The term "funding agency" refers to an organization or institution that provides financial support for a particular project, program, or initiative. This can include government entities, private foundations, non-profit organizations, and other institutions that have resources available to allocate towards funding various causes. Funding agencies play a crucial role in helping to make ideas become reality by providing the necessary funds needed to carry out projects, research, programs or events. They often have specific criteria for determining which proposals they will support based on their mission and goals.