Open source is flooded with low-effort, AI-generated noise.
Serious contributors are struggling to stand out.
Maintainers are drowning in issues but starving for real help.
If you're here to build, you deserve to be seen.
If you're here to lead projects, you deserve real support.
As a reminder, OnlyDust is a platform built on top of GitHub to help contributors and maintainers connect faster and build better together.
After two years supporting 450+ projects, 8,000+ contributors, and distributing over $10 million in grants, we’ve tried nearly every funding model out there—bounties, jury systems, even AI-powered grant allocation.
And that last one? It worked.
Our AI distributed $1M to over 2,000 contributors with speed and surprising accuracy.
But it also surfaced a new problem:
Incentivizing output over impact.
Contributions became shallow. Systems got gamed. Long-term quality started to erode. Here’s the full story.
So we stepped back.
We kept what worked. And rebuilt what mattered.
OnlyDust is evolving—with two clear, structured journeys to support you:
- One for contributors, to help them grow, get recognized, and go further
- One for maintainers, to help them attract top talent and scale their projects
This post breaks down the Contributor Journey first, then walks through the Maintainer Journey below.
This isn’t just a list of perks. It’s a system built to support impact at every step.
Let’s break it down.
The OnlyDust Contributor Journey
A clear path. Real rewards. From your first PR to ecosystem leader.
Level 1 — The First Commit
You're here. You're building. You're in.
You’ve just landed on OnlyDust. Maybe you’ve explored a few repos, joined an ODHack, or contributed your first PR. This is where it begins.
What you unlock:
- Access to our community space (Discord coming soon)
- Participation in ODHacks and community events
- Support from the community and platform team
First contribution? You get:
- A Level 1 badge on Discord (and soon on the platform!)
- Your first OnlyDust sticker drop to mark the milestone
- Recognition in the community space
It’s not about being perfect. It’s about showing up.
Because the more you show up, the more visibility, trust, and access you unlock.
Recognition isn’t the end goal. It’s the beginning.
Level 2 — The Merged Builder
You’re shipping. You’re visible. You’ve got momentum.
Once you’ve made at least 5 meaningful PRs, you hit Level 2—and we take notice.
What you unlock:
- An upgraded Level 2 badge on Discord (and soon on the platform!)
- Shoutouts in the community
- Your first piece of exclusive merch 👀
- Invitations to office hours and workshops with top contributors and maintainers
- Visibility to maintainers looking for collaborators
This is where community recognition begins. You're no longer new—you're known.
Level 3 — The Fellow Contributor
You’re consistent. You’re respected. You’re part of the backbone.
You’ve contributed across multiple projects, shown reliability, and earned the trust of maintainers and peers.
What you unlock:
- Core Contributor status (badge soon on the platform!)
- Featured spotlights on our social channels
- Access to targeted mentorship with experienced maintainers
- Invitations to guide and onboard new contributors
- Eligibility for the OnlyDust Fellowship
A funded program for deep, sustained open-source work
Read more about the OnlyDust Fellowship Program
We’re backing serious contributors with 3-month Fellowships to go deep on high-value open-source work—fully funded.
What it is:
- Up to $1000/month for contributors selected each month*
- Two - three-month commitment to build in a specific ecosystem
- Focused on real contributions, not filler activity
- Matched with projects that need and deserve your help
How selection works:
- OnlyDust reviews contributor activity and quality scores
- Up to 50 top contributors are selected monthly
- Manual screening + interviews ensure the right match
- Fellowship kicks off with a contract, paid via the platform
When does it start:
- We will be rolling this out in June
- BUT all contributions, all ODHacks that are done in the past and from now onwards will still help your portfolio!
💡To be eligible, contributors must:
- Be in the top 100 by quality (scoring will be put in place)
- Submit a form with GitHub, OnlyDust profile, Telegram handle, and interest areas
- Complete KYC
You'll leave the program with a sharper skillset, stronger network, and visibility that sticks.
*the budget can be higher for very specific cases.
It’s an invitation to do your best work—with the support to back it.
Level 4 — The Open Source Lead
You’re not just contributing—you’re shaping what’s next.
You’ve consistently delivered high-quality work, helped others grow, and earned real influence in the ecosystem.
What you unlock:
- Early access to bootcamps, partner programs, and grant opportunities
- Direct visibility with ecosystem stakeholders and foundations
- Tickets to major events, with travel support for select contributors
- Status as a Duster Mentor, helping shape the next wave of contributors
- Access to special edition, ultra-limited merch (reserved for leaders only)
This level is about leadership.
You’ve built your credibility. Now you're building the future.
The OnlyDust Maintainer Journey
From solo maintainer to ecosystem-ready project.
Like our Contributor Journey, this path is structured, transparent, and designed to evolve with your project.
Stage 1 — Open for Contributions
You’ve got a vision. You’ve shipped something real. You’re ready for help.
You’ve listed your repo on OnlyDust, opened a few issues, and you’re looking for contributors. This is the starting point.
What you unlock:
- Contributor applications via OnlyDust
- Guaranteed participation during ODHack events
- Help from our community to write good issues and make your repo contributor-friendly
- A Level 1 Maintainer badge (and soon on the platform!)
- First wave of OnlyDust swag (sticker drop + repo recognition pack)
You’re not doing it alone anymore. Now you’re building with others. Your role as a project lead starts now.
Stage 2 — Gaining Momentum
You’re growing. Contributions are rolling in. You’re starting to ship faster.
You’re starting to see sustained activity. Contributions are meaningful. You’re doing the hard work of reviewing, integrating, and guiding.
What you unlock:
- Enhanced project visibility in our recommendation engine
- One-on-one feedback to improve roadmap clarity and contributor flow
- A Level 2 badge showing what an awesome maintainer you are
- Invitations to maintainer workshops and office hours
- Shoutouts of your work, project and social amplification
- Exclusive OnlyDust merch drop for maintainers at this level
Your project is growing. You’re leading something that others want to be part of.
Stage 3 — Supported by Fellows
You’re no longer just leading. You’re accelerating.
At this stage, you’ve proven consistency. You’re guiding work across a roadmap, and we want to help you go faster—with people you can trust.
What you may be eligible to unlock:
- Matching with 1–2 vetted Fellows, funded by OnlyDust
- Priority placement in platform spotlights
- Support for backlog clean-up, issue scoping, and roadmap execution
- Your own Level 3 badge to show others that they can come to you
- A branded Core Maintainer merch pack
More info
If your repo is considered to be of high quality on OnlyDust, you will be able to apply for a "Fellow" - a skilled contributor ready to help you execute faster and more efficiently.
This will be rolled out in June (but the quality of your project is determined by past, current & future activities).
How it works:
- OnlyDust reviews repo activity, quality scores and consistency
- We manually review top-ranked projects each month
- If you are part of the "la crème de la crème" you can:
- Apply via Fillout with a roadmap and contributor needs (coming after ODHack14)
- We assess progress and fit
- We match you with a vetted Fellow, funded by us
You get:
- High-quality, committed support from a motivated contributor
- Project acceleration without the overhead
- A chance to prove your project belongs in the top tier
- Visibility in reportings as a project to look out for
Stage 4 — The open-source GOAT
You’ve built something serious. Now it’s time to go big.
You’re consistently delivering. You are bringing in new contributors on a regular basis. You are shipping more and more. You may be eligible for funding via OnlyDust.
What you may be eligible unlock:
- Up to $5,000/month in ecosystem/OnlyDust-backed grants (up to 3 months)
- Spotlighted across OnlyDust newsletters, socials, and reporting updates
- Priority access to the top Fellows on the platform
- A Level 4 Maintainer badge. This is a big deal. You'll be envied.
- Special-edition merch drop only for top maintainers
- Direct introductions to stakeholders and funders
- Early access to bootcamps or follow-up grant programs
- Event support:
- Tickets + travel to major open-source conferences
- Funding for project team retreats or contributor meetups
- Speaking opportunities, if you’re up for it
You’re no longer just building a repo.
You’re running an open-source initiative with visibility, funding, and real-world reach.
More info
If you're consistently delivering, onboarding and proving that you are going somewhere on a monthly basis, we are here to help you go further.
This will be rolled out end of June. (But the quality of your project is determined by past and current activities).
How it works:
- OnlyDust reviews project activity, quality scores, and consistency
- We manually review top-ranked projects each month
- The top repos are selected for funding
Selected repos receive:
- Up to $5,000/month in ecosystem/OnlyDust-backed grants
- Visibility across reporting updates
- Encouragement and support to apply for long-term grants outside of the platform
(We connect you. We vouch for you.)
- Encouragement and support to apply for long-term grants outside of the platform
- Priority matching with Fellows from the contributor program
- Optional mentorship to refine strategy, codebase, and execution
Note: Grants are reviewed monthly. If a project stalls, it’s rotated out to make space for rising projects. Funding lasts up to 3 months.