A good sign that a Tea Party activity (like this "Federation") is Republican astroturf is that they do think it's first and foremost and always about money. It's a huge tip off.
If you are involved in a 3rd party (or thinking about it), you need to give a serious look at the ideas presented in the book here: The Conservative Hand. It presents a solid alternative to forming a thrid party.
Third parties have never worked (even well intentioned ones like "America's Independent Party"). If we're going to make a real, permanent change we must stop doing the things that haven't worked in the past (like 3rd parties).
There are new ideas floating around out there (like the above book). Go find them, but for America's sake, the sake of our children, and the sake of your friends and neighbors STOP pursing ideas that don't work.
Doing nothing is actually better than supporting a 3rd party, because doing nothing at least doesn't harm the movment and move us backwards.