Maintainers for desktop "critical infrastructure"

As to your question, 501(c)(3) charities in the USA are able to make grants around the world, and thus can pay developers in virtually any country to carry out work that is within the mission of the project.

Nearly all Conservancy projects are international in scope and we've never had a problem.

It's true you can't simply transfer funds to a non-501(c)(3) entity, but you are allowed to stop taking donations at any point of the project leaves and simply spend remaining funds on valid 501(c)(3) program work.

This is what Conservancy did with jQuery project when they formed the jQuery Foundation, which was a 501(c)(6) and could not accept transfer of assets. Remaining jQuery funds at Conservancy were spent on 501(c)(3)-appropriate activity in the jQuery community.