Guides

Best Funding Options for Solo Open Source Maintainers

Funding platforms and strategies specifically suited for individual maintainers working alone on open source projects.

When crowdfunding works for open source, which platforms to use, and how to avoid common campaign mistakes.

The main ways contributors and maintainers get paid for open source work, from bounties and sponsorships to consulting and education.

A practical comparison of GitHub Sponsors and Open Collective for open source maintainers choosing a funding platform.

A practical guide for companies deciding how to support the open source projects they depend on.

A clear breakdown of the main ways open source maintainers earn income, from sponsorships and grants to services and education.

A step-by-step guide to choosing and setting up funding for your open source project, from first donation to sustainable income.

A quick guide to adding a FUNDING.yml file to your GitHub repo so visitors see a Sponsor button.

A practical setup guide for enabling GitHub Sponsors, adding tiers, and making the sponsor button visible on your repository.

A practical guide to setting up Open Collective, choosing a fiscal host, collecting money, and paying expenses transparently.

A practical guide to the main open source bounty platforms, from GitHub issue rewards to security programs.

A curated list of active grant programs that fund open source projects, with eligibility details and application tips.

A practical guide to open source sustainability, including funding, maintenance, governance, and workload reduction.

The best Patreon alternatives for developers, from GitHub-native sponsorships to transparent project collectives.

A side-by-side comparison of Tidelift and GitHub Sponsors for maintainers choosing between community sponsorships and enterprise-backed revenue.