I know nothing of this "gaggle" so I can't pretend to enter the debate about their merits and motivations. BUT...
Unless you're talking about an independently wealthy scientist funding everything with his own money, isn't all science "bought and paid for"?
Are you unaware of the discrimination, derision and destruction vented upon the vilified independent thinkers on this issue. The Constitution forbad establishment of religion...but we have one in the form of old fashioned darwinism-atheism.