[tjradcliffe]

A great deal of research funded by such organizations is done in combination with taxpayer funding, particularly with regard to infrastructure. As a cancer researcher I had funding from companies and foundations, but depended on my position in a tax-payer funded research lab to actually do the work.

[eru]

Also, as charities they probably get tax advantages.

[refurb]

By that measure, everything is gov't funded. Thankfully the courts don't see it that way.