What alternatives do people have to monetize software in a more ethical way?
I particularly don't understand the funding that some software receive. What they have to grant to receive those funds?
I also search for some type of monetization "model" better than donations, but more ethical than ads.
If it's too much to explain I would be grateful for terms or books that I could search later.
In blender for example you receive prioritized support when you sponsor them.
There are also various rewards (like voting on features, exclusive access to discord channels, having a sponsorship section on the website that acts as something like an ad).
There are various guides for this. but that's the shortened version.