i would like to know that it will never be sold...just that.
werd.
but i don't think that setting up a legal entity or complex subscription/ownership thing is a good idea. it'll add complexity and too much paperwork and crap (speaking from experience here).
a good handful of administrators like it is now is good. responsibilities won't get spread too thin. It'll maintain accountability.
but you gotta keep the community in the loop. make a forum section where you keep those financial statements published. discuss publicly all major decisions. if DML did that, they would probably have found a way to cash Jeff out and still be alive without having sold out to VS.
you could also put in that forum section sponsor info, maybe sponsors could post DMF member deals in there. they'd get volume, we'd get deals, everyone's happy.
for fundraising, you could do one of those graphical thermometers (like on those TV fundraising things) where you have a goal to raise $x for certain projects/upgrades, etc. just make it a sticky forum post and make it a dynamic pic. i don't know about you but when I see those things it just makes me want to make the thermometer go up!