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Scientists Stunned as Medical Non-Profit Group Abruptly Ends Research Grants (nature.com)

A major US non-profit group focused on improving child health has abruptly terminated US$3 million in research grants -- leaving nearly 40 scientists confused, angry and scrambling to secure new funding. From a report: On 24 July, 37 grant recipients received an e-mail from the March of Dimes Foundation in New York City informing them that their 3-year grants had been cut off, retroactively, starting on 30 June. Many of the researchers were only a year into their projects, and had had just enough time to hire and train staff, purchase supplies and generate preliminary results. Now, several say that they might need to lay off employees, euthanize lab animals and shelve their research projects if they cannot find other funding -- fast. The March of Dimes, which is supported largely by individual donations, made the decision to revoke the grants because of a budget shortfall, says Kelle Moley, the group's chief scientific officer. "I know this is harsh news," Moley says. "As a former grantee, this would be devastating to me as well." That is small consolation to many researchers whom Nature spoke to.

4 of 168 comments (clear)

  1. Re:How about trimming the top level MOD? by xfade551 · · Score: 3, Informative

    So, these guys have sent me mailers on around 5 different occasions with an actual dime attached asking for donations (I have not donated to them before, but they probably picked up my name and address from one or another multi-org cheritable donation campaigns I have donated through). $0.10 given out to huge numbers of people adds up fast! This has to be the financially stupidest way possible to try to get to new donations.

  2. dimes for some by guygo · · Score: 3, Informative

    March of Dimes for you, March of Millions fro the CEO and cronies.

  3. Re:How about trimming the top level MOD? by bws111 · · Score: 4, Informative

    According to charitynavigtor, 75.5% of their money is spent on program, 10.7% is 'administrative', and 13.6% is on fundraising (it costs them $0.15 to raise $1).

  4. Re:How about trimming the top level MOD? by bws111 · · Score: 3, Informative

    Right, but the OP didn't say 37% was spent in 'non program expenses', he said 37% was 'salary and benefits', which is pure BS.