If the donor really wanted to work towards space based power the experts could convince them the first step is achieving KM-scale coherent transmitting aperatur

If the donor really wanted to work towards space based power the experts could convince them the first step is achieving KM-scale coherent transmitting aperatures on Earth. If they just want the money and have no intention of fulfilling the goal, or if the dude is as you say... not open to input, then yeah, you end up with waste like here.