What kind of open source project will likely to get funded (by companies, government, individual)?

Question

What kind of open source project will likely to get funded (by companies, government, individual)?

Answer 1

One that brings value, potential of value to the social (government) or economic (business/sponsor) state of your area/country/the company etc. Unless this is scientific, that would obviously get a different type of stakeholder.

At the end of the day, is the project worthwhile, and more so, can you sell interest in it to someone other than yourself, that you probably won't know personally?

Answer 2

A project that strongly and uniquely supports their mission-critical goals, and doesn't conflict or can work out arrangements with alternative suppliers of similar functionality (existing departments of industries of governments, other public projects for individuals).

Answer 3

It has to bring something, that's for sure, but what about the x-factor: the looks, the coolness. The thing that makes you want to use it. You want to feel part of the tribe. Maybe governments are less eager to sponser a project based on this, I'm pretty sure companies and individuals are. So as a developer you have to get it right: looks (and performance) matter.

Answer 4

A project that is well-documented. This is the stumbling-block of majority of OS projects. There are countless projects that may be coded extremely well, work excellently if you can use them, but are documented so poorly that no one outside the developer circle is willing to even try them, let alone give them money.