Introducing The Fellowship for Maintainers – Sovereign Tech Fund

The Sovereign Tech Fund (STF) is launching a Fellowship for Maintainers in Q4 2024 to support individuals who maintain critical open source infrastructure. This initiative addresses the challenges faced by maintainers, who often work unpaid and in their spare time, leading to stress and burnout. A study indicated that 59% of maintainers have considered quitting, which poses a risk to the digital infrastructure. The fellowship aims to provide financial support to these maintainers, recognizing their essential role in project development, community management, and security.

The program design is informed by a survey of 536 maintainers, highlighting the need for impactful work, diverse engagement options, and mentorship opportunities. The fellowship will offer various time commitments to accommodate different needs and will include mentorship to support participants' growth. The STF plans to start accepting applications by the end of Q3 2024, with selected maintainers beginning their fellowships shortly thereafter.

This pilot program will allow STF to refine the initiative based on feedback and experiences from the maintainers involved. The organization believes that this fellowship will contribute significantly to creating a more sustainable open source ecosystem and is eager to support maintainers in their vital work. Interested individuals can subscribe to the STF newsletter for updates on the application process and further details about the fellowship.