Funding and Support Descriptions
WHERE IT COMES FROM
FY 2021 Appropriations by Account - $ 9,087 million
Appropriation |
$ in Millions |
Percent of total |
|---|---|---|
| Research & Related Activities (R&RA) | 7,347 | 81% |
| Education & Human Resources (EHR) | 1,029 | 11% |
| Major Research Equipment & Facilities Construction (MREFC) | 387 | 4% |
| Agency Operations & Award Management (AOAM) | 301 | 3% |
| National Science Board (NSB) | 18 | < 1% |
| Office of Inspector General (OIG) | 5 | < 1% |
Note: Totals may not add due to rounding.
$29 million of annual appropriated funding was transferred from R&RA to AOAM.
Totals include $600 million in American Rescue Plan Act (P.L. 117-2) funding: $467 million to R&RA, $61 million to EHR, $60 million to MREFC and $12 million to AOAM.
WHERE IT GOES - INSTITUTIONS FUNDED BY NSF
FY 2021 Obligations for Research and Education Programs $8,262 million
INSTITUTIONS FUNDED BY NSF |
$ in Millions |
Percent of total |
|---|---|---|
| Colleges, Universities, and Academic Consortia | 6,594 | 80% |
| Private Industry (includes small businesses and non-profit organizations) | 1,047 | 13% |
| Other (includes government entities (federal, state, and local) and international organizations) | 322 | 4% |
| Federally Funded Research & Development Centers | 298 | 4% |
Note: NSF Research and Education programs include - R&RA, EHR, and MREFC appropriations.
Totals may not add due to rounding.
HOW IT GETS THERE - NSF AWARD MECHANISMS
FY 2021 Obligations for Research and Education Programs $8,292 million
AWARD MECHANISMS |
$ in Millions |
Percent of total |
|---|---|---|
| Grants | 5,913 | 72% |
| Cooperative Agreements | 2,002 | 24% |
| Contracts | 347 | 4% |
Note: NSF Research and Education programs include - R&RA, EHR, and MREFC appropriations.
Totals may not add due to rounding.
HOW IT IS SPENT
Number of NSF Competitive Proposals, New Awards, and Funding Rates
|
Fiscal Year |
Competitive Proposals |
Awards |
Funding Rate (percent) |
|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2017 | 49,425 | 11,456 | 23% |
| FY 2018 | 48,336 | 11,717 | 24% |
| FY 2019 | 41,033 | 11,252 | 27% |
| FY 2020 | 42,726 | 12,171 | 28% |
| FY 2021 | 43,617 | 11,349 | 26% |
Note: New awards are a subset of competitive proposals.
NSF Support of Academic Basic Research in Selected Fields (as a percentage of total federal support)
| All Science and Engineering Fields | 24% |
|---|---|
| Computer Science | 79% |
| Mathematics | 71% |
| Biology | 65% |
| Social and Psychological Sciences | 65% |
| Environmental Sciences | 61% |
| Engineering | 45% |
| Physical Sciences | 37% |
Note: Biology includes Biological Sciences and Environmental Biology. Biology and Psychological Sciences exclude National Institutes of Health funding from the total amount of federal support.
Source: NSF/National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Federal Funds for Research & Development, FY 2019.