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The Funding Beat

Grant opportunities and insights for life science and health-focused organizations, dropping every month.

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Melanie

Three funders besides NIH, and the one thing each of them wants that NIH never asks for.

Stop treating NSF and ARPA-H like NIH with a different logo.

Melanie Das

Nonprofits

Grant, Contract, Cooperative Agreement, Other Transactions, Oh My!

Sep 18, 2026

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7 min read

Grant, Contract, Cooperative Agreement, Other Transactions, Oh My!

The money may look the same. The terms definitely aren’t.

Melanie Das

Before you can apply, you have to exist on four systems.

Sep 11, 2026

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6 min read

Before you can apply, you have to exist on four systems.

Six weeks, minimum. Start this week if January 5 is your target.

Melanie Das

Nonprofits

There Is No Payline Anymore. Here's How to Handle That.

Sep 8, 2026

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4 min read

There Is No Payline Anymore. Here's How to Handle That.

What reviewers score, what they don't, and why your institute fit now matters more than ever.

Melanie Das

Nonprofits

Six Doors: A Founder's Map of Non-Dilutive Funding

Sep 7, 2026

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5 min read

Six Doors: A Founder's Map of Non-Dilutive Funding

Six funding paths, three questions to narrow them down, and the mistake of waiting on just one.

Melanie Das

Nonprofits

Sep 4, 2026

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5 min read

You submitted. Here is what happens.

Two assignments, one deadline you already missed, and the one lever you still have.

Melanie Das

Nonprofits

Mailbag: Can I submit the same project to two agencies?

Aug 28, 2026

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5 min read

Mailbag: Can I submit the same project to two agencies?

Yes. And there is a right way and a way that gets you withdrawn.

Melanie Das

Just because you have it, doesn’t mean you need to use it (or...how to choose which data to present)

Aug 21, 2026

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5 min read

Just because you have it, doesn’t mean you need to use it (or...how to choose which data to present)

Two figures aimed at the actual risk > six figures just showing you can run a Western.

Melanie Das

Nonprofits

The three budget mistakes I see in almost every first-time SBIR.

Aug 14, 2026

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5 min read

The three budget mistakes I see in almost every first-time SBIR.

Three of them, actually. All three cost you money you were entitled to.

Melanie Das

Archive

Three funders besides NIH, and the one thing each of them wants that NIH never asks for.

Grant, Contract, Cooperative Agreement, Other Transactions, Oh My!

Before you can apply, you have to exist on four systems.

There Is No Payline Anymore. Here's How to Handle That.

Six Doors: A Founder's Map of Non-Dilutive Funding

You submitted. Here is what happens.

Mailbag: Can I submit the same project to two agencies?

Just because you have it, doesn’t mean you need to use it (or...how to choose which data to present)

The three budget mistakes I see in almost every first-time SBIR.

The Funding Beat