Hi,
I'd like to call to your attention an article I've just posted on the FSFE's website.
https://www.fsfe.org/en/fellows/modulus/user_driven_software_development
It's a proposal for an organization that would help users and SMEs to pool resources and risk so that they could collectively commission the improvements to free software that they need. Incidentally, it might also help free software writers to get contracts. I think it is a potentially good idea, but I've gotten some negative feedback about it on the #gnu channel at freenode. I'd like to know if I am in the wrong track with this.
--David.