What you set up once
Citation style
Choose APA 7, MLA, Chicago, or IEEE. AI drafts, literature reviews, and reference lists follow it, from the in-text citations to the order of the reference list.
Writing samples
Add up to 3 samples of your own writing. Paste them in or upload a PDF, Word, or text file. The AI reads the opening paragraphs of each to match how you write.
Organization documents
Add up to 10 strategic plans, needs assessments, or annual reports, as files or links. GrantCopilot summarizes each one, and AI drafts use those summaries for your mission, programs, and numbers.
Four citation styles, applied everywhere
| Style | In-text citation | Reference list |
|---|---|---|
| APA 7 | (Lee et al., 2023) | Alphabetical by first author |
| MLA | (Lee et al.) | Works Cited, alphabetical |
| Chicago | (Lee et al. 2023) | Author-date, alphabetical |
| IEEE | [1] | Numbered in citation order |
Sources the AI suggests are checked against Crossref, and drafts cite only sources in your annotated bibliography, which you build alongside an NSF or NIH logic model.
How to set up your writing style
Step 1
Pick your citation style
Open Settings and choose the style your funder or field uses. APA 7 is the default.
Step 2
Add writing samples
Paste or upload a few pages you wrote, such as the need statement from a funded proposal.
Step 3
Add organization documents
Upload or link your strategic plan, needs assessment, or annual report.
Step 4
Write with AI
Draft any section. The draft cites in your style, sounds like your samples, and uses facts from your documents.
Frequently asked questions
Which citation styles does GrantCopilot support?
APA 7th edition (the default), MLA 9th edition, Chicago 18th edition author-date, and IEEE. The style you choose applies to AI drafts, literature reviews, and reference lists in every proposal.
Does the AI make up citations?
No. Every source the AI suggests is checked against its Crossref record before it is saved, and the citation details come from that record, not from the AI. Text written into your proposal cites only sources in your annotated bibliography. When a claim needs support you do not have yet, the draft marks it as needing a source instead of inventing one.
What makes a good writing sample?
A few pages of your strongest recent grant writing, such as the need statement or project description from a funded proposal. The AI reads the opening paragraphs of each sample, so start each one with the passage that sounds most like you.
Do writing samples change how formal my draft is?
No. Samples shape how the text sounds: word choice, phrasing, and rhythm. The level of formality still follows the funder, so NIH and NSF drafts stay at a graduate academic level even if a sample is more casual.
How does the AI use my organization documents?
GrantCopilot reads each document and writes a summary. AI drafts use those summaries for facts about your mission, programs, and results, and proposal analysis checks your draft against them. For uploaded files, GrantCopilot keeps the text it reads, not the file itself.
Do I need a paid plan?
You can set up your citation style, writing samples, and documents at any time. Writing with AI needs a paid plan or the 7-day free trial.