IIRC, GIMP chose this path. Krita got serious about funding and GIMP didn't. Krita has two straightforward donation pages (https://krita.org/en/support-us/donations/ or https://fund.krita.org/) meanwhile GIMP discourages direct donation to the project (https://www.gimp.org/donating/)

In truth, GIMP maintainers deeply enjoy the control that "no strings attached"/"no obligation" development brings them. They've alienated most potential sponsors because they're happy with their lack of results. The missing funding angle only matters as an excuse for their own disorganization.

I haven't double checked but I think at least one of your listed names is banned from twitter.