The Citizen Science Seed Funding Program (CSSFP), designated as F.9 in NASA's Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) 2021 solicitation, is designed to support the initiation and critical transitions of citizen science projects. These projects are typically in their early stages, such as during their first launch, beta testing, or when they are shifting scientific direction. The program aims to foster the development of citizen science initiatives by providing funding for up to one year. Proposals for the CSSFP are limited to a six-page Science/Technical/Management section. ([science.nasa.gov](

Purpose and Scope of the CSSFP

The primary objective of the CSSFP is to incubate citizen science projects during pivotal phases of their development. This includes the initial launch phase, where the first group of volunteers is invited to participate, and during critical transitions, such as when a project changes its scientific direction. The program is not intended for projects that are solely focused on creating tools for citizen science or those whose primary purpose is outreach, education, engineering, or software development. Instead, it seeks to support projects that have clear scientific goals and are open to new volunteers. ([science.nasa.gov](

Amendment 63: Proposal Due Date Delay

On January 12, 2022, NASA issued Amendment 63 to the ROSES-2021 solicitation, which delayed the proposal due date for the CSSFP. The new deadline for submitting proposals was set to February 15, 2022. This amendment was part of a series of updates to the ROSES-2021 solicitation, which included changes to various program elements. The delay in the proposal due date was communicated through the NASA research opportunity homepage and the SARA's ROSES blog. ([science.nasa.gov](

Subsequent Amendments and Proposal Due Dates

Following Amendment 63, NASA continued to update the CSSFP through subsequent amendments in the following years. Notably, Amendment 14 to the ROSES-2025 solicitation reset the proposal due date to January 22, 2026, after an earlier amendment had set the date to "TBD" due to a lapse in government funding. These amendments reflect NASA's ongoing commitment to supporting citizen science initiatives and ensuring that the program remains responsive to the needs of the scientific community. ([science.nasa.gov](

Program Participation and Eligibility

The CSSFP is open to a wide range of participants, including scientists, educators, and other experts interested in developing citizen science projects. The program encourages the inclusion of students, provided that the main goals of the proposed investigation are to achieve scientific results rather than educational impacts. Proposals must demonstrate that the team possesses appropriate expertise to conduct science and to foster broad participation, communication, and dissemination of results. Additionally, the program emphasizes the importance of open participation, requiring that projects be made open to new volunteers. ([science.nasa.gov](

Impact and Future of the CSSFP

The CSSFP plays a crucial role in advancing citizen science by providing the necessary support for projects during their formative stages. By offering seed funding, NASA enables these projects to develop and mature, leading to scientific results that can be published in peer-reviewed journals. The program's focus on open participation and broad dissemination ensures that the benefits of citizen science are accessible to a wide audience. As NASA continues to update and refine the CSSFP through various amendments, the program is expected to remain a vital component of the agency's efforts to engage the public in scientific research and to foster innovation in the field of citizen science. ([science.nasa.gov](

Sources

  • NASA Science — Amendment 63: Citizen Science Seed Funding Program Delay of Proposal Due Date —
  • NASA Science — Amendment 14: F.9 Citizen Science Seed Funding Program proposal due date reset to January 22, 2026 —
  • NASA Science — Amendment 58: F.9 Citizen Science Seed Funding Program Revision —
  • NASA Science — The planning start date for F.9 Citizen Science Seed Funding Program has changed. —
  • NASA Science — ROSES-25: F.9 Citizen Science Seed Funding Program Proposals Due 22 January 2026 —