If it is right then they have to take their responsibility for crediting the fund. I think they faced problem on their server or they deleted account knowingly to scam with the bounty hunters. If they do not want to scam then they have to take responsibility of their bounty hunters token. Also, if it happens only for you or with few participant then it might be another case.
The hosting companies always have a backup, sometimes the backup is for 2 weeks to one month, it's impossible to give that kind of reasoning if there are error in the server then they can change their host and the new host will just transfer everything to a better server, whatever the reason why there is a problem in the server they should find a way to pay their bounty hunters.
If the admin of the site does not delete their file then all the file will have on the hostings until the delete files from their hosting or remove the domain from the hosting or expires the date of expiration of the hosting or expiration of the registration of the domain. So, I think they have all the data as they are active.