List-of-OpenSource-Programs

507 stars
Apache-2.0
Active this month
Last commit 14 days ago

Last verified Nov 6, 2026

Track open source internship and fellowship opportunities: 22 programs with stipends, timelines, and eligibility in one searchable directory.

Visit website GitHub507

Read the full breakdownWho it is for, how it works, trade-offs and the FAQ

who it's for

Who List-of-OpenSource-Programs is for#

University students applying to paid open source programs

The paid filter and stipend-per-program view help students compare 12 funded options in one pass: GSoC, Outreachy, LFX, Igalia, Summer of Bitcoin, MLH Fellowship, and others. The 2026 timeline shows which programs overlap and which require sequential applications, so a student can plan a multi-program application strategy without visiting each program site first.

Skip if:

If you are looking for traditional corporate internships with employer-driven selection and HR recruiting pipelines, a general job board serves that better. This directory lists only open source contribution and mentorship programs.

First-time open source contributors looking for structured entry points

The beginner-friendly filter surfaces programs specifically designed for contributors new to open source: LFX Mentorship, Season of KDE, Djangonaut Space, and Hacktoberfest. Each card lists whether the program is beginner-friendly, so a first-time contributor can narrow the full list to their readiness level in one filter click.

Skip if:

If you already have significant open source contribution history, the beginner-focused programs may not add career value. Advanced contributors targeting GSoC or Outreachy can apply directly without filtering to beginner programs first.

Contributors from underrepresented groups seeking funded pathways

Outreachy, one of the highest-paying programs listed at $7,000 and running two cohorts annually, specifically requires applicants from groups underrepresented in technology. The directory surfaces this upfront with eligibility notes, so contributors from these groups can find the programs most likely to accept them without scanning a dozen separate sites.

Skip if:

If you do not meet Outreachy's eligibility requirements for underrepresented groups, Outreachy will not be an option, but most other listed programs are open to all contributors regardless of background.

the problem

The problem it solves#

Students and early-career developers looking to contribute to open source for pay or career development face a fragmented information landscape: each program runs its own website with its own application timeline, stipend structure, and eligibility requirements. Finding which programs are currently accepting applications, which pay, and which welcome beginners requires cross-referencing dozens of separate pages across summerofcode.withgoogle.com, outreachy.org, mentorship.lfx.linuxfoundation.org, and others.

The specific pain is timing. Missing the GSoC organization application window in January by one week means waiting another year. Missing the Outreachy contribution period carries the same cost. Without a consolidated reference, applicants track these dates in personal spreadsheets or miss them entirely. The 22-program spread means the annual open source program season runs from January through December, with meaningful application windows every two months.

how List-of-OpenSource-Programs solves it

How it solves it#

22 active programs for 2026

Lists programs verified as active for 2026, including GSoC, Outreachy, LFX Mentorship, MLH Fellowship, Igalia Coding Experience, Summer of Bitcoin, and 16 others. Inactive or legacy programs are explicitly removed from the active list, so the directory reflects what is actually open for applications this year.

Paid program filter with stipend ranges

A one-click filter surfaces only programs that offer a stipend. Of the 22 listed, 12 are paid, with stipend ranges from $1,000 (LFX Mentorship minimum) to $7,000 (Outreachy and Igalia Coding Experience). Each program card shows the stipend range so contributors can compare options before reading further.

Eligibility filters: beginner, student, global

Three filters narrow the list by audience. Beginner-friendly programs include LFX Mentorship, Season of KDE, Djangonaut Space, and Hacktoberfest. Student filters surface programs that require enrollment. The worldwide filter removes region-specific programs like Code for GovTech (India only) and Taiwan Fellowship (Taiwan students only).

2026 timeline with specific application dates

A month-by-month timeline covers major application windows from January through December 2026. It includes specific dates for GSoC organization applications (Jan 19 to Feb 3), contributor applications (Mar 16 to Mar 31), Season of KDE (deadline Jan 14), and Outreachy cohort periods, so contributors can plan applications across multiple programs.

Region and eligibility notes per program

Programs are categorized by type (paid mentorship, certificate or recognition, region-specific) and carry documented warnings about geographic restrictions. The MLH Fellowship entry notes limited or no availability for applicants in India and certain other regions in recent batches, sourced from official program notes.

strengths · trade-offs

Strengths and trade-offs#

Strengths

Stipend amounts are specific, not generic labelsEach paid program card lists the actual stipend range rather than a generic 'paid' label. GSoC shows $1,500 to $6,600 depending on project duration (12 to 22 weeks), Outreachy shows $7,000 flat, and LFX Mentorship shows $1,000 to $6,600. This lets contributors evaluate programs by financial return before clicking through to any individual program site.
Apache-2.0 license with open contribution modelThe Apache-2.0 license lets anyone fork the repository, deploy their own version, or submit program updates as pull requests. With 39 forks and 507 stars on GitHub, the project is actively maintained: the last push was October 23, 2026, and the curation policy explicitly removes programs confirmed inactive for 2026.
Region-specific warnings are stated, not omittedThe directory includes documented warnings about regional restrictions, such as the note that the MLH Fellowship has shown limited or no available matches for applicants in India and some other regions in recent batches. These are sourced from official program communications rather than inferred, which makes the eligibility guidance trustworthy.

Trade-offs

-Information is 2026-specific and requires annual updatesStipend amounts, application timelines, and eligibility criteria change each year. The directory is scoped to 2026 programs, so entries become stale after program cycles close. As of its last push on October 23, 2026, it was current for active 2026 cycles, but a future visitor should verify individual program dates directly on each program's official site before applying.
-No deadline reminders or calendar exportThe directory is a static reference with no account system, email reminders, or calendar export. Contributors who spot a relevant program must bookmark it or manually add deadlines to their own calendar. Deadline management stays entirely outside the tool.

versus alternatives

List-of-OpenSource-Programs vs alternatives#

List-of-OpenSource-Programs vs LinkedIn Jobs

Both surfaces help you find paid work opportunities, but they serve different use cases. LinkedIn Jobs is a commercial platform built for employer-driven hiring across all industries; it carries no structured view of open source mentorship programs, stipend ranges, or foundation application cycles.

Feature	List-of-OpenSource-Programs	LinkedIn Jobs
License	Apache-2.0	Proprietary
Cost	Free	Free basic / LinkedIn Premium subscription
Program focus	Open source mentorship and internship	General employment, all industries
Stipend info	Yes, per program	Rarely listed
Consolidated deadlines	Yes, 2026 timeline	No

For a contributor targeting funded open source work, this directory is the direct tool: it lists only programs where the work is contributing to open source, not corporate employment. LinkedIn Jobs is the better choice when the goal is broad hiring exposure, employer branding visibility, and corporate internship pipelines beyond the open source world.

List-of-OpenSource-Programs vs Handshake

Handshake is a university recruitment platform that connects students with employers for traditional internships. It is proprietary and employer-funded, with no equivalent view of foundation-sponsored open source programs.

Feature	List-of-OpenSource-Programs	Handshake
License	Apache-2.0	Proprietary
Program type	Foundation and community mentorship	Corporate internships
Application process	Direct to program website	Via employer profile on the platform
Data portability	Open source, forkable	Platform-locked

Handshake is the right choice for students seeking traditional corporate internships with structured recruiting pipelines and employer profiles. For students specifically targeting paid open source contribution programs like GSoC ($1,500 to $6,600), Outreachy ($7,000), or LFX Mentorship ($1,000 to $6,600), this directory provides stipend amounts, eligibility details, and 2026 application deadlines that Handshake does not carry.

tech stack · detected from GitHub

What it's built on#

Languages: JavaScriptRust

frequently asked

FAQ#

How many programs on this list are paid?

12 of the 22 listed programs offer a stipend. The paid programs include Google Summer of Code ($1,500 to $6,600), Outreachy ($7,000), LFX Mentorship ($1,000 to $6,600), Igalia Coding Experience ($7,000), Summer of Bitcoin ($3,000 in Bitcoin), MLH Fellowship (educational stipend), Code for GovTech (100,000 INR), and others. The remaining 10 programs offer community recognition, certificates, or mentorship without a stipend.

Are all programs on the list open to applicants worldwide?

Most programs are open worldwide, but several have geographic or demographic restrictions. Code for GovTech and FOSSEE Summer Fellowship primarily target Indian students. Taiwan Fellowship accepts Taiwan students only. MLH Fellowship has shown limited availability for applicants in India and some other regions in recent batches. The directory's worldwide filter removes region-specific programs from the view.

Which program offers the highest stipend?

Outreachy and Igalia Coding Experience both offer $7,000. Outreachy targets underrepresented groups in tech and runs two cohorts per year (June to August, December to March). Igalia is a worker-owned cooperative that offers rolling or periodic openings, open to all contributors. Google Summer of Code offers up to $6,600 for 22-week projects.

Can I contribute to or fork this directory?

Yes. The repository is Apache-2.0 licensed on GitHub at github.com/yashisrani/List-of-OpenSource-Programs. You can fork it to deploy your own version, submit pull requests to add or update programs, or use it as the basis for a region-specific or language-specific variant. The project has 39 forks and was last updated October 23, 2026.

Does this directory cover programs for specific programming languages or ecosystems?

Most programs listed are language-agnostic. LFX Mentorship, GSoC, and Outreachy accept contributors across any open source project, regardless of language. A few programs are ecosystem-specific: Djangonaut Space targets Django contributors, Kubernetes Release Shadow Program targets Kubernetes SIG contributors, Season of KDE is KDE ecosystem focused, and sktime Mentoring targets time series machine learning contributors.

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List-of-OpenSource-Programs vs LinkedIn Jobs

Feature	List-of-OpenSource-Programs	LinkedIn Jobs
License	Apache-2.0	Proprietary
Cost	Free	Free basic / LinkedIn Premium subscription
Program focus	Open source mentorship and internship	General employment, all industries
Stipend info	Yes, per program	Rarely listed
Consolidated deadlines	Yes, 2026 timeline	No

List-of-OpenSource-Programs vs Handshake

Feature	List-of-OpenSource-Programs	Handshake
License	Apache-2.0	Proprietary
Program type	Foundation and community mentorship	Corporate internships
Application process	Direct to program website	Via employer profile on the platform
Data portability	Open source, forkable	Platform-locked