Write competitive NSF grant proposals with AI assistance
GrantCopilot helps researchers write NSF proposals with directorate-specific templates, AI-powered feedback on Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts, and PAPPG compliance tracking for page limits and required sections.
Transparent Pricing
After your trial, GrantCopilot is $24/month per user plus applicable taxes.
NSF-specific templates
Write Project Summary, Intellectual Merit, Broader Impacts, and Data Management Plans with templates built for what NSF reviewers evaluate.
Directorate-specific guidance
Get tailored prompts and requirements for BIO, CISE, ENG, GEO, MPS, SBE, EDU, and TIP directorates.
PAPPG compliance tracking
Track page limits, SciENcv requirements, required documents, and NSF formatting rules as you build your proposal.
How GrantCopilot helps NSF applicants
Structured proposal writing
Complete each section with guided templates for Project Summary, Project Description, References Cited, Budget Justification, Facilities, and all required supplementary documents.
AI writing assistance
Get AI-powered feedback on your Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts statements, suggestions for strengthening your research narrative, and help articulating your methodology.
Multiple proposal types
Access templates for Research, RAPID, EAGER, RAISE, GOALI, Planning, Conference, CAREER, and SBIR/STTR proposals with type-specific requirements, page limits, and budget caps.
NSF proposal structure and components
Compass provides structured templates for all major NSF proposal sections, helping you organize your application and meet PAPPG formatting requirements without juggling multiple documents.
Project Summary (1 page)
Craft a concise summary with distinct Overview, Intellectual Merit, and Broader Impacts paragraphs — missing any triggers return without review.
Project Description (15 pages)
Structure your research plan to address both merit review criteria, include Results from Prior NSF Support, and stay within the page limit for your proposal type.
Budget & Justification (5 pages)
Build detailed budget justifications with personnel effort, equipment, travel, participant support costs, and indirect cost calculations aligned with PAPPG guidelines.
Data Management Plan (2 pages)
Describe data types, metadata standards, repository selection, access policies, and preservation strategies required for every NSF proposal.
Biosketches & Current Support
Draft SciENcv-format biosketches and Current & Pending Support documents with professional preparation, synergistic activities, and appointment history.
Support for every NSF proposal type
Each proposal type has different page limits, budget caps, and required documents. GrantCopilot applies the correct rules automatically based on your selection.
Research (Standard)
Standard research proposals with 15-page Project Description, full budget, and external merit review. The most common NSF submission type.
CAREER Awards
Early-career faculty proposals integrating research and education plans over five years. Requires department chair letter and institutional commitment.
RAPID & EAGER
Time-sensitive (RAPID, 5 pages, up to $200K) and high-risk/high-reward (EAGER, 8 pages, up to $300K) proposals with internal review and Program Officer concurrence.
RAISE & GOALI
Interdisciplinary proposals up to $1M (RAISE) and university-industry partnerships (GOALI) with specific collaboration and IP agreement requirements.
Conference & Planning
Conference proposals with required content bullets and participant support costs. Planning proposals up to $100K/year for team development.
SBIR & STTR
Small business innovation research proposals with commercialization plans, customer discovery, eligibility attestations, and partnership requirements.
Guidance across NSF directorates
Biological and computer sciences
BIO, CISE
Templates highlight field-specific Broader Impacts such as undergraduate research programs, data sharing practices, and community science initiatives.
Guidance on computational resource justification, software sustainability, and data repository selection.
Help structuring proposals for interdisciplinary work across biological and computational domains.
Engineering and geosciences
ENG, GEO
Templates for infrastructure, environmental, and earth systems research with field safety considerations.
Safe and Inclusive Working Environments (SIWE) plan templates for off-campus and field-based research.
Guidance on equipment justification, facilities descriptions, and collaborative proposal structures.
Math, physical, social, and education
MPS, SBE, EDU, TIP
Templates for mathematical proofs, experimental design, survey methodology, and education research frameworks.
Guidance on broadening participation plans, K-12 partnerships, and STEM education outreach.
Support for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships proposals including translational research and use-inspired science.
Frequently asked questions
Which NSF proposal types does GrantCopilot support?
GrantCopilot provides templates for standard Research proposals, CAREER awards, RAPID, EAGER, RAISE, GOALI, Planning, Conference, and SBIR/STTR proposals. Each template includes type-specific page limits, budget caps, required documents, and PAPPG-aligned compliance notes.
How does GrantCopilot help with Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts?
Templates provide structured frameworks for both merit review criteria. For Intellectual Merit, you get prompts for novelty, rigor, and feasibility. For Broader Impacts, you get guidance on education, outreach, broadening participation, and societal benefits — with concrete examples rather than vague statements.
Does GrantCopilot track NSF formatting and compliance rules?
Yes. GrantCopilot tracks page limits for each proposal type, SciENcv requirements for biosketches and Current & Pending Support, Data Management Plan inclusion, Mentoring Plan requirements (for postdocs and graduate students), and SIWE plan needs — all aligned with the current PAPPG.
Can I use GrantCopilot for collaborative NSF proposals?
You can build your portion of a collaborative proposal with GrantCopilot, including lead and subaward budget structures. Export your proposal as a PDF to share with co-PIs and institutional offices for review. Multi-user simultaneous editing is planned for a future release.
How does directorate-specific guidance work?
When you select your target directorate (BIO, CISE, ENG, GEO, MPS, SBE, EDU, or TIP), GrantCopilot adjusts template prompts to reflect that directorate's priorities and common Broader Impacts approaches. Division-level selection further refines guidance for your specific research area.