I started contributing to a certain open source project that gets lambasted on here a lot last summer. After some contributions, a bounty using my skills became

I started contributing to a certain open source project that gets lambasted on here a lot last summer. After some contributions, a bounty using my skills became available. I jumped at the chance and completed the bounty. That led to more contributions in the same area as the bounty. I would certainly say it's worked out for me and the project in question. Many other people have been similarly incentivized and compensated on the same project to the point where probably 2/3 of the development comes from the company that started it and the other 1/3 is bounties.