Grant makers often reluctant to fund indirect costs

For biomedical nonprofits that rely on philanthropy, raising research grants is only half the battle.
Many philanthropists, be they individuals or large foundations, want to find cures for big diseases or affordable treatments for common ailments that afflict the poor. These same donors tend to be less excited about funding “indirect” costs like overhead, program managers and other science-free but necessary infrastructure.
And there is the rub, a rub that has chafed all kinds of nonprofits, not just those in the biomedical research arena.