Whether it's academia, government organs, charities, or other ... if you want funding for your research, you have to find someone who:
a) has money, and
b) is willing to finance your research.
If research is done with tax money, it's understandable taxpayers will want a say in it, and their ever-changing whims will be reflected in what they choose to fund. Since this involves politicians, you can expect consequences in that direction (i.e. a political angle even when there needn't be one, involvement of K Street either for or against you, etc).
If research is done with other resources, again, it's a matter of finding someone who has money and is willing to let you use it. So networking, and getting to know generous wealthy people, or wealthy people with a motive to give for a certain kind of research, is a smart way for someone in your org to spend time.
This doesn't necessarily sound so bad; it sounds like it's simply the way the world works.
Even Columbus - who financed his exploration with European monarch's money - had to justify it as financially worthwhile for them to do so.
a) has money, and
b) is willing to finance your research.
If research is done with tax money, it's understandable taxpayers will want a say in it, and their ever-changing whims will be reflected in what they choose to fund. Since this involves politicians, you can expect consequences in that direction (i.e. a political angle even when there needn't be one, involvement of K Street either for or against you, etc).
If research is done with other resources, again, it's a matter of finding someone who has money and is willing to let you use it. So networking, and getting to know generous wealthy people, or wealthy people with a motive to give for a certain kind of research, is a smart way for someone in your org to spend time.
This doesn't necessarily sound so bad; it sounds like it's simply the way the world works.
Even Columbus - who financed his exploration with European monarch's money - had to justify it as financially worthwhile for them to do so.