Before we start, i will like to say, All this programs listed are not mandatory for you to contribute to open source.

But you can contribute to open source even if you don't get selected for this programs, you can always contribute to open source programs anytime you want.

And also contributing to open source doesn't mean free, many companies have their open source projects and yeah they make money from it.

See how the Founder of Ghost made $63,000/mo building an Open Source Publishing Platform.

So there is more to Open Source than just sending PR's and submitting issues, you can also start your own open source projects.

Let’s jump in.

1. Reinforcement Learning Open Source Fest

The Open Source Reinforcement Learning programs has the largest pay out in the list open source internships.

You will recieve payment of $10,000 stipend if you get in, well this program is yet to be known by many, due to the fact that they just started the program in 2020.

The program is focused on introducing students to open source reinforcement learning programs and software development and yet working alongside with researchers, data scientists, and engineers on the Real World Reinforcement Learning team at Microsoft Research NYC.

The program is a four-month research programming project during academic breaks in universities from May-August, its fully remote and online.

Who is Eligible?

Students who are in any accredited university, colleges doing their Masters, phD or Undergraduate programs.

Things you will be doing when you get in

• Submitting quality works, i.e writing codes that compile, doing unit tests and documentations, passing code reviews
• Regular standup with mentor /collaboartor
• Communicating and working with collegues

Program details

• Region: Worldwide
• Stipend: $10,000
• Deadline to apply: NILL for 2022
• Program dates: May - August Redacted (2022 application not opened yet)

Apply on their official page: Microsoft Reinforcement Learning Open Source Fest

2. MLH Open Source Fellowship

Major League Hacking is a well known platform amidst devs and hackers, so apart from their regular fellowships.

They also have Open Source Focused Fellowship also, the fellowship is a 12 weeks Internship for aspiring software engineers.

What you will be doing on the MLH Open Source Internships is contributing to any Open Source projects that most companies depends on,.

That way you will be able to get first hand software engineering experience from seniors and experts.

Program details

• Region: Worldwide
• Stipend: The amount of the stipend is determined by your track and the country you are residing in during the program.
• Upcoming Batches
  • Spring 2022 Batch (Jan 31 – Apr 22, 2022)
  • Summer 2022 Batch (May 30 – Aug 19, 2022)
  • Fall 2022 Batch (Sept 19 – Dec 9, 2022)

Apply on their official page: MLH Open Source Track

3. Google Season of Docs

This program is for the documentation and technical writers geeks, No open source projects can do away with documentation,.

So in this program you collaborate with other technical writer and open source organizations to write their documentations for them.

Well they just wrapped up the 2021 Program and the 2022 Application form is yet to be out, keep on the look out during the period of July.

Also note you must be aged 18 above to participate in Google Season of Docs.

Program details

• Region: Worldwide
• Stipend: Payment varies based on the Open Source organisation you are working with, but yeah it starts from $3000 above.
• Deadline to apply: NILL for 2022 yet
• Program dates: July (2022 application not opened yet)

Apply on their official page: Google Season of Docs

4. Season of KDE

Okay Season of KDE is open to everyone to apply, student or not, everybody can apply, it is similar to Google Season of Code.

You can participate in both code and non-code projects that benefits the KDE ecosystem.

The 2022 application is out already and yeah it will last for 2 - 3 months, deadline for application for both students and mentor is January 15, 2022.

Application form has been open since December.

Program details

• Region: Worldwide
• Stipend: MERCHANDISE AND SWAG SENT OUT BY COURIER.
• Deadline to apply: January 15, 2022
• Program dates: December 15, 2021 - May 20, 2022.

Apply on their official page: Season of KDE

5. Google Summer of Code(GSoC)

Well, GSoC is known to be for students, but recently google annouced that other people apart from students can also participate in GSoC.

Bear in mind that you are not an employee of Google neither as an intern at Google. You’re working with Open Source organizations that you applied to or got selected in.

Stipend is paid to you by those organizations, it might vary based on your performance and the work youve done.

Program details

• Region: Worldwide
• Stipend: $1000 above
• Timeline: Application opens in April, 2022 for contributors

Apply on their official page: Google Summer of Code

6. Hacktobefest

You all wont want to miss Hacktoberfest, its full of fun activities, collaboration, working with different Open Source Organisations in the month of October.

The program is seasonal, also i will like to clear out something, Hacktoberfest isn't just hosted by Digital Ocean alone.

Alot of organizations do host their own Hacktoberfest event and reward contributors either through giftcards, coupons, keyboard, T-shirts, bottles, bags and stickers.

You can check this list for companies that also hosted hacktoberfest in 2021, it will be updated with 2022 when hacktoberfest starts in October, 2022 also, do well and bookmark the page down.

Program details

• Region: Worldwide
• Stipend: Swags, Stickers.
• Timeline: Application opons in October, 2022
• Program dates: October 01, 2021 - October 31, 2022.

Apply on their official page: Hacktoberfest

7. Outreachy

When it comes to diversification in Open Source, Outreachy ranks number 1, it's totally a remote internship that lasts for 3 months.

Only few students are always selected and majority are women, physically impared individuals around the world.

Outreachy Internship focuses on both documentation, programming and project marketing and more tech paths, its a paid internship, so you will get some funds for balling when you are done.

Program details

• Region: Worldwide
• Stipend: $7000
• Timeline: Application opens February 1, 2022
• Program dates: May, 2022 - August, 2022

Apply on their official page: Outreachy

8. Summer of Bitcoin

Summer of Bitcoin is a summer internship program aimed at introducing university students to bitcoin and open-source development all over the world.

You will learn how bitcoin works, contribute to bitcoin projects, Get a summer job offer, a full-time open-source development grant, or a position with one of the most reputable bitcoin companies and earn bitcoin as stipend.

Program details

• Region: Worldwide
• Stipend: $3000
• Timeline: Application starts from January 1, 2022 - March 15, 2022
• Program dates: May 9, 2022 - August 29, 2022

Apply on their official page: Summer of Bitcoin

That's all for now.

Peace out ✌️.