What is SimplerNOFO?
This is part of a broader HHS initiative to make funding announcements:
- easier to read,
- easier to navigate,
- and easier to respond to.
NIH has started rolling out redesigned NOFOs using this format.
What changes will applicants notice?
A. Clearer structure
NIH is redesigning NOFOs with:
- more headings
- shorter paragraphs
- clearer instructions
- checklists
- visual organization
- simplified navigation
B. More user-friendly application instructions
The goal is to reduce confusion around:
- required sections
- submission steps
- eligibility
- review criteria
- attachments
This is especially helpful for:
- new investigators
- smaller institutions
- community partners
- first-time NIH applicants
C. Standardization across agencies
SimplerNOFO is part of a broader federal effort to create more consistency across grant announcements.
Expect future NIH NOFOs to gradually adopt:
- more standardized language
- more predictable layouts
- cleaner formatting
Why this matters strategically
For research development and grantsmanship training, this is actually a positive shift.
It aligns with many of the same principles you’ve been emphasizing in your own training work:
- reducing jargon,
- improving accessibility,
- simplifying grant navigation,
- and creating clearer guidance for faculty/staff.
This may also reduce some of the “hidden instruction” issues that historically trip up applicants in NIH NOFOs.
Learn more here: https://grants.nih.gov/news-events/nih-extramural-nexus-news/2026/05/implementing-simplernofo-at-nih-a-clearer-simpler-path-for-applicants