Not all scientific work requires funding as huge as building a lab. You do not always need pricey reagents and equipment. What is required is 1) time 2) covering biological needs. Given modern productivity, the time required to cover biological needs is small, something like 2-4 hours/day. If I could work just this little time, I will have enough free time for scientific work and I will not need to depend on grants.
Did you talk with universities/academia? They have laboratories and students who may be will be glad to help.