Attracting financial support is a critical element of success in science, but we have entered a time of cost constraint with little hope of relief coming soon. For principal investigators, developing a broad base of research support is a valuable strategy for attaining financial stability for the laboratory. New investigators working on problems related to virulence and just beginning to build their careers and laboratories must attain NIH funding. But they should also look beyond that agency to the other federal organizations, state and regional agencies, and non-profits that support research. This review will discuss the general principles of how to understand funders, their intentions, and their funding programs. An investigator who grasps what drives the funders will be better able to write fundable proposals.