"In an ideal world, the pre-award process would be transparent, easily understood, and equitable. There would be equal access for all researchers to information about funding opportunities, along with tailored support to meet a range of needs, including those of underrepresented academics. There would be plenty of time and resources allocated for applications, and appropriate training for those in decision-making positions. You probably won’t be surprised to learn that, sadly, things look very different in the real world."

https://scholarlykitchen.sspnet.org/2023/09/12/inequities-in-grant-funding-start-early-how-can-we-address-them/