Navigate All Open Source Mentorships & Fellowships
A developer guide to open-source mentorships and fellowships. Compare stipends, eligibility, and timelines across programs like LFX, GSoC, and Outreachy, with practical guidance on getting selected.
Programs & Fellowships Across Open Source
Compare requirements, stipend brackets, and application calendars. 2026 Term 3 is concluded; next cycle is 2027 Term 1.
LFX Mentorship
Work 1-on-1 with core maintainers of Linux, Kubernetes, Envoy, PyTorch, Prometheus, and 90+ ecosystem leaders. Get paid while committing production code.
Google Summer of Code
The world's largest open-source initiative bringing new contributors into software organizations like Debian, Apache, Mozilla, GNU, and Python.
GSSoC
A 3-month open source program designed to help newcomers learn Git workflows, submit their first pull requests, and contribute to diverse open repositories.
Outreachy
Paid, remote internships for people subject to systemic bias and underrepresented groups in tech, fostering equity across free software ecosystems.
MLH Fellowship
A 12-week internship alternative where fellows contribute to real open source repositories sponsored by industry giants under dedicated pod mentorship.
Season of Docs
Connecting technical writers with open source organizations to build world-class documentation architecture, tutorials, and developer guides.
Open Source Mentorship Program Matrix
Key evaluation factors at a glance. Find which initiative aligns with your availability, compensation needs, and career goals.
| Program | Sponsor | Stipend | Eligibility | Annual Cohorts | OSSGrid Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LFX Mentorship | The Linux Foundation & CNCF | $1,000 – $6,600 USD | Worldwide (18+) | 3 per year (Next: 2027 Term 1) | Explore Hub |
| Google Summer of Code | Google Open Source | $1,500 – $6,600 USD (PPP) | Worldwide (18+) | Annual (May – August) | Roadmap |
| GSSoC | GirlScript Foundation | Prizes, Certificates & Swag | Worldwide (18+) | Annual 3-Month Sprint | Roadmap |
| Outreachy | Software Freedom Conservancy | $7,000 USD Total Stipend | Worldwide (18+) | 2 per year (May & December) | Roadmap |
| MLH Fellowship | Major League Hacking | Educational Stipend | Worldwide (18+) | Spring, Summer, Fall | Roadmap |
| Season of Docs | Google Open Source | $5,000 – $15,000 USD (Org Grants) | Worldwide (18+) | Annual | Roadmap |
How LFX Mentorship Works: The Contributor Playbook
The Linux Foundation Mentorship Program isn't just a scholarship—it is a paid, 12-week real-world engineering internship with 1-on-1 guidance from core open-source maintainers. Here is the verified blueprint to get accepted.
Target & Evaluate
Filter OSSGrid by your primary languages (Go, Python, TypeScript, Rust, C++). Inspect historical term frequency, mentor rosters, and issue trackers before shortlisting 2–3 target projects.
Engage & Pre-Contribute
The #1 selection factor: Never submit a cold application! Join the project's Slack or Discord, introduce yourself to mentors, and merge 1–2 small documentation fixes or good-first-issues.
Milestone Proposal
Submit on mentorship.lfx.linuxfoundation.org. Include a clear 12-week schedule with measurable weekly milestones, your merged PR links, and your resume. Quality beats quantity.
Frequently Asked Questions for Newcomers
Everything you need to know about eligibility, compensation, deadlines, and the selection process.