Apparently Alcor wants to gather pledges towards a special $1 million endowment, the income from which would fund "ongoing projects, upgrades, and staff that will steadily advance the technological and membership growth objectives of the organization."
I have to wonder if the author of this idea still thinks in terms of 1960's prices. A three percent return on a principal of $1 million gives you an annual income of $30,000, which would barely cover one employee's salary at Alcor. As far as I can tell, it wouldn't generate nearly enough money to fund anything ambitious, so I find the whole effort puzzling and ill-conceived.
As a counterproposal, if Alcor needs an additional $30,000 a year, it could raise that income immediately by letting an employee go and cutting a few other expenses (maybe turning the thermostat up a little during Arizona's Stillsuit Season, things like that) without all the hassles of begging for the donations for a $1 million endowment.
