My opinion about biodad seeking donations to go to the funeral is that I doubt it will cost very much and he doesn't seem to be well off by any means - and he probably doesn't have a buffer saved up for something like this.
To me, it's still strange that family and friends can't rally and collect enough cash for him and that he has to ask the public, but that's just me.
Anyway, he deserves to be at his daughter's funeral. Even if he wasn't consistent in her life.
Mu guess is that most of his family and friends are in the same situation that he is in having no buffer of money for an emergency.
He may not have a car that would make such a trip and renting one would be out of the question. Where will he stay while he is in Ft. Wayne? Certainly not with A's mother. He would need a little money for food.
He may not be paid for day's he away from work, either, putting more of a financial burden on his family.
Thanks to compassionate LE he will be able to make the trip.