AI for Funding Impact: Why Health and Medical Research Can't Afford to Wait

By Belinda Collins

Australia's health and medical researchers are among the best in the world. They're pioneering treatments for dementia, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. But here's the uncomfortable truth: they're losing 30–40% of their time to grant applications—with success rates as low as 10%.

Picture a competitive funding round for dementia research. Within one institution, six eminent researchers each spend at least 70 hours on submissions—one a surgeon, one pioneering brain tissue growth, one trialling new medications. None succeed. That's 420 hours of highly specialised expertise lost in one institute, on one funding round alone.

Meanwhile, 3.6 million Australians will live with diabetes by 2050. Dementia will affect over 812,500 by 2054. Ischaemic heart disease remains our leading cause of premature death. The problems are urgent. We can't afford to have our brightest minds buried in paperwork.

The Philanthropy Opportunity

At the same time, we're entering an unprecedented moment for philanthropic funding. Over the next 20 years, up to $5.4 trillion will transfer between generations. Tech philanthropists are giving earlier, more, and differently. The Productivity Commission has set a target to double philanthropic giving by 2030.

But here's the challenge: fundraising teams are stretched thin. World-class talent is pulled into administrative tasks. Donors feel neglected because there aren't enough people to engage them. Funds are left on the table due to lack of capacity.

I've seen senior fundraisers—accomplished professionals—spend hours making sandwiches because there was no budget for donor engagement lunches. I've watched brilliant researchers take calls from cardiac surgeons in operating theatres, asking them to find time to write grant applications.

What's Now Possible

After 25 years in philanthropy, research funding, and social impact, I stepped back to explore whether generative AI could help. Not by replacing people—but by restoring them to their highest and best use.

The answer is yes. But only if we partner differently.

Sophisticated AI systems can now reduce grant preparation from weeks to hours. AI agents embedded with funder criteria and sector expertise can interview researchers, synthesise their work, and produce compelling first drafts aligned to government and philanthropic requirements.

We support health and medical researchers at a sandstone university to complete comprehensive drafts of their research funding applications in line with funder requirements—in 90% less time.

The same applies to philanthropic funding. When we supported a major health system to develop five tailored philanthropic submissions, we achieved 85% reduction in research time and 83% reduction in drafting time. Senior leadership focused on relationship stewardship while AI handled the groundwork.

The Opportunity for Funders

We appreciate that for funders, granting capital to the right projects is complex, time-consuming work. Reviewing applications, assessing alignment, and making confident decisions takes significant effort. We're here to make that process more seamless—for both those investing funds and those applying for them. When applications are clearer, stronger, and better aligned to funder priorities, everyone benefits.

A Call to Action

The AICD reports only 10% of purpose-led organisations regularly use generative AI, despite 75% of directors recognising its productivity potential. In a sector of 1.47 million people accounting for $222 billion, the productivity gap is vast.

This isn't about automation for its own sake. It's about freeing brilliant minds from the grind of applications so they can focus on the breakthroughs that matter. The cardiac surgeon should be in the operating theatre. The researcher should be in the lab. The fundraiser should be building relationships, not formatting documents.

The five-year window to 2030 is closing. The intergenerational wealth transfer is underway. The technology is here.

We exist to change the equation—so people doing great work can get back to the work that delivers meaning, value, and impact.

Belinda Collins is the Founder and CEO of Grant Force. She is a passionate Ambassador for Burnet Institute for Medical Research with 20 years experience raising funds for health and medical research through research, philanthropy and commercial channels.