Comment by nradov
There are other options.
Option 2: Fork the code and do whatever they want with it.
Option 3: Directly employ open source project maintainers instead of donating to the project. They can exert at least some control over project direction that way.
Most enterprises don't even have a budget line item for open source project donations.
> Most enterprises don't even have a budget line item for open source project donations.
But it's common that they have employees who are assigned to working on the open source project. That's an item in the budget, it just isn't labeled "open source project donations".