NSF Research Grants — Broader Impacts
The mandatory Broader Impacts criterion is a core component of all NSF proposals. Reviewers assess it alongside Intellectual Merit with equal weight.
Scheme details
- Funding range
- Highly variable by program · standard research grants: $100K–$500K/year direct costs · 3–5 years
- Career stage
- All career stages
- Scheme type
- Individual
- Eligibility
- US-based researchers at eligible institutions (universities, non-profits, companies). Open to all career stages. Broader Impacts is a criterion within the full proposal, not a separate call.
- Format & limits
- Project Summary: max 4,600 characters across 3 boxes (Overview, Intellectual Merit, Broader Impacts) · Broader Impacts narrative: 1–2 pages within the 15-page Project Description limit
- Deadline
- Date TBC Program-dependent · check specific NSF program solicitation for deadline
View official scheme page
https://www.nsf.gov/od/oia/special/broaderimpacts/
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Last updated: 2026-05-28
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