A data management plan (DMP) is a required component of a grant proposal for most federal funding agencies and some private agencies as well.

Some funders use alternate names for plans, such as:

• Data Sharing Plan
• Resource Sharing Plan
• Data Management and Sharing Plan
  
  

Each funding directorate has certain required headings that address data management best practices. 

Data management is required by funders to facilitate data sharing.

Since 2013, it has been a requirement that large government research funders in the U.S. provide public access to the results of research. This includes both articles and underlying research data.

Funders outline requirements for managing data so that it will be easier for interested members of the public to find and use. Often these users are other researchers or teachers, but the mandate requires data to be accessible to the general public.