GitHub Sponsors
GitHub Sponsors lets the developer community financially support the open source projects they depend on, directly on GitHub. Payout runs 100% of personal sponsorships pass to developer; org sponsors pay up to 6% fee — application required, no follower minimum. Beginners typically earn COULDNT_CONFIRM, scaling to COULDNT_CONFIRM for top creators. Available Supported regions only (must live in a supported region).
Earnings
100% of personal sponsorships pass to developer; org sponsors pay up to 6% fee
Access
application
Availability
Supported regions only (must live in a supported region)
Last verified
Jun 16, 2026
Overview
GitHub Sponsors lets the developer community financially support the open source projects they depend on, directly on GitHub. Anyone who contributes to an open source project and lives in a supported region can become a sponsored developer — contributions include code, documentation, bug reports, issue triage, leadership, mentorship and more. You set up sponsorship tiers, supporters choose one-time or monthly amounts, and 100% of sponsorships from personal accounts go to you with no GitHub fee. Sponsorships from organization accounts carry a fee of up to 6% (3% credit card processing + 3% GitHub service fee). To get paid you complete your sponsored developer profile, create tiers, submit bank and tax information, and enable two-factor authentication. Success depends less on raw traffic and more on having work that people and companies already rely on enough to fund directly.
💡 Insider tip
Personal-account sponsorships are fee-free (you keep 100%), while organization sponsorships cost up to 6% — and orgs can drop the 3% card fee by paying via invoice, which is exactly why corporate sponsors prefer higher tiers with clear attribution. Build tiers with concrete perks (README badge, priority support, company logo in docs) so the companies relying on your tool in production have a reason to pay more.
Earnings Breakdown
Payout Model
GitHub Sponsors does not charge any fees for sponsorships from personal accounts, so 100% of these sponsorships go to the sponsored developer or organization. Sponsorships from organization accounts carry a fee of up to 6% (3% credit card processing fee + 3% GitHub service processing fee); organizations can save the 3% credit card processing fee by switching to invoiced billing. Sponsors choose one-time or monthly payment amounts across tiers you define.
Requirements
Common reasons for rejection
Frequently asked questions
Does GitHub pay creators?
Yes — GitHub Sponsors pays creators 100% of personal sponsorships pass to developer; org sponsors pay up to 6% fee. GitHub Sponsors lets the developer community financially support the open source projects they depend on, directly on GitHub. It is application required.
How much can you earn with GitHub Sponsors?
GitHub Sponsors pays 100% of personal sponsorships pass to developer; org sponsors pay up to 6% fee. Typical ranges: beginners COULDNT_CONFIRM, mid-tier COULDNT_CONFIRM, top creators COULDNT_CONFIRM. Payout model: GitHub Sponsors does not charge any fees for sponsorships from personal accounts, so 100% of these sponsorships go to the sponsored developer or organization. Actual earnings depend on your content, views, and engagement.
What are the requirements for GitHub Sponsors?
Requirements: Anyone who contributes to an open source project and lives in a supported region is eligible to become a sponsored developer (contributions include but are not limited to bug reports, issue triage, code, documentation, leadership, business development, project management, mentorship); Join GitHub Sponsors and complete your sponsored developer profile; Create sponsorship tiers; Submit your bank and tax information; Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for your account on GitHub; Submit your application to GitHub for approval. Access is application required with no follower minimum. Common reasons creators get rejected: You do not live in a GitHub Sponsors supported region; Two-factor authentication (2FA) not enabled on your GitHub account; Bank and/or tax information not submitted.
Is GitHub Sponsors available internationally?
Availability: Supported regions only (must live in a supported region). Check the GitHub program page for the latest country eligibility before applying.
How do I join GitHub Sponsors?
Apply through GitHub: create an account, submit your application for review, then track earnings in your dashboard. Tip: Personal-account sponsorships are fee-free (you keep 100%), while organization sponsorships cost up to 6% — and orgs can drop the 3% card fee by paying via invoice, which is exactly why corporate sponsors prefer higher t…
Program at a Glance
Ready to join?
Go directly to the official GitHub Sponsors application page.
Apply to GitHub Sponsors →Opens official application page
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