Spencer Foundation AI policy

For applicants

• You may use generative AI to help produce letters of intent, pre-proposals and full proposals, but only as an assistive tool. You may not submit verbatim drafts of AI-generated content.[1]
• Using AI only to fix grammar, spelling and punctuation does not need to be disclosed.[1]
• You must disclose any generative AI use. The submission system has an AI disclosure checkbox, and if you used generative AI you must write a brief summary of how and where it was used.[1]
• AI tools cannot be listed as an author. You are responsible for the accuracy of everything you submit, including unintentional plagiarism or false information.[1]
• Spencer may reject proposals that show substantial evidence of generative AI use, especially when it was not disclosed.[1]
• Disclosing AI use will not count against you in review unless the AI content is used inappropriately, is inaccurate, or otherwise weakens the proposal.[1]

For reviewers

• Reviewers may not use generative AI to summarize, analyze or otherwise help evaluate proposals.[1]
• Reviewers found using generative AI may be barred from reviewing, and in some cases from applying for Spencer grants.[1]

Sources

1. [1]

   Policy on the Use of Generative AI at the Spencer Foundation

   Spencer Foundation

   “Applicants and grantees may not submit verbatim drafts of content generated by AI, rather generative AI may be used as an assistive tool rather than as a substitute author for applicants and grantees.”

   “Applicants and grantees may use artificial intelligence programs to enhance the grammar, spelling, and punctuation of their proposals. Assistive AI is commonly applied to the revision and editing process to improve readability. Disclosure of assistive AI is not required.”

   “Applicants and grantees are required to disclose the use of generative AI within their letters of intent, pre-proposals, full proposal submissions, and progress reports.”

   “are required to provide a brief summary of how and where generative artificial intelligence was used within the documents they have submitted.”

   “To reiterate, generative AI tools cannot be listed as an author. As a result, applicants and grantees are held responsible for the accuracy of all content within their submitted letters of intent, pre-proposals, proposals, and progress reports.”

   “The Spencer Foundation reserves the right to reject proposals that display substantial evidence of the use of generative AI, particularly in the cases where there has been no disclosure during the submission process.”

   “Applicants and grantees who disclose the use of generative AI will not be penalized in the review process for doing so, unless the content generated is used inappropriately, produces inaccuracies, or otherwise negatively impacts the proposal.”

   “reviewers are not permitted to use generative artificial intelligence to summarize, analyze, or otherwise assist in evaluating proposals.”

   “Reviewers found using generative artificial intelligence in their review process may be barred from reviewing. In some cases, they may also be barred from applying for a Spencer grant at the discretion of the Foundation.”

   “When submitting these documents through the Foundation’s online submission system, applicants and grantees will find an AI disclosure checkbox”