The relationship between researchers and funders is complicated. Some people think that researchers should be left to their own direction and that all financial support should be ‘no-strings attached.’ But is that possible? Is it desirable? We look at how the Roman Coliseum was funded, and ask ‘what impact did that have on its design and its use?’ Then we turn our attention to NASA --- is the space agency funded by the military? Should it be? And how has its unique funding arrangement impacted what it does? Finally we’ll confront the thorny question of ‘how much influence should funding agencies have over research?’