Outsourced the research, design, and manufacture to the above by funneling some of their charitable donations or is there something more to it?
More likely they used their connections to acquire experimental designs from various pirate/independent factions, and then made deals with external manufacturers inside the Empires with the resources to finish the development. For instance, the drive ring was probably acquired from the
Intaki.
Sanctuary has
very fascinating objectives, and as the old saying goes, "Beware of Greeks bearing gifts." Capsuleers lead the charge in wormhole space but are at odds with The Sanctuary's core goal of protecting humanity (Capsuleers are destroyers blah blah blah). So if they give anything to capsuleers it's for mutual benefit.
Why would Sanctuary/SoE be the ones to distribute this technology? With the war, using technology from competing powers is not feasible for any single manufacturer. Working together through an intermediary (SoE), they stand to make a profit by selling to as many customers as possible. Since none of the manufacturers are making the entire item themselves, their risk is minimal.
From a business standpoint, it makes sense for the manufacturers to agree to the deal. They get access to tech they don't normally have available. From SoE's perspective, they're profiting from the use of Capsuleers to further their goals. The pirates/independents are probably making a pretty penny as well as making new connections they can use to their advantage at a later date.
Win/win any way you look at it, and it makes sense in the context of the setting. Here's hoping CCP doesn't ruin it by trying to explain things in more "realistic detail".