Apache Foundation provides well-trod legal path for large corporations to release their internal code as open-source.
They do have some competition. Linux Foundation is another large non-profit that creates umbrella entities for a bunch of open-source software originally created within larger tech companies. I get the impression that Apache Foundation goes for breadth, taking any and all donations, while Linux Foundation goes for depth in specific topics.
In terms of funding, for open-source projects originally created within a larger company, that company will often provide a financial donation to the foundation that is taking on its ongoing management. The foundation will also take a cut of future donations to the project, to pay for the administrative overhead of the non-profit.
They do have some competition. Linux Foundation is another large non-profit that creates umbrella entities for a bunch of open-source software originally created within larger tech companies. I get the impression that Apache Foundation goes for breadth, taking any and all donations, while Linux Foundation goes for depth in specific topics.
In terms of funding, for open-source projects originally created within a larger company, that company will often provide a financial donation to the foundation that is taking on its ongoing management. The foundation will also take a cut of future donations to the project, to pay for the administrative overhead of the non-profit.