Below you will find brief overviews of the research data sharing policies of 3 major federal institutions. Please use the links provided to access up-to-date sharing requirements. Also provided below is a resource that provides access to research data sharing policies for a broader list of federal agencies.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) – Data Management and Sharing Policy
The NIH requires researchers to submit a Data Management and Sharing Plan (DMS Plan) for all NIH-funded research that generates scientific data. The policy emphasizes that data should be shared as openly as possible, while respecting legal, ethical, and privacy considerations. The DMS Plan must describe how data will be managed, shared, and preserved during and after the research project. Compliance with the approved plan is mandatory for all researchers receiving NIH funding.
More information: NIH Data Management & Sharing Policy
National Science Foundation (NSF) – Data Management Plan Requirement
The NSF requires all proposals to include a Data Management Plan (DMP) outlining how research data will be managed and shared. The DMP should describe the types of data produced, standards for data and metadata, access and sharing practices, policies for reuse, and plans for preservation. While the NSF does not prescribe exactly how data should be shared, it expects researchers to follow best practices for open and responsible dissemination.
More information: NSF Data Management Plan Requirements
National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) – Public Access Policy
The NEH Public Access Policy requires that peer-reviewed publications and digital data arising from NEH-funded research be made publicly available immediately upon publication. The policy outlines expectations for data management plans, data sharing, and the use of trusted repositories. The goal is to increase transparency and accessibility of humanities research outputs, while accommodating discipline-specific needs and privacy concerns.
More information: NEH Public Access Policy
Additional Data Sharing Requirements by Federal Agency (Provided by SPARC)
More information: https://researchsharing.sparcopen.org/data/