Best Funding Options for Solo Open Source Maintainers

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

Solo maintainers have specific constraints: limited time, no organization, and usually no desire to spend hours on fundraising. Here are the platforms that work best for your situation.

That is why low-friction funding matters more than perfect funding. A platform that is slightly less powerful but actually gets set up this week is usually more valuable than a sophisticated option that sits in your backlog for months.

Top picks for solo maintainers

1. GitHub Sponsors

GitHub Sponsors is the default starting point. Zero fees, minimal setup, and your audience is already on GitHub.

Why it works for solo: No organization needed. Set up in minutes. Donations go directly to your bank account.

2. Ko-fi

Ko-fi is a simple tip jar with optional memberships. Zero platform fee on one-time donations.

Why it works for solo: No approval process. Accepts PayPal and Stripe. Good for creators who also make content.

3. Tidelift

Tidelift pays maintainers of packages used by enterprises, in exchange for maintenance and security commitments.

Why it works for solo: Passive income — once accepted, you earn by maintaining what you already maintain. Best if your package is in npm, PyPI, Maven, or similar ecosystems.

4. Liberapay

Liberapay is a recurring donations platform with no platform fees (only payment processor fees).

Why it works for solo: Simple, privacy-friendly, no minimum. Good as a secondary platform alongside GitHub Sponsors.

What to avoid as a solo maintainer

• Platforms requiring an organization (some fiscal hosts need a legal entity)
• High-effort approaches (Crowdfunding campaigns, enterprise sales)
• Platforms with high minimums (Some grant programs target larger projects)

The solo maintainer playbook

1. Set up GitHub Sponsors (10 minutes)
2. Add FUNDING.yml to your repo
3. Mention funding in your README
4. If your package is widely used, apply to Tidelift
5. Optionally add Ko-fi or Liberapay as a secondary option

Total setup time: Under 1 hour. Expected effort after setup: Near zero.

If that stack starts working, you can always add a more complex route later. The goal for a solo maintainer is not to build a miniature finance department. It is to make support visible, easy, and sustainable without pulling too much time away from the project itself.

Try the Funding Finder for recommendations tailored to your exact situation.