Grant templates

Free Word and Excel templates for the documents research teams write over and over: budgets, budget justifications, sponsor letters, data management plans, and a tracker for proposals and awards. Each one follows current sponsor instructions and downloads without a sign-up.

Budgets

Build and explain the numbers.

ExcelGrant Budget TemplateA five-year research grant budget in Excel that calculates fringe, the NIH salary cap, the MTDC base, and F&A automatically.View and download →WordBudget Justification TemplateA free budget justification (budget narrative) template for research grants, organized by the federal R&R budget categories, with example language for personnel, fringe, equipment, travel, other direct costs, subawards, and F&A.View and download →

Letters

Letters sponsors ask for, in the formats they expect.

WordLetter of Support Template for Grant ApplicationsA free letter of support template for NIH and other research grant applications, with collaborator and consultant versions, what NIH asks letters to include, and how NIH's move to letters of collaboration affects them.View and download →WordNSF Letter of Collaboration TemplateA free NSF letter of collaboration template using the single-sentence format in the NSF PAPPG, with rules on endorsements, where to upload, and the NIH version planned under NOT-OD-26-094.View and download →WordGrant Letter of Intent TemplateA free grant letter of intent (LOI) template with two versions: the short NIH letter of intent requested in many funding opportunities, and a foundation LOI that pitches the project before a full proposal.View and download →WordGrant Application Cover Letter TemplateA free cover letter template for NIH grant applications, with when a cover letter is required, what to include, who reads it, and why assignment requests now go on a separate form.View and download →WordNo-Cost Extension Request Letter TemplateA free no-cost extension request letter template for prior-approval extensions at NIH, NSF, DoD, and other sponsors, with a justification structure, required details, and reasons that do not qualify.View and download →

Plans

Required plans in the current sponsor format.

WordNIH Data Management and Sharing Plan TemplateA free NIH Data Management and Sharing (DMS) Plan template in the updated 2026 format required for due dates on or after May 25, 2026, with every element, word limits, and example answers.View and download →

Tracking

Keep proposals, awards, and deadlines in view.

ExcelGrant Tracking Spreadsheet TemplateA free grant tracking spreadsheet in Excel for proposals, active awards, and deadlines, with burn rate and time-elapsed formulas, days-until-due countdowns, and status flags.View and download →

Administration

Checklists for running awards from proposal to closeout.

WordGrant Management ChecklistA free grant management checklist for research awards, organized by stage: before submission, at award, during the award, and at closeout, with the deadlines and approvals that most often slip.View and download →