I have a startup that is tackling a climate-change related problem and am planning on incorporating both a "scientific" 501(c)3 and a for-profit company (it might be an LLC, or it might be a C-corp -- it's not decided yet). Both organizations will be serving and supporting the same public interest activity. The non-profit will focus on advocacy and research and development. The for-profit will build and manage the manufacturing plants (which will each cost on the order of $50M to build).

The 501(c)3 will likely own a significant portion of the for-profit company (which is legal provided that the for-profit company directly advances the mission of the non-profit). The product that we are developing is probably 2 years away from being sold to customers, but when that time comes, the actual manufacturing process will be managed by the for-profit company. The continued research efforts will continue to be managed by the non-profit. The non-profit will pursue grants eligible to non-profits, and the for-profit will pursue grants eligible to for-profits (in addition to taking investments, venture capital and DoE and other government funding).

My question is: is this structure something that will cause a problem in the non-profit grant world?