Where are you finding skilled graphic artists willing to do a project like that of $20? Having hired freelance graphic artists for projects for work, even the smallest things costs hundreds of dollars.

Here, here's someone I'm commissioning now, a basic sketch is $10 https://www.shiroganestudios.com/work/commissions

Given the project is FOSS, they'd probably be fine with that price still.

I could go through a list of literally hundreds of artists where $20 is within budget. The quality of simple logo like is needed here is about on part with what many would do for a telegram sticker, which are often about $5/piece.

Hundreds of dollars is totally reasonable if commercial. This isn't.

I also don't want to commission something for another project. They should get creative control in the process, else it just feels weird.