Lichess needs money itself. It survives off donations.
The evidence points that it is pretty far from being able to sponsor chess players and let them make a living from doing what they love, like a commercial platform could do.
If you read my comment carefully you'll find I didn't say lichess themselves could sponsor prize funds. I explicitly said they'd have to source the funds from other sponsors.
The evidence points that it is pretty far from being able to sponsor chess players and let them make a living from doing what they love, like a commercial platform could do.