If InfoAge is a 501(c)3 and they have been a part of / program of InfoAge - in other words InfoAge has been acting as an umbrella and a fiscal sponsor to them, and they are now simply spinning off, then couldn't people donate to InfoAge on behalf of the project of independence for this organization? As long as InfoAge would utilize funds donated for that specific purpose, for that purpose, I would think it would be a legitimate tax deductible charitable contribution.
That is 100% correct. However, the people who are leading the makerspace -- people who I know and trust very well, and 100% vouch for -- feel much more comfortable raising the funds directly and being completely in control of it, vs. having it go to IA and then waiting to get it routed.