will contribute to the ongoing discourse on educational practices and help shape future strategies for maximizing student learning outcomes in online education settings.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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Finding Collaborators for Grant Proposals

Securing funding, such as grants, and publishing papers, are probably a researcher's two biggest challenges, but they become more manageable when you find and work with collaborators. Here we show you how to make these collaborations happen.

Updated on June 9, 2022

Securing funding, such as grants, and publishing papers, are probably a researcher's two biggest ongoing challenges. They both become more manageable when you join up and work with others. Grant collaborators and research collaborators are (in)valuable for research quality and impact.

A collaborative project is when researchers from different fields work together to explore a complex question from different perspectives, or solve problems that venture into their respective areas. Collaborations can accelerate and expand your research career.

We'll take a deeper dive here into how you can make these happen.

Why collaboration is important in grant proposals

Scientific research these days involves increased collaboration across research specializations and national borders. This is especially true as remote communication is mainstreamed. Choosing the right grant collaborators can boost the robustness of your research project and increase your chances of getting funded.

To get funded

Research “multidisciplinarity” and “interdisciplinarity” have become central in granting agencies' interests. Grant evaluators are likely to look for these characteristics in your proposal.

Grant assessment criteria often include the research project's:

• Practical applications
• Social distribution
• Ability to incorporate theories and methodologies from varied disciplines

Your grant proposal needs to meet these indicators in the context of increasing competition for funding and shrinking research budgets. So, proposing an interdisciplinary research project will give you greater appeal in credibility and interdisciplinarity and, thus, get funded.

To increase the impact of your research

Especially if you're an early career researcher, collaborating with industry, international or community partners can:

• Boost your research profile
• Help you translate your research into practice
• Maintain existing relationships and/or grow your scientific network

These all apply to more accomplished researchers, as well. But they're a lower priority. It's more common that you'll be scouted out and approached.

How to find collaborators

Finding collaborators is both a challenging and rewarding experience. It involves stepping out of your comfort zone, yet this often brings new ways of thinking and new connections.

A useful and less-intimidating start for finding collaborators is your peers and direct contacts. These are people with whom you've worked successfully in the past. These can also be contacts your research team, colleagues, and mentors can introduce you to.

Collaborating with others becomes easier as you expand your research network. This can happen at almost any time, such as:

• Networking events at your institution
• Scientific seminars and conferences
• Scientific associations and societies

When you meet other researchers, introduce yourself, chat, and see whom you get along with, who shares your energy, and who brings something to the table that you don't. These people are all great collaborator candidates.

Check if your institution has a research support office. People there can help you with your partner search and guide you in your next steps. Take a look at Duke University's extensive Office of Research Support services to get an idea of what's on offer at top schools. They have guides, checklists, mentoring, and many other tools to make your research a reality.

You can also identify potential collaborators by reading through previously funded projects in your field (see resources at the end). Then contact them in academic and professional social research networks, like:

• Humanities Commons
• Academia.edu
• ResearchGate

Or on general social networks like LinkedIn (connect with a short message) and Twitter (DM them or comment on their posts).

How to not be ignored by potential collaborators

Some of your target collaborators may be very busy people. They may not have collaboration at the front of their mind. You have to refine your approach to appeal to them.

Be specific

To involve external collaborators, have a one- or two-page description of the proposed project idea. Share a concrete summary of what you have in mind and what the collaborator's expected to do. Being organized and upfront will save time and show you're serious about what you're doing.

You don't have to go into detail in the very first direct message, email, or Zoom. But it's good to share your initial thoughts about:

• The products of the collaboration (articles, a book, book chapters)
• How the writing will be done and credited.
• When and how (or if) they'll be paid.
• How long the collaboration will last.

Do your homework, learn about your target collaborators

Are you about to send a cold-call email to a researcher you've never met before? Strive to be qualified, knowledgeable, and courteous. Speak their language. Don't try to be cool or overly confident.

• Read the program description thoroughly.
• Identify the areas in which you need a collaborator's expertise to complement your knowledge.
• Research the potential collaborator's CV and publication record (and name drop a few in the email body). You can do this on any of the above social networks or by Googling them.
• Link their research agenda to the funding opportunity.
• Make a compelling case about why it is in their best interests to partner with you/your team.

Be persistent (but polite)

Researchers (especially senior ones) are usually busy people who often travel. Start with an email or direct message with a summary of your research project idea and ask to arrange a phone call. Give them at least a week to respond.If you don't hear back, try again. Don't be pushy, but do be persistent. Make it about them, not you.

Good : Hi Dr. Wong. I didn't hear back about the proposal I sent you. I'm sure you're busy. This project aims to address x and y. These are areas your research has covered, so this seems like an excellent fit for your skills. Hope to hear from you.

What if they still don't reply?

Senior researchers get many emails and messages each day. Yours may have gotten lost in the inbox. They may prefer to communicate through another platform. If they're on a social network, follow their activity, give it a like, share, and comment. Get on their radar.

Don't lose hope. Try different communication routes.

Who are the best grant proposal collaborators?

There's no single formula for successful collaboration in grant proposals. The best collaborators in your case will depend on a range of factors.

Funding opportunity requirements and collaborator's eligibility

Eligibility is different for each funding opportunity.

For example, the UK Research and Innovation ( UKRI ) requires the principal investigator to be based in the UK. But a researcher from a different country could be part of the bid as a co-investigator or another team member (e.g., consultant, collaborator).

Other sponsors demand that grant applicants collaborate with organizations or universities from developing countries or with minority-serving institutions to be considered for funding.

Your institutional regulations

You'll typically need to sign a written agreement to formalize your agreement. This will state the specific terms and conditions in line with your sponsors' and institutions' regulations.

What is your institution's current policy for assigning credit for jointly funded projects? What are the procedures for collaborating with researchers outside your department or institution? Universities, for instance, have regulations regarding the use of data, intellectual property, and financial issues (e.g., here 's Harvard's Intellectual Property Policy).

It helps to learn these regulations. They're vital for budget calculations (e.g., how individuals and organizations share indirect costs). Contact your research supervisor or department chair for guidance.

Prioritize trusted colleagues

Have you worked well with someone in the past? This could include:

• Writing a research paper with someone (the publication is proof of your success)
• Conducting experiments together in the lab
• Being invited for a residency at a research center

This researcher or research institute is a strong candidate partner for your project. From the grant reviewers' eyes, evidence of previous collaborations is a good sign that you can do the same thing again.

Consider cultural, organizational, disciplinary, or geographic boundaries

An article exploring the success of interdisciplinary scientific research teams showed that lasting collaborations reflect shared understandings of teamwork and disciplinary norms.

Some collaborations may look good on paper but prove unworkable. This is because of the different personalities and professional or cultural attitudes of those involved. Imagine arranging a meeting during the daytime with an exceptional scientist who's a night person. Although, if you're on opposite sides of the world, this may be a blessing!

Also, gender roles, religious holidays, and working customs in your country may differ vastly from those of other cultures. For example, it's rare for many Europeans to work on the weekend, though it's not rare among Japanese and hustle-oriented Americans.

Before choosing your grant proposal collaborators, set mutual expectations. If you're thinking of collaborating with industry, agree on how the data will be used and how the research will be disseminated.

An academic may want to publish findings immediately for their publication record. But a researcher in industry may first want to register a patent on the idea. (Data can't be patented if it's already published).

Examples of how collaborators can help a proposal

There are all sorts of ways collaborators can help your cause, and you can help theirs. Here are a few.

Collaboration example 1: Collaboration as a funding requirement

The grant specifications may require that more than one type of institution takes part. For example, it might ask research institutions exploring lung cancer to team up with a business partner, like a lung cancer clinic, to create a proof-of-concept for a new type of treatment.

Other programs might ask for collaborations between researchers and institutions of higher education that serve minority populations. This can be a great opportunity for someone looking into the educational outcomes of Black, Asian, and minority ethnic learners to recruit participants and get valuable qualitative data.

Collaboration example 2: Young researchers

It's normal for early-career researchers to lack confidence if they're competing for funding with more senior researchers with extensive lists of publications.

How can you get funding without a track record? And how can you create a track record without funding? One way to get there is to team up with an established researcher as a co-principal investigator (PI) on a grant.

Senior scientists tend to have more extensive networks and access to resources or even connections with funding bodies. Their knowledge, experience, and reputation might impact funding decisions.

Collaboration example 3: Complementary skills

A study using data from 6 years of publications across different fields at The University of Florida (a high-volume research institution) found that successful collaborations rest on a delicate balance between similarities and differences.

On the one hand, too little similarity between individuals' research agendas can complicate communication and agreement. On the other, too much overlap of research interests can increase competition.

Depending on your field and team composition, look for collaborators whose expertise complements and offsets your own. They might:

• Bring a different skill set or perspective to the table (e.g., chemists, biologists, and statisticians specializing in epidemiology working together to explore how chemical compounds affect human and animal tissues).
• Know different technologies or software (e.g., a statistician or developer).
• Have access to expensive and specialized equipment or the latest resources and facilities.
• Provide sensitive or otherwise hard-to-find data or access to research participants. (e.g., an NGO can give access to vulnerable or remote populations)

Resources for finding grant collaborators

• Pivot is a searchable database providing global funding information across disciplines and tools for finding collaborators.
• SciVal gives access to the research performance of 21,500+ research institutions and their associated researchers worldwide.
• CORDIS – Projects is the main source for finding EU-funded projects. You can browse funded European projects and check the involved partners and organizations.
• Konfer is a UK-focused database for finding experts in a specific research field or business and universities for partnering on funding opportunities.
• RePorter is an electronic tool for searching a repository of NIH-funded research projects since 2000.
• Researchmap is a Japanese researcher database launched by the National Institute of Informatics (NII) in 2009.
• In this library , you can access projects funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand over the past 10 years.
• This database provides details on the recipients of grants by Australia's National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).

Note that some of these require you to subscribe (unless you have access via your institution).

The AJE Team

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Research Proposal Template

Visually map out the plan for your next proposal

This proposal template is the perfect way to start your next research project. To begin, you should start by documenting the most important objectives. You can also add information around research scope, key publications, and anything else that might be useful to the project.

• Set the vision & strategy
• Organize requirements
• Share with your colleagues
• Gather feedback
• The perfect start for every proposal

Collect everything in one place

Milanote is the visual way to collect everything that powers your creative work. Simple text editing & task management helps you organize your thoughts and plans. Upload images, video, files and more.

Organize visually

Milanote's flexible drag and drop interface lets you arrange things in whatever way makes sense to you. Break out of linear documents and see your research, ideas and plans side-by-side.

Collaborate with your team

Milanote boards can be a private place to think, or a shared workspace for collaboration—you're in total control of who sees what. Instantly see your team's changes, leave comments, and never miss a thing with smart notifications and alerts.

Plan all aspects of your project in one place.

Set the visual direction for your next creative project.

Set the project goals & deliverables.

Run an online brainstorming session with your team.

Organize your class notes in one place.

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Start your proposal.

Visualize the plan for your next proposal.

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Free Download

Research Proposal Template

The fastest (and smartest) way to craft a convincing proposal and get your dissertation or research project approved.

Available in Google Doc, Word & PDF format 4.9 star rating, 5000 + downloads

Step-by-step instructions

Tried & tested academic format

Fill-in-the-blanks simplicity

Pro tips, tricks and resources

What It Covers

This free proposal template covers the core essential ingredients for a strong research proposal. It includes clear explanations of what you need to address in each section, as well as straightforward examples and links to further resources. The template covers the following core elements:

• Introduction & background (including the research problem)
• Literature review
• Research design/methodology
• Project plan, resource requirements and
• risk management

The Google Doc can be copied to your Google Drive 0r downloaded as a fully editable MS Word Document (DOCX format), which you can also use in LaTeX.

download your copy

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FAQs: Research Proposal Template

Research proposal template faqs, what types of research proposals can this template be used for.

The proposal template follows the standard format for academic research projects, which means it will be suitable for the vast majority of dissertations and theses (especially those within the sciences), whether they are qualitative or quantitative in terms of design.

Keep in mind that the exact requirements for the introduction chapter/section will vary between universities and degree programs. These are typically minor, but it’s always a good idea to double-check your university’s requirements before you finalise your structure.

Is this template for an undergrad, Master or PhD-level proposal?

This template can be used for a research project at any level of study. Doctoral-level projects typically require the research proposal to be more extensive/comprehensive, but the structure will typically remain the same.

How long should my research proposal be?

The length of a research proposal varies by institution and subject, but as a ballpark, it’s usually between 1,500 and 3,000 words.

To be safe, it’s best to check with your university if they have any preferences or requirements in terms of minimum and maximum word count for the research propsal.

How detailed should the methodology of the proposal be?

You don’t need to go into the fine details of your methodology, but this section should be detailed enough to demonstrate that your research approach is feasible and will address your research questions effectively. Be sure to include your intended methods for data collection and analysis.

Can I include preliminary data or pilot study results in my proposal?

Generally, yes. This can strengthen your proposal by demonstrating the feasibility of your research. However, make sure that your pilot study is approved by your university before collecting any data.

Can I share this template with my friends/colleagues?

Yes, you’re welcome to share this template in its original format (no editing allowed). If you want to post about it on your blog or social media, we kindly request that you reference this page as your source.

What format is the template (DOC, PDF, PPT, etc.)?

The research proposal template is provided as a Google Doc. You can download it in MS Word format or make a copy to your Google Drive. You’re also welcome to convert it to whatever format works best for you, such as LaTeX or PDF.

Do you have templates for the other chapters?

Yes, we do. We are constantly developing our collection of free resources to help students complete their dissertations and theses. You can view all of our template resources here .

Can Grad Coach help me with my dissertation/thesis?

Yes, you’re welcome to get in touch with us to discuss our private coaching services .

Additional Resources

If you’re working on a research proposal, you’ll also want to check these out…

1-On-1 Private Coaching

Research Proposal Bootcamp

The Grad Coach YouTube Channel

The Grad Coach Podcast

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Proposal Preparation and Submission

About proposal preparation and submission, proposal submission capabilities, letter of intent faqs, preliminary proposals, collaborative proposals, uploading documents, proposal sections, proposal submission, proposal withdrawal, grants.gov submitted proposals.

• In Progress Statuses
• Submitted Statuses
• PFU/BR Statuses

Access and User Roles

Demo site features, video tutorials, how-to guides, links to resources.

The Research.gov Proposal Submission System modernizes proposal preparation and submission capabilities by improving the user experience while also reducing administrative burden through an intuitive interface and expanded automated proposal compliance checking. NSF transitioned all preparation and submission functionality from FastLane to Research.gov, and FastLane proposal preparation and submission functions were turned off on September 30, 2023. Please see the FastLane Decommissioning page for additional information. All NSF proposals must be submitted in Research.gov or Grants.gov in accordance with the instructions for a specific funding opportunity.

Proposals submitted via Grants.gov are processed in Research.gov. See the Grants.gov Proposal Processing in Research.gov page and Grants.gov Proposal Processing in Research.gov how-to guide for additional information. When submitting via Grants.gov, NSF strongly recommends proposers initiate proposal submission at least five business days in advance of a deadline to allow adequate time to address NSF compliance errors and resubmissions by 5:00 p.m. submitting organization’s local time on the deadline. Please note that some errors cannot be corrected in Grants.gov. Once a proposal passes pre-checks but fails any post-check, the proposer can only correct and submit the in-progress proposal in Research.gov.

Access the Research.gov Proposal Submission System

Explore the Research.gov Proposal Preparation Demo Site (User prompted to sign in to Research.gov if not already signed in.)

Research.gov Proposal Preparation Benefits

• Fast and easy proposal setup wizard to find funding opportunities and initiate a proposal
• Quick process to share proposal access with administrative staff. Expanded compliance checking ( View Research.gov compliance checks  )
• Expanded compliance checking ( View Research.gov compliance checks )
• Immediate compliance feedback in each proposal section
• Unaltered PDF uploads
• Minimized return without review of proposals due to compliance issues
• On-screen references to relevant sections of the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG)
• Better management of personnel and subawards
• Improved performance and less system downtime

Help NSF Continue to Refine the Research.gov Proposal Submission System

NSF wants your feedback! Vital feedback from the community helps ensure the system is working as intended and to identify areas of improvement.

Ways to provide feedback and stay informed:

• Send feedback to NSF via the Research.gov's Feedback page
• Join the NSF System Updates listserv! Sign up to receive Research.gov updates by sending a blank email to  [email protected]

Contacts for Questions

• For program-specific questions, please contact the cognizant NSF Program Officer
• Email the NSF IT Service Desk at [email protected]
• Call the NSF IT Service Desk at 1-800-381-1532
• Email the NIH Help Desk at  [email protected]
• Create a ticket:   https://support.nlm.nih.gov/support/create-case/
• Policy-related questions should be directed to  [email protected]

• This table will be updated as additional capabilities are added.
• Unless otherwise specified in an NSF solicitation, proposals to NSF may be submitted via Research.gov or Grants.gov. See the Grants.gov Proposal Processing in Research.gov page for information about Grants.gov submissions.
• NSF wants feedback from the research community about the Research.gov Proposal Submission System so NSF can continue to make improvements. Feedback may be submitted on the Research.gov Feedback page.
• Additional information about the Research.gov Proposal Submission System and the Research.gov proposal preparation demo site, such as Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) by topic, is available on the Research.gov About Proposal Preparation and Submission page.
• Please see the Research.gov About Supplemental Funding Requests Preparation and Submission page for FAQs about preparation and submission of supplemental funding requests in Research.gov as well as information on the Research.gov supplemental funding request demo site. Supplemental funding requests can be submitted in Research.gov regardless of the system used (Research.gov, FastLane, or Grants.gov) for proposal submission.

Letter of Intent FAQs  

  Who can initiate and submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) in Research.gov?

A user with the Principal Investigator (PI), Sponsored Project Officer (SPO), or Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) role can initiate and submit an LOI in Research.gov. For a funding opportunity that requires AOR submission, the PI or SPO must share the LOI with the AOR. LOIs must be prepared and submitted in Research.gov and cannot be prepared and submitted in Grants.gov.

  How do I associate my LOI to my full proposal?

For solicitations that require or request submission of an LOI, there is a field on the full proposal Cover Sheet labeled Letter of Intent ID Number. Enter your LOI number in this field and then save the Cover Sheet. A green confirmation message will display and will include your LOI title below the LOI ID number field. Additionally, there will be a blue information message at the top of the full proposal Cover Sheet confirming the successful association of your LOI and your full proposal. If the LOI ID number you entered is invalid or is for an LOI for which you do not have access, you will receive an error message and the LOI will not be associated to your full proposal.

  Will I be required to associate my LOI to my full proposal in Research.gov when the solicitation requires the submission of an LOI?

Yes. Follow the solicitation requirements and enter the LOI number on the full proposal Cover Sheet. Although the system allows this entry to be optional, the cognizant Program Office will verify compliance of the submitted full proposal with the solicitation.

  How do I remove an LOI number that is associated with a full proposal?

To remove an LOI number that is associated with a full proposal, go to the full proposal Cover Sheet, clear the Letter of Intent Number field, and then save the Cover Sheet.

  When associating an LOI to a full proposal, what is considered a valid LOI?

A valid LOI must meet the following criteria:

• Exists in the user's Submitted LOI list
• Is not associated with another submitted full proposal
• Belongs to the same organization as the full proposal
• Was created using the same solicitation as the full proposal

  What information does Research.gov require for an LOI?

Research.gov will require that each LOI has an LOI Title, a Project Synopsis, and an associated PI.

The following LOI attributes are solicitation-dependent:

• Number of Senior Personnel
• Number of Participating Organizations
• Organization and Project Information
• Additional information permitted in the Other Comments section

  Can an LOI be associated to a collaborative proposal in Research.gov?

Yes, an LOI can be associated to a single submission collaborative proposal with subaward or to a lead organization proposal that is part of a separately submitted collaborative proposal from multiple organizations. An LOI cannot be associated with a non-lead organization separately submitted collaborative proposal.

Proposal FAQs  

  What is a proposal Temporary ID Number?

A proposal Temporary ID Number is a unique identifier that is generated by Research.gov to keep track of and manage proposals before they are submitted. Once submitted to NSF, proposals are assigned permanent proposal IDs. The Temporary ID Number is also used by lead and non-lead organizations to link separately submitted collaborative proposals from multiple organizations.

  What is the PAPPG?

The Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide     (PAPPG) is comprised of documents relating to the Foundation's proposal and award process for the assistance programs of NSF. The policy and procedural guidance contained in Part I of the PAPPG pertains to proposals submitted via the NSF Research.gov system. Relevant PAPPG sections are linked to within each proposal section in Research.gov to assist proposal preparers.

  What is the difference between a compliance “Error” and a “Warning”?

Automated proposal compliance checks triggering an error message will stop proposal submission to NSF, whereas checks triggering a warning message will still allow proposal submission. Expanded compliance checking in Research.gov helps to reduce administrative burden for the research community and NSF staff, as well as minimizes the return without review of proposals. Research.gov performs automated compliance checks on full proposals, renewal proposals, accomplishment-based renewal proposals, preliminary proposals, LOIs and supplemental funding requests. Refer to the Automated Compliance Checking of NSF Proposals    page for the current automated proposal checks. Proposers who receive a compliance error or warning message should check the Automated Compliance Checking of NSF Proposals    page and the solicitation for specific proposal requirements. Proposers should also review the topic-specific FAQs on the Research.gov About Proposal Preparation and Submission page. For example, the Uploading Documents FAQ topic includes document formatting FAQs, and the Proposal Sections FAQ topic includes Cover Sheet and budget FAQs.

  How can I view the proposal "Error" and "Warning" messages? 

The Proposal Actions section on the proposal main page has a Check Error(s) and Warning(s) button. After clicking this button, the Check Error(s) and Warning(s) page will display to show the identified automated compliance error and warning messages for the proposal. Individuals with a PI, co-PI, SPO, AOR, or Other Authorized User (OAU) role on the proposal can view the error and warning messages for the proposal. If there are no errors or warnings, this page will display a green success message. Please refer to the Automated Compliance Checking of NSF Proposals    page for a listing of the current compliance checks.

  Can a PI be swapped with any co-PI on an in-progress proposal? 

No, PI/co-PI swaps can only be done on an in-progress proposal when the PI and co-PI are from the same organization. If the Change Role option is not clickable in Research.gov, it means that the option is disabled for the specified individual. If the Change Role option is not clickable and is disabled, it means that the PI role cannot be changed because there are no other co-PIs from the same organization on the proposal. See the Swapping PIs and co-PIs from Same Organization how-to guide for more information.

  I initiated a proposal as a PI but now I want to assign myself as a co-PI and assign a different individual as the PI on the proposal. How do I make this swap? 

The prime organization can swap an individual with a PI role on an in-progress proposal or proposal file update with an individual with a co-PI role on the in-progress proposal or proposal file update provided that the individuals are affiliated with the same prime organization. To initiate the swap, the PI or co-PI navigates to the Manage Personnel (Prime Organization) page and clicks the Change Role link in the Proposal Actions column. The Change Role link for the PI will be enabled only if there is a co-PI listed in the prime organization's personnel list. The Change Role link for the co-PI will be enabled only if the PI on the proposal is from the same prime organization. After successfully swapping the PI and co-PI on the in-progress proposal or proposal file update, a green success message will display, and an email notification will be sent to the PI, co-PI(s), and OAU(s) associated with the proposal. See the Swapping PIs and co-PIs from Same Organization how-to guide for more information.

  Can an individual from a subrecipient organization be added to a proposal as a co-PI? 

An individual from a subrecipient organization with a Unique Entity ID (UEI) from the System for Award Management (SAM) but not registered in SAM cannot be added to a proposal as a co-PI but can be added as Senior/Key Personnel.

  Can an individual be added to a proposal more than once? 

No, an individual cannot be added to a proposal more than once. For example, an individual cannot be added on a proposal as Senior/Key Personnel and also as an OAU. In addition, an individual cannot be added as Senior/Key Personnel on a proposal for more than one organization, such as adding an individual as a co-PI for the prime organization and adding the same individual as Senior/Key Personnel for a subrecipient organization.

  I am using Chrome and trying to download the PDF of my proposal but I am encountering an error. What can I do?

Individuals who are using Chrome will encounter a networking error when attempting to use the download file functionality. NSF recommends clicking on the Print icon and Save as PDF or using a different browser.

  What happens to an in-progress proposal if the funding opportunity selected for the proposal has expired? 

An in-progress proposal (i.e., letter of intent, preliminary proposal, or full proposal) in response to a funding opportunity that has expired cannot be edited or submitted in Research.gov. A new proposal with an active funding opportunity must be created in order to submit. Please contact the NSF IT Service Desk at 1-800-381-1532 (7:00 AM - 9:00 PM ET; Monday - Friday except federal holidays) or via email to [email protected] if you need further assistance.

  Can I delete or withdraw a submitted proposal?

Submitted proposals cannot be deleted but they can be withdrawn from NSF. To initiate a proposal withdrawal, the PI, SPO, or AOR can navigate to their Submitted Proposals list, select the appropriate proposal for withdrawal, and click on the Withdraw Proposal button in the Proposal Actions section of the proposal main page. For more information, see the Proposal Withdrawal FAQ topic . An Ideas Lab preliminary proposal cannot be withdrawn.

Accessing the Research.gov Proposal Submission System

  How do I access the Research.gov Proposal Submission System?

To access the Research.gov Proposal Submission System:

• Open Research.gov and select Sign In at the top of the page
• After entering credentials, you will be navigated to the Research.gov homepage.
• Click the Prepare and Submit Proposals link under Proposals.
• Click Continue to Proposal System after reviewing the modal message and then you will be on the proposal preparation landing page.

  Can InCommon access login credentials be used for a user to access the Research.gov Proposal Submission System? 

Yes, InCommon access login credentials can be used. From the Research.gov Sign In page, select your organization from the organization drop-down menu to be taken to the InCommon Log In page for your organization. Only InCommon Federation participants can use their organization-issued credentials to sign in to Research.gov. If you are signing in with your organization-issued credentials, you will be prompted to link your credentials to your NSF ID if they are not already linked.

  Can Login.gov credentials be used to access the Research.gov Proposal Submission System? 

Yes, Login.gov credentials can be used. After entering your Login.gov credentials on the Research.gov Sign In page, you will be prompted to link your Login.gov credentials to your NSF ID if they are not already linked.

Permissions

  What permissions does an SPO have?

An SPO is able to review and edit proposals, proposal file updates, and revised budgets after the proposal's PI or co-PI shares proposal access. The SPO can also initiate LOIs and proposal withdrawal requests for approval and submission by the AOR.

  What permissions does an AOR have?

An AOR is authorized to sign on behalf of the proposing organization. The AOR is able to view, edit, and submit proposals after they are shared with the AOR by the proposal's PI or co-PI. The AOR can initiate and submit LOIs and proposal withdrawals. In addition, the AOR reviews LOIs and proposal withdrawal requests initiated by PIs and SPOs and submits the approved LOIs and withdrawals to NSF. The AOR also submits the Current and Pending (Other) Support update requested by the Program Officer prior to making an NSF funding recommendation.

  Can individuals with other user roles (e.g., SPO or AOR) initiate proposals in Research.gov?

Only a PI can initiate a proposal in Research.gov; however, individuals with other roles (e.g., SPO, AOR, and OAU) who are granted access to the proposal by the PI will be able to prepare and edit the proposal.

  How does a PI or co-PI provide the SPO/AOR access to a proposal?

A PI or co-PI can share a proposal with the SPO/AOR even before required proposal data is entered or uploaded and sections are completed. On the proposal main page, select Share Proposal with SPO/AOR and then select the type of access to provide the SPO/AOR: No access, View-only access, Edit access, or Edit access with Allow proposal submission (AOR only). The Allow proposal submission (AOR only) checkbox is automatically checked as the default when the Edit access radio button is selected. However, it is possible for the PI or co-PI to remove the check from the Allow proposal submission (AOR) checkbox and then add it again for proposal submission. See the Sharing Proposal and Proposal File Update/Budget Revision Access with SPO/AOR how-to guide for more information.

  As a user with the Other Authorized User (OAU) role, am I required to have any additional organization-approved roles to assist with preparing proposals in Research.gov?

No,users with the OAU role can assist with proposal preparation in Research.gov without being required to also have another organization-approved role (e.g., View Only role). Users with the OAU role can assist with preparing proposals already created by selecting the Work with In Progress link under In Progress on the proposal preparation landing page. See the Adding or Removing an OAU how-to guide for more information about adding or removing an OAU from a proposal.

Users without the OAU role can request this role from their organization by following the instructions in the Add a New Organizational Role section of the Account Management Guide.

  Can Other Senior/Key Personnel view, access, or edit proposals in Research.gov?

No, individuals added to a Research.gov proposal as Other Senior/Key Personnel cannot view, access, or edit the proposal.

Renewals and Accomplishment-Based Renewal Proposals

  Why is my previous award number not listed in the Previous Awards(s) dropdown in Step 4 (Proposal Details) of the proposal setup wizard?

A previous award will not be reflected in the Previous Awards(s) dropdown in Step 4 (Proposal Details) of the proposal setup wizard if any of the following scenarios is valid:

• The previous award was made as a result of submission of a RAISE, Ideas Lab, or Equipment proposal in Research.gov or in FastLane.
• You were not the PI or a co-PI on the previous award.
• The previous award was an accomplishment-based renewal.
• Your organization differs from the organization on the previous award.

If you believe your previous award is missing in error, contact the NSF IT Service Desk at 1 (800) 381-1532 (7:00 AM - 9:00 PM ET; Monday - Friday except federal holidays) or  [email protected]

  How can I renew my Planning, RAPID, or EAGER award?

Renewed funding of Planning, RAPID, and EAGER awards may be requested only through submission of a Traditional or Accomplishment-Based Renewal proposal that will be subject to full external merit review.

  How can I renew my Center or Research Infrastructure award?

To renew a Center award, prepare a renewal or accomplishment-based renewal proposal. For the proposal type, select the Center or Research Infrastructure proposal type during Step 3 (Proposal Type) of the proposal setup wizard.

To renew a Research Infrastructure award, prepare a renewal or accomplishment-based renewal proposal. For the proposal type, select the Research Infrastructure proposal type during Step 3 (Proposal Type) of the proposal preparation setup wizard.

Please see PAPPG, Chapter V    for additional information about renewal proposals.

  What if my previous award was from a proposal submitted in FastLane?

Previous awards from proposals submitted in both FastLane and Research.gov are reflected in the Research.gov Previous Award(s) dropdown in proposal setup wizard Step 4 (Proposal Details); however, please refer to the earlier FAQ regarding reasons your previous award may not be listed. See PAPPG, Chapter V    for additional information about renewal proposals.

Managing Where to Apply and Secondary Units of Consideration

  How do I determine the directorate/office and division of the program I want to apply to?

On NSF.gov    you can find a list of all directorates/offices and divisions under Find Funding & Apply    on the top menu bar. Go to the By Directorate option under Explore funding to view all programs associated with a particular directorate, office, or division. NSF's Funding Search also allows you to explore funding opportunities by keyword, eligibility and other criteria.

  When creating a new proposal, can multiple programs be selected?

Step 2 (Where to Apply) in the proposal setup wizard will display one or multiple programs, depending on the selected funding opportunity. You can only select one program in Step 2. Once the proposal is created, you may add additional programs by clicking the link labeled "Manage Where to Apply" if allowable for your type of proposal.

  How can I determine in Research.gov whether a particular program is identified in the selected funding opportunity?

In the proposal setup wizard, only the programs identified in the selected funding opportunity will display in Step 2 (Where to Apply). After the proposal is created, lead collaborative and single submission proposers can navigate to the Manage Where to Apply page from the proposal main page Manage Where to Apply link and select the Limit selections to those identified in the funding opportunity checkbox to view relevant programs.

  At what point during proposal preparation can additional programs be added to the proposal?

Programs related to the selected funding opportunity will display as options and can be added to the proposal in Step 2 Where to Apply of the proposal setup wizard. After the proposal is created, the Manage Where to Apply link will display on the proposal main page in single submission proposals and lead collaborative proposals for the following proposal types: Research, Planning, RAISE, RAPID, EAGER, GOALI, FASED, Ideas Lab, Conference, Equipment, Travel, Center, Research Infrastructure, SBIR, and STTR. Clicking the Manage Where to Apply link opens the Manage Where to Apply page where programs related to the selected funding opportunity and programs not related to the funding opportunity can be added or removed. The Manage Where to Apply link will display for in-progress proposals only. Programs cannot be updated during a proposal file update/budget revision. The Manage Where to Apply link will not be available on the proposal main page for postdoctoral fellowship proposals.

  I have started my proposal but have selected the incorrect division and program for the funding opportunity. How can I update that?

After the proposal is created, a Manage Where to Apply link will display on the proposal main page in single submission proposals and lead collaborative proposals for the following proposal types: Research, Planning, RAISE, RAPID, EAGER, GOALI, FASED, Ideas Lab, Conference, Equipment, Travel, Center, Research Infrastructure, SBIR, and STTR. Click the Manage Where to Apply link on the proposal main page. (The link does not appear if Where to Apply cannot be changed.) Follow the Manage Where to Apply page instructions to add, delete, or change order of importance. The ability to make changes is based on the proposal type and funding opportunity selected when the proposal was initiated. Most funding opportunities have one primary program for Where to Apply which cannot be changed. However, many funding opportunities allow you to add program selections and set the order of importance.

Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI)

  Can GOALI proposals be prepared and submitted via Grants.gov?

GOALI proposals can be submitted via Grants.gov but must be completed or updated in Research.gov. See the Grants.gov Proposal Processing in Research.gov page and Grants.gov Proposal Processing in Research.gov how-to guide for more information.

  What permissions does the Industrial co-PI have in the preparation of a GOALI proposal?

The Industrial co-PI will have the same permissions in a GOALI proposal as a regular co-PI has after being added to the proposal, including the ability to view and edit the proposal.

  Are there any differences in the budget amount that an Industrial co-PI can request versus a regular co-PI?

In accordance with the PAPPG, industrial participants can request and receive funds from NSF if they are included as Industrial co-PIs in a small business partner subaward organization. An Industrial co-PI added to a GOALI proposal will be listed on the budget page for the small business partner subaward organization, as well as on any Individual Year and Cumulative Budget PDFs of the small business partner subaward organization. If an Industrial co-PI is added to a GOALI proposal in the prime organization or in another subaward organization which is not a small business partner subaward organization, that Industrial co-PI will not display on any budget page nor on any Individual Year and Cumulative Budget PDFs. Refer to PAPPG Chapter II.D.2.g    and Chapter II.F.5    for additional information.

  Is an Industrial co-PI required to obtain an NSF ID and the Investigator role?

Yes, in order for an industrial participant to be added to a GOALI proposal as an Industrial co-PI, the individual must first have an NSF account (NSF ID) and an Investigator role in the Research.gov -Account Management System. All co-PIs have these account management requirements. Refer to the Research.gov About Account Management page for additional information and resources such as the Register for an NSF Account    and the Add a New Organization-Approved Role - Principal Investigator PI/co-PI sections of the Account Management Guide. See also the Register for a New NSF Account and Add a New Role video tutorials.

  Can an Industrial co-PI change roles to become a regular co-PI and vice versa on a GOALI proposal?

Yes. From the Manage Personnel page, there is a Change Role action that allows for an Industrial co-PI to convert to a regular co-PI, and vice versa.

  How can I distinguish an Industrial co-PI from a regular co-PI?

The Industrial co-PI(s) will be listed as co-Principal Investigator - Industrial on the proposal preparation screen and on the Cover Sheet PDF. A regular co-PI is listed as co-Principal Investigator. A co-PI, if from the same prime organization as the PI on the proposal, can change their role to become either an Industrial co-PI or the PI; however, an Industrial co-PI will not be able to change their role to become the PI on the proposal.

  How do I distinguish a small business partner subaward organization from a subaward organization which is not a small business partner?

A GOALI proposal can have two types of subaward organizations: small business partner subaward organizations and subaward organizations which are not small business partner organizations. On the Manage Personnel page, there are buttons in the subaward organization section of the page to add the desired type of subaward organization to a GOALI proposal. The subaward organization section of the Manage Personnel page also includes a Subaward Type column to indicate whether the subaward organization added is a small business partner. Refer to PAPPG Chapter II.F.5    for additional details on each type of subaward organization for a GOALI proposal.

Postdoctoral Fellowship Proposals

  How do I initiate a postdoctoral fellowship proposal?

You must first have the Proposed Postdoctoral Fellow role to initiate a postdoctoral fellowship proposal in Research.gov. A Proposed Postdoctoral Fellow role is different than a PI role. Postdoctoral fellowship funding opportunities will only display and be available for selection for users preparing a proposal as a Proposed Postdoctoral Fellow. Proposals for fellowship solicitations with reference letter requirements must be prepared and submitted in Research.gov and cannot be prepared and submitted in Grants.gov. Proposers with proposals for fellowship solicitations without reference letter requirements can initiate their submission in Grants.gov but must complete their proposal in Research.gov. See the Grants.gov Proposal Processing in Research.gov page and Grants.gov Proposal Processing in Research.gov how-to guide for more information.

• After signing in to Research.gov, navigate to My Profile at the top right of the page.
• From the left navigation menu, select My Roles > Add a New Role > Add Investigator or Authorized User Role > Proposed Postdoctoral Fellow (third option).
• Proceed to complete the required information as appropriate.
• Once the Proposed Postdoctoral Fellow role has been added, allow up to 60 minutes for the system to process the request.
• Then you will need to sign out of Research.gov and sign back in again before initiating and preparing a postdoctoral fellowship proposal for fellowship solicitations in Research.gov.

Additional guidance is available in the Add a New Organizational Role – Proposed Postdoctoral Fellow section of the Account Management Guide on the Research.gov About Account Management page.

  What happens if I have user roles in addition to the Proposed Postdoctoral Fellow role?

When a user is affiliated with an organization and has multiple roles such as a PI, co-PI, SPO, OAU, or AOR as well as the role of a Proposed Postdoctoral Fellow, all available funding opportunities (i.e., both fellowship and non-fellowship funding opportunities) can be viewed and selected. However, the user must have the Proposed Postdoctoral Fellow role to specifically view and select fellowship funding opportunities. When a Proposed Postdoctoral Fellow clicks on Prepare New, they will see the Select Organization for New Proposal modal. To create a postdoctoral fellowship proposal, the Proposed Postdoctoral Fellow must select the I am a Proposed Postdoctoral Fellow (Postdoctoral Fellowship Proposals) option from the Select Organization drop-down to initiate a postdoctoral fellowship proposal.

  Do postdoctoral fellowship proposals have different document submission requirements?

Yes, the following solicitation-specific proposal sections may be required to be submitted for postdoctoral fellowship proposals:

• Letter(s) of Collaboration
• Letter(s) of Support
• PhD Abstract
• Host Institution Letter(s)
• Research Support
• Reference Letter Request(s)
• Application Form
• Sponsoring Scientist Statement

Refer to the specific program solicitation to determine if submission of these proposal sections is required, optional, or not applicable. Please also see the Automated Compliance Checking of NSF Proposals    page for the related compliance checks.

  Are Personnel documents required to be uploaded for a Mentor/Advisor or Sponsoring Scientist listed on a postdoctoral fellowship proposal?

Some postdoctoral fellowship programs require submission of Personnel documents (i.e., Biographical Sketch, Current and Pending (Other) Support, Synergistic Activities, and/or Collaborators & Other Affiliations) for any Mentor/Advisor listed on the proposal. The Proposed Postdoctoral Fellow should refer to the specific program solicitation to determine Personnel document requirements for a Mentor/Advisor or Sponsoring Scientist. Please also see the Automated Compliance Checking of NSF Proposals    page for the related compliance checks. Note that the Mentor/Advisor and Sponsoring Scientist cannot view or edit the proposal in Research.gov.

  How do I view the budget in a postdoctoral fellowship proposal?

The budget section of all postdoctoral fellowship proposals includes the prepopulated stipend and fellowship allowance based on the selected solicitation. The budget section does not display on the proposal main page after the proposal has been created but can be viewed by clicking Print Proposal. When the Proposed Postdoctoral Fellow submits the proposal, the budget will display as read-only and will be accessible from the proposal main page. The budget section is editable during a proposal file update/budget revision; however, this should only be performed when requested by the Program Officer.

  How is the proposed duration determined for a postdoctoral fellowship proposal?

The proposed duration for a postdoctoral fellowship proposal is prepopulated, read-only (i.e., not editable), and aligns with the program solicitation selected when initiating the proposal in Research.gov.

  What if I do not have any information to provide in the Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources section in a postdoctoral fellowship proposal?

The Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources section is required in all postdoctoral fellowship proposals. If no information is applicable in this section for your proposal, you must upload a file with the text "Not applicable" to pass the automated compliance checks and submit your proposal. Refer to the program solicitation for specific document submission requirements.

  The solicitation for the postdoctoral fellowship program I am applying to does not require reference letters or information in the application form. Will I be able to submit my proposal without this information?

Research.gov will not require you to have reference letter writers added or the application form completed if the postdoctoral fellowship program solicitation does not specify these requirements.

  Can a reference letter writer submit the reference letter after my proposal has been submitted?

Yes. The system will not prevent the reference letter writer from submitting a reference letter after the proposal has been submitted. However, the reference letter writer must submit the reference letter before the proposal deadline per program solicitation requirements. Please also see the Automated Compliance Checking of NSF Proposals page for the related compliance checks.

  Can I submit my proposal before the reference letter writer(s) have submitted their reference letter(s)?

Yes. If you attempt to submit your proposal and there are reference letter writer(s) who have not yet submitted their reference letter(s), Research.gov will generate a warning that notifies you which reference letter writer(s) have not submitted. However, the system will allow you to submit the proposal. Once the reference writer(s) successfully submit their reference letter(s), the letter(s) will be available to the Program Officer to view.

  How do reference letter writer(s) listed in my proposal submit reference letter(s)?

Reference writer(s) submit reference letters using the Reference Letter Submission module in Research.gov. The reference letter writer must have an NSF account (NSF ID) in Research.gov to access this module. After the proposed postdoctoral fellow nominates a reference letter writer in Research.gov, the reference writer will receive a system-generated email with an invitation code required to access the Reference Letter Submission module to upload and submit the reference letter for the proposed postdoctoral fellow. A Postdoctoral Fellowship Proposal Reference Letter Submission Module Guide with step-by-step instructions is available on the Research.gov About Proposal Preparation and Submission page .

  What do I do if I submitted my proposal but my reference letter writer cannot submit a reference letter due to a personal matter such as illness?

When a proposal is submitted, reference letter requests cannot be canceled in the proposal. The proposer must reach out to the cognizant Program Officer for guidance on how to resolve this issue. If a new reference letter writer is identified to replace the reference letter writer unable to submit a reference letter, the new reference letter writer would have to manually provide the reference letter to the Program Officer.

  What if I don't see the organization that I’m trying to add in the search results for the Organization Name section in my application form?

If you have entered text in the Organization Name field and do not see the organization you want to add displayed in the search results, please try the following:

• Ensure you have entered the full organization name. The system will only display a maximum of 10 search results when entering text in the Organization Name field.
• Review the text you have entered to ensure there are no spelling errors.
• If the organization you're attempting to add is still not displaying, click on the Add other organization selection displayed at the very bottom of the search results. Choosing this option will allow you to add a custom organization that is not in the system.

  Where should I upload a curriculum vitae (CV) for a sponsoring scientist?

The CV for the sponsoring scientist should be included in the Sponsoring Scientist Statement section within the proposal.

  Where should I upload a biographical sketch for a sponsoring scientist?

If the solicitation instructions are to include a biographical sketch for the sponsoring scientist, that file must be uploaded on the Biographical Sketch upload page for the sponsoring scientist. That page can be found in the Personnel Documents section on the proposal main page. Refer to the specific program solicitation to determine the submission requirements for these documents.

Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR)

  How do I prepare a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) or Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Phase I or Phase II proposal in Research.gov?

Please refer to the SBIR/STTR full proposal instructions on https://seedfund.nsf.gov/    to prepare and submit an SBIR or STTR Phase I or Phase II proposal in Research.gov. SBIR and STTR proposals cannot be prepared and submitted in Grants.gov.

  How do I prepare a preliminary proposal in Research.gov?

On the proposal preparation landing page, select Preliminary from the Prepare New drop-down menu. Step 1 (Funding Opportunity) of the proposal setup wizard will only display the solicitations that require a preliminary proposal and the solicitations that indicate a preliminary proposal is optional. Preliminary proposals must be prepared and submitted in Research.gov and cannot be prepared and submitted in Grants.gov.

  When would I submit a preliminary proposal in Research.gov?

The program solicitation will specify content and submission requirements for preliminary proposals. Please see PAPPG, Chapter I.D.3    for information about preliminary proposals, including the two types of decisions that may be received from NSF upon submission of a preliminary proposal.

  Who can initiate a preliminary proposal in Research.gov?

Only an individual with a PI role can initiate preliminary proposals in Research.gov.

  Will Research.gov prohibit any actions related to an Ideas Lab preliminary proposal?

Research.gov will not permit co-PIs and senior personnel to be added to an Ideas Lab preliminary proposal. In addition, Research.gov will not allow an Ideas Lab preliminary proposal to be withdrawn or to be related to a full proposal. Refer to PAPPG Chapter II.F.6   for additional information about Ideas Lab proposals

  How do I associate my preliminary proposal to my full proposal?

For solicitations that require or request submission of a preliminary proposal, there is a Related Preliminary Proposal Number field on the full proposal Cover Sheet. Enter your preliminary proposal number in this field and then save the Cover Sheet. A green confirmation message will display. Additionally, there will be a blue information message at the top of the full proposal Cover Sheet confirming the successful association of your preliminary proposal with your full proposal. If the preliminary proposal number you entered is invalid or is for a preliminary proposal for which you do not have access, you will receive an error message and the preliminary proposal will not be associated to your full proposal.

Note that an Ideas Lab preliminary proposal cannot be related to a full proposal.

  Will I be required to associate my related preliminary proposal number to my full proposal in Research.gov when the solicitation requires the submission of a preliminary proposal?

Yes. Follow the solicitation requirements and enter the preliminary proposal number on the full proposal Cover Sheet. Although the system allows this entry to be optional, the cognizant Program Office will verify compliance of the submitted full proposal with the solicitation.

  How do I disassociate preliminary proposal from an associated full proposal?

To disassociate a preliminary proposal from a full proposal, remove the related preliminary proposal number associated with a full proposal by going to the full proposal Cover Sheet, clearing the Related Preliminary Proposal Number field, and then saving the Cover Sheet.

  When associating a preliminary proposal to a full proposal, what is considered a valid preliminary proposal?

A valid preliminary proposal must meet the following criteria:

• Submitted in Research.gov and exists in the user's Submitted Preliminary Proposals list
• Has been Invited or Encouraged/Discouraged by NSF

  What proposal sections does Research.gov require for a preliminary proposal?

Research.gov requires that each preliminary proposal has a Cover Sheet, Project Summary, and Project Description. The following preliminary proposal sections are dependent on the requirements listed in the program solicitation:

• References Cited
• Budget Justification(s)
• Facilities, Equipment, and Other Resources
• Senior Personnel Documents
• Data Management and Sharing Plan

Mentoring Plan

  Can I withdraw a preliminary proposal?

Preliminary proposals other than for Ideas Lab program solicitations can be withdrawn after submission to NSF.

  What is a collaborative proposal?

A collaborative proposal is one in which investigators from two or more organizations wish to collaborate on a unified research project. Collaborative proposals may be submitted to NSF in one of two methods: as a single proposal, in which a single award is being requested (with subawards administered by the lead organization); or by simultaneous submission of proposals from different organizations, with each organization requesting a separate award. In either case, the lead organization’s proposal must contain all of the requisite sections as a single package to be provided to reviewers (that will happen automatically when procedures below are followed). All collaborative proposals must clearly describe the roles to be played by the other organizations, specify the managerial arrangements, and explain the advantages of the multi-organizational effort within the Project Description. Please see PAPPG, Chapter II.E.3.    for additional information about collaborative proposals.

  Can a collaborative proposal be prepared in Research.gov?

Yes, Research.gov supports the preparation and submission of collaborative proposals from one organization (with subawards) and separately submitted collaborative proposals from multiple organizations. Note that separately submitted collaborative proposals from multiple organizations cannot be prepared and submitted in Grants.gov.

  How many PIs and co-PIs can I have on a collaboration?

In a collaborative proposal from one organization (with subawards), there can be a maximum of five—one PI and up to four co-PIs. In a separately submitted collaborative proposal from multiple organizations, each proposal may have a maximum of five—one PI and up to four co-PIs.

Separately Submitted Collaborative Proposals from Multiple Organizations

  What are the differences between a lead organization proposal and a non-lead organization proposal?

The lead organization's proposal must contain all of the required sections as a single package that will be provided to proposal reviewers. The non-lead organization will inherit the Proposal Title, Funding Opportunity, Where to Apply, Proposal Type, Submission Type, and Due Date from the lead organization proposal after the lead and non-lead organization proposals are successfully linked. For additional details, see the PAPPG, Chapter II.E.3.b   

  Since only the lead organization can enter the proposal title, does the non-lead organization leave that section blank? Can an incomplete Cover Sheet be saved in Research.gov?

The proposal title cannot be blank on the non-lead proposal since it is a mandatory field. The non-lead organization should enter an interim proposal title during preparation until the lead organization's title is inherited upon linking.

  If I indicate during proposal creation that my role on a project is as lead proposer, can I later change my role to a non-lead proposer and prepare a non-lead proposal?

No, during proposal preparation an organization cannot change from a lead proposer role to a non-lead proposer role or vice versa. In this scenario, the in-progress collaborative proposal should be deleted and a new proposal can be initiated with the desired role on the project (i.e., lead proposer or non-lead proposer).

  Can an individual be included as personnel both on a lead organization proposal and on a linked non-lead organization proposal?

No, an individual cannot be included as personnel on both a lead organization proposal and on a non-lead organization proposal when the proposals are linked. The system will generate an error message if proposers attempt to add an individual as personnel to a proposal if that individual is already included as personnel on a linked proposal. In addition, lead organization and non-lead organization proposals cannot be linked if the same individual(s) is included on both the lead organization and non-lead organization proposals.

  Why is my non-lead organization proposal missing proposal sections?

Required sections of the proposal differ based on the organization's role. The non-lead organization proposal will only have the following sections available on the proposal main page:

Cover Sheet

• Biographical Sketch(es)
• Current and Pending (Other) Support
• Collaborators and Other Affiliations
• Synergistic Activities
• Optional: Other Personnel Biographical Information
• Optional: Other Supplementary Documents
• Optional: List of Suggested Reviewers
• Optional: List of Reviewers Not to Include

For additional information about proposal sections required to be submitted by a lead and non-lead organization in a collaborative proposal from multiple organizations, please see PAPPG, Chapter II.E.3.   

  In a separately submitted collaborative proposal, can both the lead and non-lead organizations upload Other Supplementary Documents and Single Copy Documents?

Yes, both the lead and non-lead organizations can upload Other Supplementary Documents and Single Copy Documents.

  In a separately submitted collaborative proposal, can both the lead and non-lead organizations have subawards as part of the same proposal?

Yes, both the lead and non-lead organizations have the option for subawards in a separately submitted collaborative proposal.

Linking and Unlinking Collaborative Proposals from Multiple Organizations

  What is a linked collaborative proposal?

A linked collaborative proposal results when a lead organization proposal has been joined with one or more non-lead proposals that will be submitted together.

  How do I link a proposal?

The non-lead organization should work offline with the lead organization to provide its Temporary ID Number. The lead organization can then click the Link/View Collaborative Proposals button on its in-progress lead proposal form to enter the non-lead proposal's Temporary ID Number to send the link request to the non-lead organization. The link request must be accepted by the non-lead organization. The PI, co-PI, OAU, SPO and AOR for the non-lead organization proposal will receive a notification in Research.gov and an email notifying them that they have received a proposal link request.

  What happens if the lead organization enters the non-lead proposal Temporary ID Number on its in-progress lead proposal form but the non-lead proposal does not display?

The lead organization should contact the PI for the non-lead organization offline to verify the non-lead proposal Temporary ID Number.

  I am the lead proposer. How do I see the list and status of linked proposals in my collaboration?

By clicking the Link/View Collaborative Proposals button, the lead organization can view the list and status of all non-lead organizations that have been sent link requests. The lead organization will see the non-lead organizations that have accepted or rejected link requests as well as any pending link requests. The non-lead organization(s) will only be able to view the status of the linked lead proposal on the Link/View Collaborative Proposals page.

  How do I unlink my proposal?

A lead organization can unlink a non-lead organization proposal by clicking the Link/View Collaborative Proposals button on the proposal form and clicking Unlink Proposal for the non-lead organization proposal it intends to unlink. Non-lead organizations cannot unlink their proposals from a lead organization and must coordinate with the lead organization to unlink proposals.

  How do I cancel a link request?

Only lead organizations have the ability to cancel link requests. A lead organization can cancel a link request by clicking on the Link/View Collaborative Proposals button on the lead organization proposal main page. Click Cancel Link Request next to the non-lead proposal(s) that has a pending link request (i.e., the non-lead organization hasn’t accepted or rejected the link request). Once the link request is cancelled, the pending link request will no longer display on the Link/View Collaborative Proposal table on both the lead and non-lead organization proposals.

  What happens to a non-lead organization proposal if it is unlinked from a lead organization proposal?

A non-lead organization proposal that has been unlinked from a lead organization proposal will retain the information (i.e., Proposal Title, Funding Opportunity, Where to Apply, Proposal Type, Submission Type, and Due Date) that was inherited from the lead organization proposal, but the non-lead organization proposal cannot be submitted until it is linked with a new lead organization proposal. Upon linking to a new lead organization proposal, the non-lead organization proposal will inherit information (i.e., Proposal Title, Funding Opportunity, Where to Apply, Proposal Type, Submission Type, and Due Date) from the new lead organization proposal.

  Can a non-lead organization proposal be linked to multiple lead organization proposals?

A non-lead organization proposal can only be linked to one lead organization proposal at a time. In addition, a lead organization cannot send a link request to a non-lead organization that has accepted a link request or has a pending link request from another lead organization proposal.

  Is there a limitation on the number of non-lead organizations that can participate in a collaborative proposal?

The system does not limit on the number of non-lead organizations that can participate in a collaborative proposal.

  What is the maximum number of subawards allowed per lead organization proposal and non-lead organization proposal?

The system does not limit the number of subawards for lead and non-lead organization proposals.

  What information from the linked proposals can I see when I print my collaborative proposal?

Once the proposals are linked, a PDF of all proposal pages within the collaboration will be displayed when a PI, co-PI, SPO, AOR, or OAU of either the lead or non-lead organization clicks Print Proposal.

  Does a printed submitted collaborative proposal look different than an in-progress collaborative proposal?

There is only one difference between a submitted collaborative proposal and an in-progress collaborative proposal when printed. When submitted, the header of each lead and non-lead organization proposal page will display the name of the respective PI, and the assigned Proposal Number. The formatting of this display is: Submitted/PI: [PI First Name Last Name] /Proposal No: [Proposal Number].

  Can I link or unlink a proposal after it has been submitted?

No, proposals cannot be linked or unlinked once the collaborative set (i.e., all lead and non-lead organization proposals in the collaboration) has been submitted and has a Submitted to NSF status. In addition, proposals cannot be linked or unlinked during an in-progress proposal file update (PFU)/ budget revision. If the collaborative set has not been fully submitted, the lead has flexibility to add or change linked non-lead proposals if they are not submitted.

Deleting Separately Submitted Proposals

  How do I delete a linked in-progress proposal?

An in-progress separately submitted collaborative proposal can only be deleted by the organization if it is not linked and does not have any pending link requests from another proposal in a collaborative set. Proposers who want to delete an in-progress linked proposal must first un-link it from all other proposals. There is a Delete Proposal button in the Proposal Actions Section (on the left side of the page) available to the PI and co-PI to delete in-progress collaborative proposals.

  Can a PDF document be uploaded if it does not adhere to PAPPG formatting requirements?

Research.gov runs selected automated checks for PAPPG formatting compliance when a PDF document is uploaded. If non-compliance is detected, a warning or error message will display that identifies the issue(s). Some issues stop document upload (i.e., compliance errors), such as a violation of page length, while others allow document upload to complete (i.e., compliance warnings), such as violations of line spacing. For complete information, see the PAPPG, Chapter II.C. proposal preparation instructions    and the Automated Compliance Checking of NSF Proposals    page. If unexpected errors occur when uploading a PDF document, please contact the NSF IT Service Desk at 1-800-381-1532 for assistance. The PDF can be analyzed, and a solution can be identified. The NSF IT Service Desk is available by phone from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM ET Monday - Friday except federal holidays or via email to  [email protected] .

  Which PDF upload document formatting requirements are currently checked in Research.gov?

The proposal must conform to the formatting requirements specified in PAPPG Chapter II.C.2.    including the proposal font and margin requirements detailed in PAPPG Chapter II.C.2.a.   Refer to the Automated Compliance Checking of NSF Proposals    page for the complete list of current compliance checks.

Line and Margin Requirements per PAPPG Chapter II.C.2    :

• No more than six lines of text within a vertical space of one inch.
• Paper size must be no larger than standard letter paper size (8½ by 11" or 11" by 8½).

  What are some common margin issues to be aware of to ensure my proposal is compliant with PAPPG requirements?

Some potential margin issue root causes may be:

• Text in headers/footers and page numbers: Be sure that the document has no text in the header or footer including page numbers. Research.gov will automatically paginate and add page numbers for you when the proposal PDF is generated, so page numbers should be removed.
• Document elements not visible or not obvious on inspection: Items such as a space character in the header/footer or code inserted when using LaTeX to create the source file can trigger a margin error.
• Inserted images, figures, shapes, and hyperlinks: Margins can be set to one inch, but an image, figure, shape, or hyperlink can violate the margin rule. Setting the margin rule to one inch would not automatically correct the images, figures, shapes or hyperlinks within margins. Be sure to review all inserted images, figures, shapes, or hyperlinks that may be causing a margin issue.
• Fully justified text (i.e., both the left and right sides of the text have clean edges) may result in right margin issues for some PDF conversions. Some characters such as commas can bleed into the margins. If you want to maintain justified text and encounter margin issues, experiment by increasing the right margin settings (e.g., 1.02 - 1.05). Settings will vary and are dependent on the user's software. As an alternative, consider using left justification.
• Some PDF conversion software can overwrite metadata and alter the formatting of files. The NSF IT Service Desk has seen issues with Quartz PDF Context that is prevalent in Macs. Please use alternative methods to perform the PDF conversion.
• The PDF conversion process from older versions of Microsoft Word may alter the margins set in the original document. Please use alternative methods to perform PDF conversions. Other options may include increasing margins or using a more recent Microsoft Word version.
• Be wary of the use of heading styles in Microsoft Word: Using the heading style in Word will automatically add features to the document that collapse and expand text, and users may inadvertently collapse and hide non-compliant content. Starting a page with heading style text can cause top margin issues. It is helpful to check if any content is hidden by pressing Control-A to select the entire document and changing the style to "Normal" to identify hidden content.
• Special characters, equations, or use of bolded font in the first line of text on a page: Documents with special characters, equations, or bolded font in the first line of a page can cause a top margin issue in some versions of Microsoft Word. Inserting an entire blank line or two before the text may resolve this issue. For equations, consider using an image of an equation instead of an equation inserted by Equation Editor.
• Margins less than 72 points: Ensure your document margins are compliant before exporting the document to PDF. The system recognizes one inch as 72 points. If you notice margin issues for your PDF document, try exporting the PDF to Microsoft Word format to correct the margins to one inch. Then save the file as a PDF and upload it again.

  Why is there a line spacing warning when I am using a compliant font type and font size?        Please note: Line spacing warnings will not stop proposal submission.

For line spacing, there should be no more than six lines of text within a vertical space of one inch. Some potential line spacing issue root causes may be:

• Documents originating in LaTeX sometimes will trigger the line spacing warning even though the font type and font size are compliant. Please refer to https://github.com/nsf-open/nsf-proposal-latex-samples as a resource for LaTeX/TeX users.
• Some PDF generators change the size of document content slightly.
• In some versions of Microsoft Word, Arial 10 and Courier New 10 will produce line spacing errors. In this instance, try changing the line spacing to 1.05 as a workaround. Also consider experimenting with a different font or increasing the font to 11 or more. Please note that caption fonts smaller than 10 will trigger line spacing warnings.

In Microsoft Word, the number of lines per inch is dynamic based on font size. An option in Word to try is to format the paragraphs to specify an exact point size to use between lines. Here's how to do this:

• Open the document Layout tab
• Open paragraph settings by clicking the arrow icon below the Spacing Before and After options
• Select the Indents and Spacing tab
• In the Spacing section, go to Line Spacing and select Exactly in the drop-down menu and then 12 pt in the At field.

  Why is there a URL error when I do not see any URLs in my document?

Search on key domain suffixes such as .gov, .edu, .com, .io, .biz, etc. and also search for "www" or "http" text.

Hidden or embedded URLs can be prevalent when using citations. Citations created by Zotero or Paperpile, for example, can create a hidden clickable links. Avoid using third party citation software and type out the citation.

  I am getting an error message that I do not have a required document section heading (i.e., Broader Impacts) but it is included. What is causing this error?

A section heading must be on its own line without any other text on that line for compliance validation purposes. Broader Impacts must be spelled correctly. "Broad Impacts" or "Broader Impact" will generate an error message stopping proposal submission.

  What known issues should I be aware of regarding other validation errors when exporting a file to PDF?

The following are some examples of known issues:

• Outdated software used for exporting the file to PDF (recommend using PDF version 1.5 or higher).
• OpenOffice inserts an unallowable font for superscript and subscript.
• Google Docs may not properly export bulleted text.
• Google Docs Print→Save as PDF is not supported. Use File→Download→PDF Document instead.
• Microsoft Office for Macs Save as PDF functionality and Best for Printing may not be supported. Instead, select the Best for electronic distribution and accessibility (uses Microsoft online service) option.
• For Microsoft Office, do not use Print as PDF to create a PDF. Instead, use Export and Create PDF.

  Are there any resources for LaTeX users?

Yes, a repository of compliant LaTeX/TeX sample input files has been created at https://github.com/nsf-open/nsf-proposal-latex-samples    as a resource for LaTeX/TeX users to reference for their own documents. The NSF IT Service Desk cannot troubleshoot LaTeX files or conversions of LaTeX files to PDF, however, you may reach out to the contact listed on the GitHub site.

  I am getting a warning message when uploading my Collaborators and Other Affiliations (COA) template that not all cells could be saved. When I look at my uploaded PDF file, I see missing data. What is causing this?

The following are some examples of COA missing data possible causes:

• Cell contents exceed the cell limit of 255 characters including spaces.
• Data is missing, especially in column A for tables 2-5.
• Last Active column is entered using a date format other than MM/DD/YYYY.
• Cutting and pasting from other programs or files with formatting has produced errors or brought in invalid fonts and borders that trigger warning(s) on upload.

  I uploaded a COA file which appears to have been uploaded with no issues but when I try to preview it, the file is missing. Why is this happening?

This issue can occur when an invalid year consisting of more than four digits is entered (e.g., 20022) in the COA document which corrupts both the COA and the Budget sections of the proposal. For the Budget section, this issue will prevent data from being saved in the proposal. Please correct the year in the original COA file, save the file, and then re-upload the updated COA file to the proposal. If the issue is not discovered early, it can corrupt the proposal. If you need assistance, please contact the NSF IT Service Desk at 1-800-381-1532 (7:00 AM - 9:00 PM ET; Monday - Friday except federal holidays) or via email to [email protected].

  When is a COA document required for Conference proposals?

A COA document is required for each individual identified as Senior Personnel in a Conference proposal when the budget's total dollar value, including indirect costs, is more than $50,000. COA documents are uploaded on the Senior Personnel Documents screen. Please refer to PAPPG Chapter II.F.8    for additional information.

  Can senior personnel documents (e.g., biographical sketch) be reordered in the PDF?

There is not currently a way to modify the order of senior personnel documents in the PDF. However, NSF will discuss a possible future enhancement to allow reordering of senior personnel documents in the PDF.

  How do I upload an updated current and pending (other) support document when requested by the NSF Program Officer??

The cognizant NSF Program Officer will request that an updated version of current and pending (other) support be submitted via Research.gov prior to making a funding recommendation. SciENcv will produce an NSF-compliant PDF version of the updated current and pending (other) support. The AOR submits the updated current and pending (other) support document for each individual named as senior personnel on the submitted proposal. The information must be provided as specified in PAPPG Chapter II.D.2.h(ii) . See the Preparing Updated Current and Pending(Other) Support how-to guide for a walk-though of the steps.

  Can I make a correction to a submitted Current and Pending (Other) Support update document?

No, once the Program Officer initiates the Current and Pending (Other) Support update request and it was submitted, there cannot be another submission in Research.gov.

  Can I submit a budget revision and an updated Current and Pending (Other) Support document at the same time?

No, you cannot perform these two actions at the same time. If a budget revision is performed first, you must wait until the next day to submit the Current and Pending (Other) Support update. However, you may submit the Current and Pending (Other) Support update before a budget revision on the same day. See the Preparing Updated Current and Pending (Other) Support how-to guide for more information.

  I'm trying to upload a PDF to the Other Supplementary Documents section but I'm receiving an error message saying the system has encountered an error. What do I do?

A PDF file that is a certified signed document or is password protected will produce this error. For PDF uploads to the Other Supplementary Documents section, open the PDF file with a browser and print it with the destination set as Adobe PDF (not Save PDF or Save As). If this does not resolve the issue, please contact the NSF IT Service Desk at 1-800-381-1532 (7:00 AM - 9:00 PM ET; Monday - Friday except federal holidays) or via email to  [email protected]

  I don't see a submit button. How do I submit the proposal?

Only the AOR can submit a proposal to NSF. A PI or co-PI must first use the Share Proposal with SPO/AOR button to provide the AOR with submit proposal access. Then the AOR will see the Initiate Proposal Submission button enabled under Proposal Actions on the proposal main page. The AOR will click the Initiate Proposal Submission button to start proposal submission.See the Sharing Proposal and Proposal File Update/Budget Revision Access with SPO/AOR how-to guide and the Submitting Letters of Intent and Proposals how-to guide for more information.

  I have submitted my collaborative proposal but my status is Submission Pending. What does that mean? 

All lead and non-lead organization proposals in a separately submitted collaborative proposal from multiple organizations are held in a queue with a Submission Pending status upon submission by the respective AORs. The lead and non-lead collaborative proposals can be submitted in any order. Once all proposals in the collaboration have a Submission Pending status, the collaborative set will be fully submitted to NSF and the proposal status for each collaborative proposal will change from Submission Pending to Submitted to NSF (Not Yet Assigned for Review). After the collaborative set is submitted, each proposal will be assigned a proposal number and processed into NSF IT systems where the proposal is accessible by NSF Program Officers.

  My proposal is the lead organization proposal, the submission deadline is approaching, and there are unaccepted link requests to non-lead organization proposals. What can I do to submit on time?

Organizations in a separately submitted collaborative proposal with pending link requests must either accept the link request (non-lead organization action), reject the link request (non-lead organization action), or cancel the link request (lead organization action) before submitting the proposal. If the lead organization chooses to continue with submitting the proposal, all pending link requests to non-lead proposals will automatically be cancelled.

  My proposal is the lead organization proposal in a separately submitted collaborative proposal and one of the non-lead organizations will not be able to submit by the deadline. What can I do to ensure the collaboration is submitted on time? 

In this scenario, the lead organization could unlink its proposal from the non-lead organization proposal not able to submit by its deadline. The lead organization proposal and the remaining linked non-lead proposals could then be submitted to NSF by the deadline. The final collaborative proposal should be revised before submission to account for the change in participating organizations. The lead organization will not be able to link to other non-lead proposals after the entire collaboration is submitted to NSF.

  How do I check proposal status after a proposal has been submitted? 

Within 24 hours of proposal submission in Research.gov (including proposals submitted via Grants.gov and processed in Research.gov), the proposal will be listed on the Research.gov Proposal Status page. Proposers can access the Proposal Status page using the Proposal Status link under Proposals on the Research.gov homepage after signing in. If proposers do not see a submitted proposal listed on the Proposal Status page after 24 hours, the proposer should contact the NSF Service Desk at 1-800-381-1532 for assistance. The NSF Service Desk is available by phone from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM ET Monday - Friday except federal holidays or via email to  [email protected]

  When is proposal submission required for each separately submitted proposal? If the lead organization is on the East Coast and a non-lead organization is on the West Coast, what would be the submission deadline?

Proposals must be received by 5 p.m. submitting organization's local time on the established deadline date. In this example, the lead organization on the East Coast must submit by 5 p.m. Eastern Time, and the non-lead organization on the West Coast must submit by 5 p.m. Pacific Time.

Editing a Submitted Proposal

  How can I make changes to my proposal after it is submitted?

How you edit your proposal will depend on the status of your proposal and whether it is a single submission or separately submitted collaborative proposal. See the Preparing Proposal File Updates how-to guide and the Preparing Budget Revisions how-to guide for more information.

• Single submission or single submission with subawards (collaborative) proposals:All edits must be done via a proposal file update (PFU) or a budget revision. For a PFU, the proposal main page within the submitted proposal will display an Update Submitted Proposal button under Proposal Actions. For a budget revision, the submitted proposal will display a Revise Budget button under Proposal Actions.
• Separately submitted collaborative proposals with Submission Pending Status: A lead or non-lead organization proposal will receive a status of Submission Pending after submission if there are other proposals in the collaboration that have yet to submit. When a lead/non-lead organization proposal has a status of Submission Pending, there will be an Edit Proposal button visible to the PI/co-PIs, SPO, AOR, and OAU of the proposal. Clicking the Edit Proposal button removes the proposal from the Submission Pending status and returns it to an in-progress state. Proposals that are removed from the submission pending status will require a new submission by the AOR.
• Separately submitted collaborative proposal sets submitted to NSF: If all proposals in the collaborative set have been submitted, then each proposal can be edited via the Update Submitted Proposal or Revise Budget buttons on the submitted proposal form. Only the lead or non-lead proposal with the proposal file update/budget revision needs to be resubmitted; the entire collaborative set is not required to be resubmitted.
• See PAPPG, Chapter III.C    for additional information on Proposal File Updates.

  If I initiate a proposal file update (PFU)/budget revision, how does this impact a separately submitted collaborative set?

When a proposal file update (PFU)/budget revision is initiated, the original submitted version remains intact until it is replaced by the proposal file update (PFU)/budget revision. If the proposal file update (PFU)/budget revision is not submitted, the original submission will remain and the collaborative set is not impacted.

  How do I withdraw a proposal that has been submitted? 

To withdraw a submitted proposal, the PI, SPO, or AOR navigates to the Submitted Proposals list, selects the proposal they want to withdraw, and clicks on the Withdraw Proposal button in the Proposal Actions section of the proposal main page to initiate the withdrawal process.This is a final state.

  When can a proposal be withdrawn? 

A submitted proposal may be withdrawn at any time before a funding recommendation is made by the cognizant NSF Program Officer.

  Who can withdraw a submitted proposal? 

The proposal's PI, SPO and AOR may initiate a withdrawal request but only the AOR can approve the request and submit the withdrawal to NSF.

  How long does it take to withdraw a proposal? 

Submitted proposals are withdrawn from NSF as soon as the AOR approves the withdrawal in Research.gov.

  Can my withdrawal request be deleted if I change my mind? 

A pending proposal withdrawal request initiated by the PI or SPO can be deleted at any time before the AOR approves the withdrawal in Research.gov.

  Can I update my submitted proposal using a proposal file update (PFU)/budget revision while there is a pending withdrawal request? 

No, proposals with a pending withdrawal request cannot be updated using the proposal file update (PFU)/budget revision processes. The pending withdrawal request must first be deleted (PI or SPO action) or rejected (AOR action) before a proposal file update (PFU)/budget revision can be prepared to edit the submitted proposal.

  How do I know my proposal has been withdrawn? 

Withdrawn proposals are indicated by a proposal status of Withdrawn on the Submitted Proposals list. In addition, the PI, SPO, and AOR will receive an email and system notification to confirm the proposal withdrawal.

  What happens to an in-progress, unsubmitted proposal file update (PFU)/budget revision when there is a pending withdrawal request? 

If there is an in-progress proposal file update (PFU)/budget revision that was started prior to initiation of a withdrawal request, the in-progress proposal file update (PFU)/budget revision becomes read-only and cannot be submitted unless the proposal withdrawal request is deleted or rejected. A new proposal file update (PFU)/budget revision cannot be prepared when there is a pending withdrawal request or after a proposal has been withdrawn.

  Can I re-submit a withdrawn proposal? 

No. Once a proposal is withdrawn, it cannot be re-submitted to NSF by the organization. However, the PI/SPO/AOR may still view and print the withdrawn proposal in Research.gov.

Withdrawing Separately Submitted Collaborative Proposals from Multiple Organizations

  Can a separately submitted collaborative proposal be withdrawn? 

Yes, separately submitted collaborative proposals from multiple organizations can be withdrawn.

  Who can request a withdrawal when the proposal is a separately submitted collaborative proposal? 

The PI, SPO, or AOR of either the lead or non-lead organization can initiate a proposal withdrawal request.

  If one proposal in a collaboration is withdrawn, what happens to the other proposals in the collaboration? 

If a lead or non-lead proposal in a collaboration is withdrawn, all the linked proposals in the collaboration will be withdrawn and will show a proposal status of Withdrawn. The proposals cannot be edited or re-submitted.

  If one of the proposals in a collaboration has a pending withdrawal request, how does that impact the rest of the linked proposals in the collaboration? 

When one of the proposals in a collaboration has a pending withdrawal request, all the proposals in the collaboration become read-only and cannot be edited until the pending withdrawal request is either approved and submitted by the AOR of the initiating organization or deleted/rejected by the initiating organization's PI, SPO, or AOR.

  Can I submit a withdrawal request for my proposal if another proposal in my collaboration already has a pending withdrawal request? 

No, there can only be one proposal withdrawal request at a time for a separately submitted collaborative proposal.

  When a withdrawal request is initiated for one of the proposals in a collaboration, are the organizations for the linked proposals in the collaboration notified? 

Yes, the associated PIs, SPOs, and AORs of the linked proposals are notified via email and system notification when a lead or non-lead organization in the collaboration has initiated a proposal withdrawal request.

  What happens to an in-progress proposal file update (PFU)/budget revision for a proposal in a collaboration when there is a pending withdrawal request for another linked proposal? 

When one of the proposals in a collaboration has a pending withdrawal request, all of the proposals and in-progress proposal file updates (PFU)/budget revisions in the collaboration will become read-only and cannot be edited until the pending withdrawal request is either approved and submitted by the AOR of the initiating organization or deleted/rejected by the initiating organization's PI, SPO, or AOR.

  Can all NSF proposals be submitted via Grants.gov? 

Please note that the following submissions must be done in Research.gov as Grants.gov does not support the functionality:

• Separately submitted collaborative applications from multiple organizations
• Letters of Intent
• Preliminary proposals
• Planning proposals
• Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) proposals
• Postdoctoral fellowship proposals with reference letter requirements

Some proposals can be submitted in Grants.gov but must be completed or updated in Research.gov, such as:

• Proposals with project data forms for the Directorate for STEM Education (EDU)/Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE)
• Postdoctoral fellowship proposals without reference letter requirements
• Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) proposals
• Proposals with subawards
• Proposals with budgets of six years or more

See the Grants.gov Proposal Processing in Research.gov page and Grants.gov Proposal Processing in Research.gov how-to guide for additional information.

  Where does a proposal submitted via Grants.gov display in Research.gov when the proposal has passed all pre-check and post-check validations and has been successfully submitted to and accepted by NSF? 

When a proposal submitted via Grants.gov is successfully submitted to and accepted by NSF, the proposal will display on the Submitted and Updates page under the Proposals (Full and Renewals) tab. Access this tab by signing in to Research.gov and clicking the Prepare and Submit Proposals link under Proposals on the Research.gov homepage. From the Prepare and Submit Proposals landing page, click the View/Update Submitted button in the Submitted and Updates tile and select Proposals (Full and Renewals).

  Where does a proposal submitted via Grants.gov display in Research.gov when the proposal has post-check validation errors or warnings? 

If a proposal submitted via Grants.gov and processed in Research.gov has any post-check validation errors or warnings, the proposal will display on the Research.gov In Progress page. Access this page by signing in to Research.gov and clicking the Prepare and Submit Proposals link under Proposals on the Research.gov homepage. From the Prepare and Submit Proposals landing page, click on the Work with In Progress button in the In Progress tile and select Proposals (Full and Renewals). Proposals submitted via Grants.gov will have Grants.gov text displayed directly next to the proposal title.

Proposals with compliance warnings can be submitted in Research.gov whereas proposals with compliance errors must be fixed in Research.gov and then resubmitted in Research.gov. See the Grants.gov Proposal Processing in Research.gov page and Grants.gov Proposal Processing in Research.gov how-to guide for additional Information. Please refer to the Automated Compliance Checking of NSF Proposals    page for Research.gov automated compliance checks.

  I submitted my proposal via Grants.gov but I don't see it displayed in Research.gov. Why did this happen? 

If your proposal does not pass the Grants.gov pre-check validations (i.e., Grants.gov initial compliance checks) to be processed in Research.gov, your proposal will not display in Research.gov. You must fix the issues listed in the system-generated email sent to the PI and then resubmit via Grants.gov. See the Grants.gov Proposal Processing in Research.gov page and Grants.gov Proposal Processing in Research.gov how-to guide for additional Information. Please see the Automated Compliance Checking of NSF Proposals    page for the Grants.gov initial compliance checks.

  What happens if my Grants.gov submitted proposal is processed in Research.gov but does not pass all the post-check validations? 

If a Grants.gov proposal passes the Grants.gov pre-check validations (i.e., Grants.gov initial compliance checks) to be successfully processed in Research.gov but there are post-check compliance warnings and/or errors to be addressed, the proposal will display on the Research.gov In Progress page but the proposal has not been successfully submitted to NSF. To view the error and warning messages in Research.gov, users can click the Check Error(s) and Warning(s) button under Proposal Actions on the proposal main page. Proposals with compliance warnings can be submitted in Research.gov whereas proposals with compliance errors must be fixed in Research.gov and then resubmitted in Resesrch.gov. Refer to the Automated Compliance Checking of NSF Proposals for the Research.gov automated compliance checks.

SPO(s) are automatically provided edit access in Research.gov and AORs are automatically provided edit and submit access in Research.gov when a Grants.gov proposal is processed in Research.gov but has an in progress status. Ensure the proposal is successfully submitted in Research.gov by the relevant 5:00 pm submitting organization's local time deadline. Users with AOR and Proposed Postdoctoral Fellow roles click the Initiate Proposal Submission button to resubmit the proposal in Research.gov. Users with AOR and Proposed Postdoctoral Fellow roles click the Initiate Proposal Submission button to resubmit the proposal in Research.gov.

  What system-generated emails are sent after I submit my proposal via Grants.gov? 

Please see the following list of system-generated emails and associated scenarios:

• If the Grants.gov submitted proposal does not pass the pre-check validations (i.e., Grants.gov initial compliance checks) necessary to process the proposal in Research.gov, a system-generated email will be sent to the PI notifying them of the issues that must be fixed in Grants.gov before the proposal can be resubmitted in Grants.gov for processing in Research.gov.
• If the Grants.gov submitted proposal does not pass the pass the post-check validations (i.e., Research.gov automated compliance checks), a system-generated email will be sent to the PI, SPO(s) and AOR(s) associated with the prime organization notifying them the proposal is in progress in Research.gov and has not been successfully submitted to NSF. Proposals with compliance warnings can be submitted in Research.gov whereas proposals with compliance errors must be fixed in Research.gov and then resubmitted in Research.gov. The proposal must be successfully submitted in Research.gov by the relevant 5:00 pm submitting organization's local time deadline.
• If the Grants.gov submitted proposal is successfully submitted to NSF, a system-generated notification email will be sent to the PI, co-PI(s), OAU(s) and AOR associated with the prime organization.

  Why is my Grants.gov submitted proposal in progress in Research.gov if there were no errors or warnings listed in the email I received? 

In addition, there are some scenarios where information in Grants.gov proposals cannot be transferred into your proposal processed in Research.gov. Review the specific system messaging in each proposal section and make updates as required. In particular, please review the budget(s), subaward organization(s), personnel listed in the proposal, and senior personnel document(s). The proposal must be successfully submitted in Research.gov by the relevant 5:00 pm submitter's local time deadline. Please contact the NSF IT Service Desk at 1-800-381-1532 (7:00 AM - 9:00 PM ET; Monday - Friday except federal holidays) or via [email protected] if you need assistance.

Proposal FAQs

  What if the proposed duration is zero or left blank? 

Saving the Cover Sheet when the proposed duration is zero or has been left blank will result in an error message. A proposal cannot be submitted without a valid proposed duration saved on the Cover Sheet. Refer to funding opportunity for any potential duration requirements. Proposal duration is prepopulated on postdoctoral scholarship proposals.  Note: The system will not enforce any funding opportunity-specific duration requirements.

  Does the proposed duration on the Cover Sheet have to align with the number of years in the budget? 

The number of months entered for proposed duration should align with the number of years entered in the prime organization’s budget. The proposed duration should not extend beyond five years (60 months) unless otherwise specified in a program solicitation. Use the chart below for appropriate alignment:   

  I am trying to upload a Tribal Nations document, but the Potential Impacts on Tribal Nations page link is showing as disabled on the Cover Sheet. What do I do? 

The Potential Impacts on Tribal Nations page link will only become active after the Potential Impacts on Tribal Nations checkbox has been selected and the changes on the Cover Sheet have been saved.

  Am I able to upload more than one Tribal Nations document on the Potential Impacts on Tribal Nations upload page? 

Yes, users are permitted to upload and submit up to two Tribal Nations documents on the Potential Impacts on Tribal Nations upload page. After clicking the Browse button, the user can upload the first document. Once the first document is successfully uploaded, a green success message will confirm the upload. Then the Browse button will change to Browse for another, enabling the user to upload a second document by following the same steps.

  What happens if I select the Potential Impacts on Tribal Nations checkbox but don't upload a document in the Potential Impacts on Tribal Nations section? 

If the Potential Impacts on Tribal Nations checkbox is selected on the Cover Sheet, the proposer must upload at least one Tribal Nations document to the Potential Impacts on Tribal Nations section. If no document is uploaded, a compliance error message will be generated that will stop proposal submission.

Project Description

  What are the Research.gov page limitations for Project Descriptions?

Proposers must follow the Project Description page limit guidance in the program solicitation for the proposal. The limits in a single solicitation may vary by track or program. For a program solicitation that does not include Project Description page limit guidance, follow the guidance in the PAPPG for the proposal type.

Senior/Key Personnel Documents

  What format is required to submit biographical sketch and current and pending (other) support information?

SciENcv must be used to prepare biographical sketch and current and pending (other) support documents. Biographical sketch and current and pending (other) support documents not prepared in SciENcv or those using a previous SciENcv version will trigger a compliance error message that will prevent document upload. See Using SciENcv Frequently Asked Questions for system-related information and links to SciENcv training resources. Refer to Documents Required for Senior Personnel ,PAPPG Exhibit II.3 ,and PAPPG Chapter II.D.2.h . for policy guidance.

  Is a Synergistic Activities document required to be uploaded for each individual designated as senior/key personnel on a proposal?

Synergistic Activities information must be uploaded as a separate one-page document on the Senior/Key Personnel documents screen in Research.gov for each individual designated as Senior/Key personnel. This document is not created in SciENcv. The system will enforce that a Synergistic Activities document is uploaded for senior/key personnel on all proposal types (e.g., Full Research proposals and Renewal proposals) except that it is optional for Conference and Travel proposals. See Documents Required for Senior Personnel and PAPPG Chapter II.D.2.h(iv) for additional information.

  Do academic and summer months need to be provided as part of the proposal budget?

As a general policy, NSF limits the salary compensation requested in the proposal budget for senior personnel to no more than two months of their regular salary in any one year. It is the organization's responsibility to define and consistently apply the term "year", and to specify this definition in the budget justification. Please see PAPPG Chapter II.D.2.f.i.    for additional information.

Currently, when a printable PDF of the proposal is displayed in Research.gov, the academic and summer month labels will display as blank fields. In the future, these fields will also be removed from the Research.gov print view.

  When does the cost sharing budget line (Line M) appear in the proposal's budget during proposal preparation?

Cost sharing is rarely required in NSF proposals. For those programs with required cost sharing, Line M on the proposal budget will only appear in year 1 of the prime organization proposal budget. A list of NSF programs with required cost sharing is available at https://nsf.gov/bfa/dias/policy/   

  Does Cost Sharing Line M of the proposal budget count as part of the Total Requested Amount?

No, cost sharing is not included as part of a proposal's Total Requested Amount and is treated as a separate and independent amount in the budget.

  Why don't I see the Cost Sharing Line M in year 2 of my proposal's budget?

The cost sharing budget line (Line M of the Proposal Budget) will appear in the Prime Award Organization budget directly under the Total Amount Requested budget line (Line J) when the funding opportunity selected requires cost sharing. The cost sharing data will only appear under the Year 1 column within the Prime Award Organization's budget page and will represent the total proposed cost sharing amount.

  Is there any justification or documentation required when including a cost sharing amount?

An explanation of the source, nature, amount and availability of any proposed cost sharing must be provided in the budget justification. The budget justification upload screen can be found on the proposal main page below the Budget section.

  Can cost sharing be modified as part of a proposal file update (PFU)/budget revision?

Yes, the cost sharing amount on Line M on the Proposal Budget can be added, removed, or edited as part of a proposal file update (PFU)/budget revision.

  Can a proposal be submitted if the cost sharing amount entered on Line M of the Budget is $0 

Yes, proposals that require cost sharing can be shared or submitted with a cost sharing amount of $0 entered on Line M of the Prime Award Organization's Year 1 Budget. Although the proposer will be prompted with a warning to check that the amount entered is correct based on solicitation requirements, the warning will not stop proposal submission and can be bypassed to allow the AOR to submit the proposal. A value of $0 is acceptable because based on the solicitation, certain institutions are exempt from the mandatory cost sharing requirement. For example, the Major Research Instrumentation (MRI) program provides that, "only non-Ph.D.- granting academic institutions of higher education are exempt from the cost-sharing requirement and cost sharing by those institutions may not be provided."

  What is the limit on budget years in a subaward budget? 

The number of years in a subaward budget must be equal to or less than the number of years in the prime organization budget. If the number of years in a subaward budget exceeds the number of years in the prime organization budget, an automated compliance error will be generated and the proposal will be stopped from being submitted to NSF.

  For a FASED proposal, where should I include information regarding funding requests for special equipment or assistance to facilitate the participation of individuals with disabilities? 

These funding requests should be included in the proposed budget for the project and documented in the Budget Justification. The specific nature, purpose and need for such equipment or assistance should be described in sufficient detail in the Project Description to permit evaluation of the request by knowledgeable reviewers.

  I am receiving the following error message when attempting to save the budget: "The system has encountered an error and was unable to save the budget. Please try saving the budget again and if this issue persists, you may contact the NSF IT Service Desk at [email protected] or 1 (800) 381-1532."How can I fix this? 

This issue can occur when an invalid year consisting of more than four digits is entered (e.g., 20022) in the COA document under Senior/Key Personnel Documents which corrupts both the COA and the Budget sections of the proposal. For the Budget section, this issue will prevent data from being saved in the proposal. Please correct the year in the original COA file, save the file, and then upload the updated COA file to the proposal.In some cases, especially if there are subrecipient organization budgets, you may not be able to resolve the issue on your own and must contact the NSF IT Service Desk for assistance.

Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources

  When does a Conference or Travel proposal require a Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources document? 

A Facilities, Equipment and Other Resources document is required for a Conference or Travel proposal when there will be support from other sources. This selection is made when initiating the proposal using the proposal setup wizard but can be changed on the Cover Sheet. Please see PAPPG Chapter II.F.8.    for additional information on Conference proposals and PAPPG Chapter II.F.10.    for Travel Proposals.

Project Data Form

  What is a project data form and when is it required? 

A project data form is currently only required for some proposals to the Directorate for STEM Education (EDU)/Division of Undergraduate Education (DUE). The information that is provided in the project data form is used to direct proposals to appropriate reviewers and to determine the characteristics of projects supported by DUE.

The project data form must be included in a proposal only when specified in a program solicitation. The following programs currently require the project data form, but it is not an exhaustive list:

• Advanced Technological Education (ATE)Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI Program)
• Improving Undergraduate STEM Education: Directorate for STEM Education (IUSE:EDU)
• Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Program
• NSF Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM)

  How must a project data form be included as part of the proposal? 

If the selected funding opportunity requires a project data form, it must be included for single submissions as well as lead and non-lead collaboratives that are full proposals, renewal proposals, or accomplishment-based renewal proposals.

  How is the project data form included for proposals submitted via Grants.gov?

A Grants.gov proposal requiring a project data form will automatically be set as an in-progress proposal in Research.gov, and the proposer must access Research.gov to complete the form and submit the proposal in Research.gov. The proposer will not be able to check the status of the proposal until this information is provided in Research.gov and the complete proposal is submitted in Research.gov and accepted by NSF. See the Grants.gov Proposal Processing in Research.gov page and Grants.gov Proposal Processing in Research.gov how-to guide for more information.

  Will a program track or category be required on the project data form if the program selected doesn't have any corresponding program tracks or categories? 

No. The Program Track and Category fields are not required if there are no program tracks or categories that correspond to the program where the proposal will be submitted within NSF. In this scenario, the following read-only text will be displayed under the Program Track and/or Category section: Not applicable for the selected program.

  Does the Prime Organization Information section in my non-lead project data form refer to the lead proposal's organization information? 

No. The Prime Organization Information section in a non-lead collaborative proposal project data form refers to the prime/awardee organization for the non-lead proposal. The non-lead proposer should choose the appropriate selections based on the prime/awardee organization for its non-lead proposal when completing the Highest Degree and Institution Type fields.

  Should I add subaward organizations in the Add Other Organizations section in my project data form? 

Yes. The organizations that should be added in the Add Other Organizations section in your project data form are organizations involved in the project directly or through shared use of equipment, including subaward organizations. Subaward organizations should also be added on the Add Subaward Organizations page within the proposal to report any necessary budget information, personnel, and Senior/Key Personnel documents.

  What if I don't see the organization I’m trying to add in the search results in the Add Other Organizations section in my project data form? 

If you have entered text in the Organizations field and do not see the organization you want to add displayed in the search results, please try the following:

• Ensure you have entered the full organization name. The system will only display a maximum of 10 search results when entering text in the Organization(s)'field.
• If the organization you're attempting to add is still not displaying, click on the Add other organization: selection displayed at the very bottom of the search results. Selecting this option will allow you to add a custom organization that is not in the system.

  What should I do if I don't see the subdiscipline I want to select in the Subdiscipline drop-down after choosing a discipline? 

If you do not see the desired subdiscipline in the Subdiscipline selection drop-down, please select the Other (Specify) selection. Once selected, a text field will be displayed where you can enter a custom subdiscipline. This custom subdiscipline information will also display in the project data form PDF.

  What if my project doesn't apply to any of the strategic areas listed in the Strategic Area drop-down in the project data form? 

The Strategic Area section is an optional section in the project data form. If your project does not apply to any of the strategic areas listed in the drop-down, you do not need to make a selection in this section.

  Should I enter zero ('0') in the individual category fields in the Estimated Number of Individuals Involved if there are no individuals in the category that benefited/will benefit from the project? 

Yes. The system will require you to enter a value in all the individual categories within the Estimated Number of Individuals Involved section. If there are individual categories where no individuals were involved, enter zero ('0') in those fields. Leaving any individual category field blank will result in a compliance error message stopping proposal submission.

  What are the required sections in a project data form that must be completed before a single submission or a lead collaborative proposal can be submitted in Research.gov? 

The following sections in the project data form are required to be completed in a single submission and in a lead collaborative proposal before the proposal can be submitted in Research.gov:

• Program Track (if the program has corresponding program tracks that can be selected)
• Categories (if the program has corresponding categories that can be selected)
• Highest Degree
• Institution Type
• Are there other organizations involved in the project's operation question? (if Yes is selected, at least one organization must be provided)
• Primary Academic Focus Level
• Private Sector Participation
• Estimated Number of Individuals Involved (a value must be entered in all individual category fields within this section)

  What are the required sections in a project data form that must be completed before a non-lead collaborative proposal can be submitted in Research.gov? 

The following sections in the project data form are required to be completed in a non-lead collaborative proposal before the proposal can be submitted:

After a non-lead collaborative proposal is submitted, it will be held in a submission pending queue until all proposals in the collaboration have been submitted. When all proposals in the collaboration are in the submission pending queue, the non-lead proposal and the other proposals in the collaboration will be submitted to NSF.

  What information does a non-lead collaborative proposal project data form inherit from the lead collaborative proposal? 

The information below is inherited in the non-lead proposal project data form based on the information entered on the lead collaborative proposal project data form. The inherited information in the non-lead proposal project data form will be read-only on the Research.gov proposal preparation screen when preparing the non-lead proposal and will be reflected on the non-lead proposal project data form PDF. If information has not yet been entered on the lead collaborative proposal project data form, the following read-only text will display on the non-lead project data form for each section where the lead organization has not yet provided information: Not yet specified in the lead proposal.

• Program Track
• Other Organizations
• subdiscipline
• Audience(s)
• Strategic Area
• Project Feature(s)

  What if the information inherited from the lead collaborative proposal project data form does not display correctly in my non-lead proposal project data form? 

If the inherited information from the lead collaborative proposal project data form does not display correctly in the non-lead project data form, try refreshing the page by clicking the Refresh button in your web browser, Ctrl + F5 (Windows), or Command + Option + R (Mac) to reload the page. After reloading the page, the inherited information from the lead proposal project data form should display in your non-lead proposal project data form.

  Can a linked non-lead collaborative proposal be submitted before the lead collaborative proposal has entered in all data in the project data form? 

Yes. If the non-lead organization has provided the required data that the non-lead is responsible to provide in the project data form, the non-lead will be able to submit their proposal but it will be held in a submission pending queue until all proposals in the collaboration have been submitted. The information will be inherited in the non-lead proposal project data form after the lead organization provides data in each of the project data form sections.

  If a proposal file update is submitted for a lead collaborative proposal and changes have been made in the project data form, will the linked non-lead proposal(s) automatically inherit the updates in their project data form(s)? 

Yes. Proposal file updates made in the lead proposal project data form will be automatically inherited in the project data form for all non-lead proposals in the collaboration.

Single Copy Documents

  What are Single Copy documents? 

Certain categories of information submitted in conjunction with a proposal are for "NSF Use Only" and not provided to reviewers for use in the review of the proposal. Single Copy Documents include: Collaborators and Other Affiliations Information, Proprietary or Privileged Information, Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, Nature of Natural or Anthropogenic Event, Deviation Authorization, and Additional Single Copy Documents. Please see PAPPG, Chapter II.D.1.    for additional information about Single Copy Documents.

  How do I access the upload sections for Single Copy Documents such as Disclosure of Lobbying Activities, Proprietary or Privileged Information and Special Exception to the Deadline Date Policy?

Navigate to the proposal Cover Sheet and select the checkbox for the Single Copy Document you would like to add to your proposal and then save the Cover Sheet. At the top of the saved Cover Sheet, you will see a blue information message with a link to the added Single Copy Document upload section. Additionally, if you scroll down to the Other Information section of the Cover Sheet, you will see a clickable link below the checkbox you selected, and this link will also navigate you to the associated upload screen for the specified Single Copy Document.

  What is a Deviation Authorization and how do I include one in my proposal? 

A Deviation Authorization permits the proposer exceptions to the PAPPG standard proposal preparation requirements, per PAPPG Chapter II.A.1  . On the Deviation Authorization text entry screen, the proposer can provide either the program solicitation number or the name and title of the NSF official who authorized the deviation and the date of the authorization.

  What is a Proprietary or Privileged Information document and when should it be included in my proposal?

Patentable ideas, trade secrets, privileged or confidential commercial or financial information, disclosure of which may harm the proposer, should be included in proposals only when such information is necessary to convey an understanding of the proposed project. The checkbox for Proprietary or Privileged Information must be checked on the Cover Sheet when the proposal contains such information. While NSF will make every effort to prevent unauthorized access to such material, the Foundation is not responsible or in any way liable for the release of such material. Such information may be included as a separate statement and must be submitted as a Single Copy Document. Please refer to PAPPG Chapter II.D.1.c   

  I have uploaded a Proprietary or Privileged Information document, but don't I see it in the print preview of my proposal?

A Proprietary or Privileged Information Single Copy Document is not included as part of the printed proposal (or on the print preview screen) and is not shared with reviewers. This Single Copy Document can only be seen in the official system of record after proposal submission.

  What is a Disclosure of Lobbying Activities document and when should it be included in my proposal? 

The checkbox for Disclosure of Lobbying Activities must be checked on the Cover Sheet if, pursuant to the Lobbying certification provided in the System for Award Management (SAM), submission of the Form SF LLL is required. The SF LLL form can be downloaded from the Disclosure of Lobbying Activities upload screen. For more information, refer to PAPPG Chapter I.G.2.    and PAPPG Chapter II.D.1.d.   

  What is the Special Exception to the Deadline Date Policy checkbox and when should it be used? 

In the case of a natural or anthropogenic event, or other reason that interferes with an organization's ability to meet a proposal submission deadline, proposers are instructed to check the Special Exception to the Deadline Date Policy checkbox on the NSF Cover Sheet and, if available, upload written approval from the cognizant NSF Program Officer. Note that checking this box and uploading a Nature of Natural or Anthropogenic Event document will allow the proposer to submit the proposal after the listed deadline date, but acceptance is still at the discretion of the Program Officer. Please see PAPPG Chapter I.F.3.    for more information.

  I have uploaded a Nature of Natural or Anthropogenic Event document but why don't I see it in the print preview of my proposal?

A Nature of Natural or Anthropogenic Event Single Copy Document is not included as part of the printed proposal (or on the print preview screen) and is not shared with reviewers. This Single Copy Document can only be seen in the official system of record after proposal submission.

  Can a Special Exception to the Deadline Date be added as part of a proposal file update (PFU)/budget revision? 

No, a special exception to the deadline date and the corresponding Nature of Natural or Anthropogenic Event Single Copy Document must be added prior to proposal submission. The Nature of Natural or Anthropogenic document can be viewed when executing a proposal file update (PFU)/budget revision but cannot be added through this mechanism after a proposal has been submitted.

  When is the Additional Single Copy Documents Category Used?

Other Single Copy Documents that are seen only by NSF and not included in the proposal seen by reviewers should be uploaded as Additional Single Copy Documents and include:

• AOR designation of a substitute negotiator
• Other documents as specified in the relevant funding opportunity
• Documents without their own separate section

  When is a Mentoring Plan required and will the lead organization be notified if requested funding for a postdoctoral scholar(s) or graduate students is added to a non-lead proposal or a preliminary proposal?

For a separately submitted collaborative full proposal, a Mentoring Plan is required as part of a lead organization separately submitted collaborative proposal when funds are requested for postdoctoral scholars or graduate students in the lead organization proposal budget or in a linked non-lead organization proposal budget. Refer to the program solicitation for separately submitted collaborative preliminary proposal requirements related to the Mentoring Plan

The lead organization's PI, co-PI, and OAU will receive an email notifying them when requested funding for postdoctoral scholars or graduate students is added for the first time or is removed entirely from the collaborative proposal set.

  When is a Mentoring Plan required for a single submission full proposal with subaward or preliminary proposal?

For full single submission collaborative proposals (i.e., single submission proposal with subaward), a Mentoring Plan is required when funds are requested for postdoctoral scholars or graduate students in any of the proposal's budgets. Refer to the program solicitation for separately submitted collaborative preliminary proposal requirements related to the Mentoring Plan.

In Progress Proposal Statuses

  = Has access

Submitted Proposal Statuses

Proposal File Update/Budget Revision Statuses

Demo Site FAQs  

  What are the benefits of using the Research.gov proposal preparation demo site? 

The proposal preparation demo site provides the research community an opportunity to initiate and edit proposals as well as check compliance of uploaded proposal documents (e.g., Collaborators and Other Affiliations and Biographical Sketch) before preparing proposals in the actual Research.gov Proposal Submission System. The demo site also is accessible by NSF staff.

  What can users do in the proposal preparation demo site? 

All demo site users are able to perform the proposal preparation functions that a PI is able to perform in the actual Research.gov Proposal Submission System, such as initiating and editing proposals, uploading proposal documents, and adding budgets. The demo site does not support proposal submission and will not trigger any system-generated email notifications (e.g., link requests for separately submitted collaborative proposals).

Note that demo site proposals are not available in the actual Research.gov Proposal Submission System, and information cannot be transferred between the demo site and the actual Research.gov Proposal Submission System.

  How do I provide feedback about the proposal preparation demo site? 

The Give Feedback button is displayed on all demo site proposal pages for proposals created in the demo site. When this button is clicked, a new browser tab will open and displays the Research.gov Feedback page. Select the Prepare and Submit Proposals option under Site Area to submit feedback about the demo site. Demo site feedback from users will help NSF improve the site, as well as identify potential enhancements to improve the user experience when preparing proposals in the Research.gov Proposal Submission System.

  How does the research community access the proposal preparation demo site?

External users can access the demo site by following these steps:

• Navigate to Research.gov .
• Click "Sign In" located at the top right of the Research.gov page.
• Sign in to Research.gov using your primary email address, NSF ID, your organization-issued credentials, or Login.gov credentials. (Note: Only InCommon Federation participants can use their organization-issued credentials to sign in to Research.gov. If you are signing in with your organization-issued credentials, you will be prompted to link your credentials to your NSF ID if they are not already linked. If you are signing in with Login.gov credentials, you will be prompted to link your credentials to your NSF ID if they are not already linked.)
• From the top menu bar, select Prepare and Submit Proposals, then select Demo Site: Prepare Proposals.
• From the tiles on the page, select the Prepare and Submit Proposals tile, then select Demo Site: Prepare Proposals.

  How do I access the demo site if I am a new researcher and don't have an NSF ID? 

You will first need to create an NSF account and obtain an NSF ID by clicking Register on the Research.gov homepage to be able to access the demo site. View the Register for a New NSF Account video tutorial for a walk-through of steps. Additional information about creating an NSF account is available on the Research.gov About Account Management page . Users with an existing NSF account (i.e., nine-digit NSF ID) will use that account to access the demo site. After signing in to Research.gov, you will land on the homepage, where there are two ways to access the demo site.

  I signed in to Research.gov with my NSF ID but I'm not affiliated with an organization and I don't have any user role(s). Will this be an issue in accessing the demo site?

No, you are able to access the demo site if you have an NSF ID and can sign in to Research.gov. All demo site users are given the PI role for demo site use only and are not required to obtain a special user role to access the demo site. All demo users have the National Science Foundation as their organization for purposes of the demo site. The demo site PI role will not be available in the user's NSF account profile for use on the actual Research.gov Proposal Submission System.

  Will any of my user roles or affiliated organization(s) that I have in my NSF account profile be available to me in the demo site? 

The organization(s) that you are affiliated with in your NSF account profile will be incorporated when you are in the proposal preparation demo site, but the user role(s) that you have will not be available in the demo site. All users who access the demo site are given the role of PI, and unaffiliated users including NSF staff will be assigned National Science Foundation as their organization. Users with an affiliated organization in their NSF account profile will have that organization and the NSF organization incorporated in the demo site. All affiliated organizations will be included if the user is affiliated with multiple organizations.

  What user roles are supported in the proposal preparation demo site?

All demo site users have the PI role and can perform the same PI functions as in the actual Research.gov Proposal Submission System. The Proposed Postdoctoral Fellow role must be specifically added to prepare a postdoctoral fellowship proposal in the demo site. The demo site does not include the OAU, SPO or AOR roles.

  If I add a co-PI or OAU to a proposal by entering the individual's NSF ID in the demo site, will they be able to access the proposal if they sign into the demo site?

Yes. Any individual added to a demo proposal as a co-PI or OAU by entering the individual's NSF ID will be able to access that proposal in the demo site via the In Progress Proposals section on the Proposal Preparation demo site homepage. The permissions and available functions for the co-PI and OAU in the demo site are identical to the permissions and available functions for the co-PI and OAU in the actual Research.gov Proposal Submission System.

  If I share proposal access (i.e., view, edit, and/or submit) with an SPO/AOR on the demo site, will the SPO/AOR be able to view, edit, and/or submit the proposal?

No. All demo site users have the PI role and can perform the same PI functions as in the actual Research.gov Proposal Submission System. You will be able to go through the process of sharing proposal access (view, edit and/or submit) with the SPO/AOR, but the SPO/AOR will not be able to view, edit, and/or submit the proposal since SPO and AOR roles and proposal submission are not supported in the demo site. In addition, no system-generated email notifications will be created or sent to the SPO/AOR in the demo site.

  How do I prepare a postdoctoral fellowship proposal in the demo site?

You must first have the Proposed Postdoctoral Fellow role to initiate a postdoctoral fellowship proposal in the demo site. A Proposed Postdoctoral Fellow role is different than a PI role. Postdoctoral fellowship funding opportunities will only display and be available for selection for users preparing the proposal as a Proposed Postdoctoral Fellow.

After signing in to the Research.gov proposal preparation demo site, a message box will display with demo site information. From within the message box, click the 'Add a New Role' hyperlink. Proceed to complete the required information as appropriate. Once the Proposed Postdoctoral Fellow role has been added, allow up to 60 minutes for the system to process the request. Then you will need to sign out of Research.gov and sign back in again before initiating and preparing a postdoctoral fellowship proposal.

  Will I be able to add real subaward organization(s) in a demo site proposal?

Yes. You can add real subaward organization(s) to any proposal that’s created in the demo site. However, no system-generated email notifications will be created or sent to personnel affiliated to the subaward organization(s) when their organizations are added to your demo proposal.

  Are system-generated email notifications going to be sent as a result of performing certain actions in the demo site?

No. All system-generated email notifications are disabled in the demo site.

  Why can't I submit proposals in the demo site?

The proposal preparation demo site currently only supports the initiation, preparation, and editing of non-collaborative and collaborative proposals.

  How long will my demo proposal be available in the demo site? 

Proposals created in the demo site will be available for six months and then will be deleted by NSF. Neither NSF nor users will be able to access deleted demo proposal data. If your demo proposal was created within the previous six months and your proposal data is not visible, please contact the NSF IT Service Desk at 1-800-381-1532 (7:00 AM - 9:00 PM ET; Monday - Friday except federal holidays) or via  [email protected] for assistance.

  Are proposal compliance checks enabled in the demo site?

Yes. All compliance checks that are enabled in the actual Research.gov Proposal Submission System will also apply to proposals in the demo site. The demo site can be used to check compliance of uploaded proposal documents (e.g., Collaborators and Other Affiliations and Biographical Sketch). Refer to the Automated Compliance Checking of NSF Proposals    page for the current automated proposal checks.

  Are all proposal types and submission types available on the demo site? 

Yes, all proposal types and submission types in the actual Research.gov Proposal Submission System are also in the demo site. The demo site is a replica of the actual system. View the Proposal Submission Capabilities for details.

  Does the proposal data I create in the demo site appear or transfer into the actual Research.gov Proposal Submission System?

No. Proposal data created in the demo site will not be displayed in and cannot be transferred to the actual Research.gov Proposal Submission System. Proposal data created in the demo site is only available in the demo site.

  Will other users in the demo site be able to see the proposals I create in the demo site?

The only time other users will be able to view or edit any proposals that you create in the demo site is if you add them to the proposal as a co-PI or OAU by entering their NSF ID. If you don't add any users to the proposal, no one will else will be able to access, view, or edit your demo proposal.

  Can I link lead and non-lead proposals that are created in the demo site to lead and non-lead proposals in the actual Research.gov Proposal Submission System?

No. If you attempt to link a lead/non-lead proposal created in the demo site to a lead/non-lead proposal that was created in the actual Research.gov Proposal Submission System, you will receive an error and will not be able to link the proposals together. You are only able to link lead and non-lead proposals together that were created in the demo site and that are affiliated with different organizations.

Please click the following links to view videos which provide assistance with using functionality in the application:

  How to Manage Personnel and Senior Personnel Documents (3:01 minutes)

  How to Work on a Proposal Budget (2:30 minutes)

  How to Upload a Collaborators and Other Affiliations Document (1:34 minutes)

Research.gov Proposal Demo (16:58 minutes)

• Setting up a proposal
• Uploading a document and compliance messaging
• Preparing proposal file update (PFU)/budget revisions

  Research.gov Proposal Demo (22:49 minutes) 

• Preparing a letter of intent
• Preliminary proposal and accomplishment-based renewal proposal submission types
• Conference, Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI), and Planning proposal types

  Initiating a New Proposal

  Adding or Removing a co-PI and Other Senior Personnel

  Swapping PIs and co-PIs from Same Organization

  Adding or Removing an OAU

  Sharing Proposal and Proposal File Update/Budget Revision Access with SPO/AOR

  Entering Proposal Budgets

  Adding or Removing Subaward Organizations

  Adding or Removing Collaborators and Other Affiliations

  Deleting an In Progress Letter of Intent, Proposal, or Proposal File Update/Budget Revision

  Submitting Letters of Intent and Proposals

  Preparing Proposal File Updates

  Preparing Budget Revisions

  Submitting Proposal File Updates/Budget Revisions

  Preparing Updated Current and Pending (Other) Support

  Grants.gov Proposal Processing in Research.gov

  Postdoctoral Fellowship Reference Letter Submission (MSPRF and PRFB only)

NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG)

FAQs on Proposal Preparation and Award Administration Related to the PAPPG

NSF Biographical Sketch and Current and Pending (Other) Support pages

Automated Compliance Checking of NSF Proposals page

FastLane Decommissioning page

Grants.gov Proposal Processing in Research.gov page

Research.gov About Account Management page

Research.gov Account Management – Reviewer page

Research.gov About Proposal Preparation and Submission page

Research.gov Research.gov About Supplemental Funding Request Preparation and Submission page

Research.gov Proposal Preparation Demo Site (User prompted to sign into Research.gov if not already signed in)

Research.gov Supplemental Funding Request Demo Site (User prompted to sign into Research.gov if not already signed in)

Resources for LaTeX Users: https://github.com/nsf-open/nsf-proposal-latex-samples

SciENcv: Science Experts Network Curriculum Vitae (for preparation of biographical sketch and current and pending (other) support documents)

28+ SAMPLE Collaboration Proposal in PDF | MS Word | Google Docs | Apple Pages

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Step 1: stay polite and professional, step 2: introduce your business, step 3: make the proposal personal, step 4: elaborate on the collaborator’s role, share this post on your network, you may also like these articles, title project proposal.

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FREE 11+ Collaboration Proposal Sample [ Partnership, Review, Brand ]

The book “Global Project Management” stated that global projects are now the operating units which establish initial connections among various cross-border networks and depend on information flow across various business partners and stakeholders. As we see nowadays, there are many projects in global environments which involve people coming from different companies located in diverse countries and lands. But to be successful in collaboration, you need to effectively craft a compelling collaboration proposal. In this article, we will discuss beneficial steps of creating a collaboration proposal, plus we have various downloadable partnership proposal templates for you to use. Keep on reading!

Collaboration Proposal

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A collaboration proposal sample is an essential document that demonstrates collaborative goals, objectives, and plans developed by a project manager of a company with the aim of getting a meaningful collaboration project or business partnership with other companies or organizations.

According to the book “ Collaboration Tools for Project Managers ”, humans are predisposed to connect with each other, and while the barriers to entry were decreased, participation grew. In this matter, we suggest that you follow the simple steps below while freely using one of our collaboration proposal templates in this article analysis :

One of the primary factors that you need to consider in creating a partnership or collaboration proposal is specifying clear goal list , and solid objectives for your collaboration project.  Think carefully about the things you prioritize in your collaboration project and your vision in achieving your definite goals and objectives.

To build a good impression for your potential business partners, you need to fully describe the scope of work of your collaboration project. Howard Gardner said: “If you understand something well, you can represent it, describe it, embody it in several ways. Indeed, if you can only present it in one way, then your own mastery is likely to be tenuous.” You don’t need to use fancy words in your proposal . The main point here is you must fully represent and describe your ideas about the collaboration you want to execute. 

After you set direction and build your team for collaboration, you need to provide comprehensive action plans and align them with your key people, and practices based on a shared purpose statement . Communicate efficiently with each ember as you come up with crucial solutions to potential issues related to your collaboration project and implement them. Also, provide necessary information concerning the estimated budget of the collaboration .

Albert Einstein said: “Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” Thus, highlight the parts of the collaboration project and show its unique value and why it is apart from others. Make sure that your collaboration can positively influence many people and support their needs in some ways.  This is a vital point for many companies and organizations as they prefer to project work with business individuals or firms that have a unique perspective especially when it comes in creating a valuable product or service to the people. 

Include a sample brief description of your collaboration project by writing 2-3 paragraphs. Emphasize the main purpose and objectives of the collaboration, as well as the possible impact and benefits it would bring to both of you and the industry.

When writing for a collaboration project, the members of both teams, groups, or companies should have roles clearly assigned to them. Indicate the strengths and weaknesses of each member. Then, accept the opinions, comments, and suggestions from others. Maintain adaptability despite the differences. 

There are many things that you can offer collaboration to other business firms. When you want to collaborate with your favorite brands, try cross-promotion or interchanging of product promotion from a specific brand that you like to partner with. Try collaborating with influencers in social media, and take advantage of guest posting. Or make a podcast or interview series online. Attend networking events agenda as well.

The different types of collaboration are community collaboration, cloud collaboration, internal collaboration, network collaboration, strategic alliance, video collaboration, and many others.

When starting up a collaboration project, it can be a real challenge for the ones involved because managing a certain range of different personalities is way different compared to the usual. But due to converging technical trends and business drivers in our generation, many business analysis and organizations can easily move toward digital practices to enhance collaboration with each other.  So, get a collaboration proposal template today to start your collaboration project journey! 

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