Has anyone got any examples of .ORGs creating a currency?

I imagine it being used by research institutions with a promise of an outcome that would be valuable to those initially investing.
Let's say a research institution wanted to populate a database of animals going extinct.
Those interested in investing are more interested in the general good of the outcome.
Not as much in the exact definition of the value of the coin.

How could not-for-profits benefit from creating an alt coin?