Very interested in this, but not exactly sure I understand fully.  Is there an option to either donate .5BTC to help with the startup costs or donate your mining rigs abilities instead?  I don't have any mining rigs or anything like that, but would be very interested in contributing the .5BTC to this fund. 

I'll have quite a bit of disposable income on December 15.  Would it be possible to reserve a spot until then?