I discussed funding models with various people from different projects, so here is what I gathered:
* Both VLC and Blender have a lot of sponsorship from hardware companies who are interested in these softs keeping running smoothly with their newest hardware on the highest resolution monitors existing. Blender also has support from the steam workshop, a 3d asset store, their store (training, books, wear)… * VLC has a dual structure with a non-profit along with a small startup in multimedia consulting, paying a dozen devs (They also say that they have a single ad (adsense) on their download page which alone pays for a dev) * MuseScore (software for music sheets) has a website to upload/share them which has a paying subscription model to upload more than some amount
Overall, no "magical" way to amass vast riches, just a thought that if we could support GPU SVG rendering we might be able to ask GPU vendors if they'd be interested in sponsoring us (or conversely if they'd be interested in sponsoring us so that we could try to implement/use GPUs in cairo rendering)