Report Your Progress and Outcomes

Project reports

NSF requires you to complete three types of project reports for your NSF-funded project:

Annual reports.
Final annual reports.
Project outcomes report for the general public.

Annual project reports are prepared each year. They are typically due no later than 90 days before the end of the current reporting budget period of a project.

Annual project reports cover that year's activities related to the funded project as well as broader impacts work which may not be intrinsic to the research.

For reporting timeline specifics and other information about the annual reporting process refer to PAPPG VII.D.1.

Annual project reports must be submitted in Research.gov.

Your final annual project report should only refer to the final funded year of your project — it is not a cumulative report. It is due no later than 120 days following the end date of your NSF award.

The guidelines in PAPPG VII.D.2 outline what should be included, as well as the timeline for submitting your final annual project report.

Final annual project reports must be submitted in Research.gov.

This report serves as a summary of no more than 800 words on the nature and outcomes of your project, written for a public audience. It is due no later than 120 days following the end date of your NSF award.

This report will be posted publicly by NSF exactly as it is submitted. It should not contain confidential or proprietary information.

Full details of what should be included in your project outcomes report and when it should be submitted can be found in PAPPG VII.D.3.

Project outcomes reports must be submitted in Research.gov.

Depositing publications in NSF's Public Access Repository

NSF's public access policy requires that certain publications and juried conference papers be deposited and made available within 12 months of publication in the NSF Public Access Repository (PAR).

NSF has provided a detailed frequently asked questions page to assist you with your public access needs.

Note: In concordance with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy's August 2022 memo, NSF's public access policy is currently being updated; visit NSF's Public Access Initiative for updates.

View additional guidance on Research.gov

Reporting significant discoveries and accomplishments

It is very important to inform your NSF program officer about significant discoveries in your research or your accomplishments in broader impacts; you should not wait for your annual project report to communicate these accomplishments to NSF.

NSF also requests advance notification of any high-profile publications or high-profile media coverage of your work. Journal embargoes do not preclude you from notifying NSF immediately of these upcoming activities.

Contact your NSF program officer about these activities or if you have any questions.

Report Your Progress and Outcomes

Manage Your Award

On this page

Project reports

Depositing publications in NSF's Public Access Repository

Reporting significant discoveries and accomplishments

Report Your Progress and Outcomes

Manage Your Award

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On this page

Project reports

Depositing publications in NSF's Public Access Repository

Reporting significant discoveries and accomplishments