@Groovy Champions: Groovy Development Funding ?

[MG]

I have asked this before but have not received any reply, so with 
regards to Groovy Champions: What are thoughts on crowd funding (at 
least) some part of Groovy development ?

Giving someone honors is good, but giving someone money is also nice. It 
would not necessarily mean that it is actual payment as such, but could 
also be a thank you that would e.g. allow a major contributor to take 
his significant other out for a nice dinner.

Is this frowned upon (or even forbidden) by the Apache foundation ? Does 
someone of the main devs not like the idea ?
mg