The National Science Foundation affords awardees the opportunity to request supplemental funding to existing awards to address the challenges related to balancing family/dependent care responsibilities and a career in STEM fields.

Career-Life Balance (CLB) Supplements may be requested for the following purposes:

  • To support additional personnel to sustain research when the PI, co-PI, or other member of the Senior Personnel is on family leave
  • To support additional personnel to sustain research while a postdoctoral researcher or graduate student being supported by NSF on the award is on family leave (applies to fellowship awards made to institutions, as well (e.g., Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP))

Supplemental funding requests may include:

  • Funding for up to 6 months of salary or stipend support (up to $30,000) for a technician, research assistant or equivalent
  • Fringe benefits (if applicable)
  • Associated indirect costs

Supplemental funding requests may NOT:

  • Exceed the duration of the family leave
  • Include tuition fees

CLB supplement requests must be submitted via NSF’s electronic systems with Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) approval and may take up to two months to process. Please contact your pre-award administrator for assistance.

Special Instructions for CLB Supplemental Funding Requests

  1. Clearly specify that this is a CLB supplemental funding request
  2. Provide a description of how the additional personnel would be used to sustain the research effort
  3. Provide a budget and budget justification
  4. Identify the proposed period of performance for the additional personnel
  5. Include the following statement: The Authorized Organizational Representative hearby certifies that the request for a technician (or equivalent) is because the (PI/co-PI/senior investigator/Fellow/postdoctoral researcher/graduate student) is, or will be, on family leave status (or equivalent) from the institution in accordance with the institution’s policies. The Authorized Organizational Representative also affirms that it is able to fill the position for which funding is being requested, in an appropriate timeframe.
  6. For GRFP awards, include a letter from the Fellow’s faculty advisor supporting the funding request