Fund-Raising and the Independent Scholar

Arnold writes:

Think tanks, like universities, may be ripe for disintermediation. Although I think my writing for Cato helped my personal brand, I would rather be viewed as an independent scholar. I view scholars as personal brands, and I do not think that affiliation with a think tank adds anything to their personal brands.

I can think of one thing that think tanks add to personal brands: economies of scale in fund-raising.  How many independent scholars manage to support themselves on donations?  Almost none.  How many think tanks manage to support themselves on donations?  Almost all. 

Fund-raisers are selling affiliation.  And affiliating with a team of scholars is a lot more satisfying for the typical donor than affiliating with lone wolves.

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