A large four engined aeroplane is too expensive for the air show world as demonstrated by both B17, DC6 and Super Constelation struggling to remain viable. The East Kirby Lancaster would get the public vote with regards to donations.
Set aside the rose tinted specs and there are a thousand better things to spend five million pounds on. The Vulcan is unlikely to be in its final year, a rumour direct from the horses mouth. Its time will come, but not just yet, and regardless of how close the end is going to be, there is a business model in place for its life on the ground.
Passionate enthusiasm is laudable, but must be tempered by a realistic business model, and contributers are effectively shareholders without dividends. The only saving grace is that at least £5m is a believable fiqure rather then a low start aspiration followed by expenses creep as time moves on. What are the long term plans for the aircraft if it does fly again?