What this really highlights to me is that the web needs a well-made transaction service that is geared toward contingent pledges -- essentially, you pledge money contingent on, say, some minimum total raised, and if the goal isn't hit, you get your money back.
Currently, the major credit card companies' policies make this type of service difficult; there is a relatively short permitted window of time between payment authorization and payment processing.
But if there were an escrow-type service that could collect conditional pledges; hold on to the money in an interest-bearing account; and process payments/refunds, depending on whether the condition is fulfilled ... it would open up a world of possibilities for fundraisers by giving potential donors/investors confidence that their money will only go to viable projects.