(a) I think the article isn't asking them to provide more funding, but to consider re-allocating what they already do.
(b) I think even without actual funding, PinePhone can set the tone of priorities for the community. If they speak about this issue, people will at least listen.
And, to that end, there's a lot of routes they could go to get this sort of thing done.
A public bug tracker + bounty, for example, would go a LONG way in messaging what needs to be done. Even a small amount of money ($100, $200) towards whatever issues are important would be a good signal to the community that "hey, we really need someone to do this".
What if I make a $1b fund and put the Krita guy and the Blender team in charge of forming the company apparatus to produce a phone that's not a god damn piece of shit? I would want to stipulate right out the gate that there should be at least 100,000 $1,000 bounties paid in the first three years.
(b) I think even without actual funding, PinePhone can set the tone of priorities for the community. If they speak about this issue, people will at least listen.