This may not help, but, an annulment is not always necessary. If your first marriage was not in the church, there is a simpler process than annulment that allows you to then re-marry in the church. I forgot what it was called but it was pretty simple. Ask your priest, a lot of Catholics assume an annulment is always required.
The money is generally designated for paperwork and the legwork involved. When my wife's first marriage was annulled (around 26-27 years ago) they asked for a "good faith" offering. I assume you won't be getting married in the Catholic Church. They will not marry you nor will they recognize your marriage if you haven't had your previous marriage annulled.
More info... http://www.catholicireland.net/gettingmarried/steps/annulment.htm "What if I was married outside the Catholic Church? Catholics are bound by Church law to marry according to the Catholic form of marriage which includes being married before a Catholic priest or deacon in a Catholic church (unless they are dispensed by their bishop). So if a Catholic has married in a non-Catholic church or registry office, without this dispensation being given, the marriage in the eyes of the Catholic Church is invalid. Both parties to such a union can be declared free to marry, enabling each of them to enter a new marriage. If neither you nor your spouse was a Catholic when you married in another church or registry office, then your marriage is presumed to be valid unless there are grounds for an annulment."
