Commune’s are unstable, but can work fine when separate from income streams. I am aware of one that lasted 30+ years slowly dissolving as no effort was made to add new members and people slowly left or died over time.
Monastery’s demonstrates what it takes for such communities to last over hundreds of years. Effectively they must recruit, be economically viable, and avoid any single point of failure like having a specific leader.
Donations from the public or formal religious institutions are just one revenue source. Often they where effectively self sufficient gathering revenue from farming, winemaking, baking etc. My point was outlays need to be less than revenue for the institutions to survive long term.
The downfall of the self sufficient commune movement is it frequently resulted in poverty. The example I am referring to had well paid professionals including doctors etc who saved money by joining. Low rent including utilities, food, appliances, and household supplies allowed members to travel and party more. In effect a collage fraternity without the collage rather than a monastery without a religion.
Before the Reformation and the revolutions, monasteries generally had land given by the nobility or the otherwise wealthy. Some farmed it themselves, some had tenants. I don't know how much money monasteries tend to get directly from the Church.
Monastery’s demonstrates what it takes for such communities to last over hundreds of years. Effectively they must recruit, be economically viable, and avoid any single point of failure like having a specific leader.