A Q&A with Natasha Goldman
MB: Do you believe that private foundation funding might play a larger role in funding biomedical research right now? If so, why?
NG: I think that major foundations have to be educated about biomedical needs. At present, I don’t think that most foundations have the academic background needed for this kind of partnership. But it’s possible. Education about need is everything.
MB: How might an applicant find foundation NOFOs (e.g., some universities use Pivot)?
NG: There are plenty of foundation subscription databases that provide information about foundation grant solicitations, such as InstrumentL and Foundation Search. Some companies are starting AI foundation searches, such as Grantx (I’m on their Advisory Board, so, full disclosure here!).
MB: How much overlap is there between federal and foundation grant applications?
NG: When we conduct training for grant writing, our assumption is that an applicant can use the training for applying to either foundation or federal grants. Every foundation and every federal agency provides slightly different instructions. But, at the end of the day, they all want the same things: What do you want to do? Why do you want to do it? How will you do it? Who will do it? How much will it cost?
MB: What elements would an applicant retain or change when converting a federal application to a foundation application?
NG: The applicant will likely have less space for text in a foundation application than in a federal application. The applicant will want to retain the basic structure of the project – but leave space to “make them cry” – add some emotion! There is no emotion in a federal grant: it’s dry, academic writing. Foundations often want their heartstrings pulled.
MB: Are there some federal agencies whose applications would be easier to convert to a foundation application? If so, why?
NG: I think that any can be converted – if they are a good fit for a specific foundation.
MB: Do you envision a role for AI in converting a federal application to a foundation application?
NG: If you have a long narrative section that needs to be cut down to, say, 30% of the original federal text, it would be useful to put the federal text into an AI and ask it to cut down. See if you like it. But only use a paid subscription AI – not a free one!
MB: How might review and time to award differ at a foundation (versus fed)?
NG: It really depends. The feds can take 6 to 9 months. Foundations can be faster, depending on when their committee meets.
MB: Do you have the sense that foundations are poised to play a larger role in the funding landscape? E.g., Might they be issuing NOFOs in DEI; might they be receiving more donations, etc?
NG: Some foundations, such as Mellon, have already publicly stated that they are ready to pick up some of the federal slack. And, yes, lots of foundations are pursuing DEI!! More donations are possible – but keep the stock market in mind.
MB: Should an applicant still apply for federal funding in parallel? (I recommend yes, but would love to hear your thoughts.)
NG: Absolutely. I’ve been asking clients if they have gotten federal awards after Feb. 2025, and I have heard “yes” from two clients. We are paying close attention to new federal solicitations released since Feb. 2025. I would be careful with “forecasted.” And some grants that were forecasted are already “archived,” which means that they won’t open again anytime soon.
MB: How would an applicant get started in converting some/all of a fed application to a private foundation application?
NG: Look closely at the foundation solicitation. Suss out what they ask: the “what, why, how, who, how much.” You’ll find those questions in both the federal and the foundation applications. Find those signposts, align the questions, and you’ll be able to convert one to the other.
MB: What happens if they receive the foundation award and later on, the fed agency funds the same/similar project (if applying in parallel)?
NG: Probably unlikely :)! They would have to talk to the program officers. They might be able to build out a bit of the project with one funder and another part of the project with the other. Did you ever apply to two fellowships and have to say “no” to one?! It’s painful, but if one funder can’t be flexible, it may be necessary to politely decline one award.
