The “large grant made specifically for this” explanation is unconvincing without more. Did a grantor come up with this idea independently, or did CEA choose to approach a grantor with this idea (as opposed to other pitches it could have made for someone with that kind of money to spend)?
I was the person who owned the early development of the project idea, and fundraised for it. (The funding comes from a grant specifically for this project, and is not FTX-related.) I brought it to the rest of the board of EVF to ask for fiscal sponsorship (i.e. I would direct the funding to EVF and EVF would buy the property and employ staff to work on the project).
Although I suppose it is possible he sought out a funder but the funder was only willing to pay for this specific one.
This section of Owen’s reply seems to imply the latter:
Although I suppose it is possible he sought out a funder but the funder was only willing to pay for this specific one.