Support the projects you rely on: GitHub Sponsors
Tags: github, opensource, career
Published: 2024-02-23 08:16:50

[GitHub Sponsors](https://github.blog/2019-05-23-announcing-github-sponsors-a-new-way-to-contribute-to-open-source/) was launched in 2019 and has been a great avenue for maintainers and open source contributors to dive into their passions full time. The program has allowed developers to leave their day jobs and work on the projects that power the open source world. More than 75% of the world's software is built on open source. So chances are, you are using some sort of open source project when you build your projects.

Now, it's easier than ever to support the projects you rely on. Your dependencies can be quickly shown to you via the GitHub Sponsors and GitHub Explore pages. Here's how to sponsor the projects you rely on.

## Sponsor the projects you rely on

Make sure you're logged into GitHub, then follow the steps:

1. Head to the [GitHub Sponsors website](https://github.com/sponsors)
2. Click "See your top dependencies"
![GitHub sponsors homepage](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/0ml6qxvmebxdamfdjpg5.png)
3. You'll be taken to the [Explore GitHub Sponsors](https://github.com/sponsors/explore) section of the website
4. Browse your dependencies
5. When you find a project you'd like to sponsor click "Sponsor" on the right side of the project

![Explore your projects](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/0sebboyjdabr4awfsfgy.png)

There's also information under each project as to how many of your repositories depend on that one project.

## Sponsor multiple projects at once

You can also sponsor multiple projects at once through bulk sponsorship. At the top of your [Explore GitHub Sponsors](https://github.com/sponsors/explore) page, there should be a "Bulk Sponsor" banner. Click "Get started" to start the bulk sponsorship process.

![Bulk sponsor projects](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/ccrq2tmja1pni83k1t1e.png)

On the right pane of the [Explore GitHub Sponsors](https://github.com/sponsors/explore) page, there will be a Monamoji with hearts, showing your total GitHub sponsorship amount:

![Total sponsorship amount](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/sp4pba14gqd1z9oa8tsb.png)

If you sponsor a project, you'll also earn the GitHub Sponsors achievement badge for your GitHub profile.

![GitHub sponsors profile badge](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/5t49ndm4e2crgvmc0mlv.png)

What projects are you sponsoring? Have you joined GitHub Sponsors yourself? We hope this makes it easier to support the open source community and ensure the projects you love and rely on stay around.

## Sign up for GitHub Sponsors

Are you a maintainer of an open source project, and you'd like people to donate to you? Sign up for GitHub Sponsors so you can be supported.

GitHub Sponsors currently has a waitlist, and you can sign up:

1. Go to the [GitHub Sponsors](https://github.com/sponsors) home page
2. Click "Get sponsored"
![GitHub sponsors homepage](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/0ml6qxvmebxdamfdjpg5.png)

3. Select the GitHub account that you want to have sponsorship (you can select your personal account, or an organisation
![Join GitHub Sponsors](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/c22xghdr09ca1uzww710.png)

3. Fill out the form
4. Click "Join Waitlist"

Once you have been verified and accepted, you'll receive an email with next steps. Your GitHub Sponsors profile will move to "pending":

![Pending invite](https://dev-to-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/articles/udaz113vvssg70ijep1z.png)

Now you're all set to get supported for the work you do, and support the work of others. Let us know in the comments below what cool projects you're supporting. Or drop your link so we can support you :heart:.

{% youtube bOeNYi-WVf8 %}