There is a reason if the last precedent is in 2006. Search your mail archives for later discussions on FreeNode.
Erik Moeller, 15/04/2014 21:50:
MariaDB specifically invited WMF to become a sponsor,
Do they only accept unrestricted donations? If not, they could consider that the WMF grants are very flexible. https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grants:Start Most IEG proposals, for instance, seem to propose software development projects (and other contractor work) with wages in the tens thousands dollars.
Nemo