Gem Fellowship 2027
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Quick Answer
US$2,500-25,000 (about ₹2.38-23.75 lakh) for individual developers improving existing Ruby open source tools. Not open yet: applications open 1 December 2026.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Fellowship
- Provider
- Contributed Systems
- Application deadline
- —
- Location
- International
About this grant
The Gem Fellowship is a grant partnership between gem.coop, a cooperative in the Ruby open source community, and Contributed Systems, the company behind Sidekiq Pro and Sidekiq Enterprise. Applications are not open yet: the 2027 round opens on 1 December 2026 and takes proposals during December. Awards run from US$2,500 to US$25,000 (about ₹2.38 lakh to ₹23.75 lakh).
What the program offers
Contributed Systems has committed US$100,000 a year for three years to fund the people who maintain and improve the open source tools the Ruby community uses for free. Individual awards range from US$2,500 to US$25,000, given in steps of US$2,500, and US$25,000 is the most for a single project. For 2027 the organisers say they want to grow to 15 projects by raising a further US$150,000 from sponsors. Other companies can add funds to increase the size or number of fellowships.
The money is for existing projects: fixing bugs, adding features and keeping well-used libraries healthy. The organisers say plainly it is not seed money for creating a brand-new project. In 2026 they received 40 applications asking for US$439,000 in total and funded eight projects, including the Rouge syntax highlighter and the Herb ERB parser.
Who can apply
The fellowships are intended for individual Ruby developers. If you do not own the project you want to work on, you should clearly document that the project is interested in mentoring you or accepting your finished work; the organisers suggest opening an issue and discussing it with the team first. Applying from outside the United States is allowed, but gem.coop needs to be able to pay you, so mention any payment concerns in your proposal.
For a developer in India this means you can apply as an individual, provided there is a workable way to pay you. It suits Ruby maintainers and regular contributors with a clear piece of work in mind. It does not suit companies, new-project ideas or people with no tie to a Ruby project.
How to apply
From 1 December 2026, submit a proposal at gem.coop/fellowship during December. Your proposal should describe the work you want to do and the amount you are asking for. Say what you plan to fix or build, why it matters to people who use the library, and how you will tell when it is done. The organisers contact you if your proposal is accepted. After that you do the work, then email a final work summary with payment details once the work is substantially complete. In the 2025 announcement, gem.coop said it verifies the work and pays the agreed stipend within one month.
How applications are judged and what happens next
In January, gem.coop members select the proposals to fund. In the first round, five long-time Ruby open source contributors judged; the 2027 judging panel is not named on the page. Acceptance is by contact from the award committee. A page listing the winning projects is published each year, and projects may link to it from their README.
About gem.coop and Contributed Systems
gem.coop describes itself as a new open source cooperative in the Ruby community, and its members vote on funding. Contributed Systems makes Sidekiq Pro and Sidekiq Enterprise and provides the headline funding for the fellowship.
Things to check before you apply
Payment is the main thing to settle if you live outside the United States, so raise it in your proposal. Keep your request realistic: in 2026 requests added up to more than four times the fund. A practical tip: open an issue on the project early and link it, and write a short plan with milestones that fit an amount in multiples of US$2,500. Check with an adviser how a foreign stipend is received and taxed in India.
Eligibility
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Grant providers
Benefits & Funding
- Fund type
- Fellowship
What You Get
Each fellow receives between US$2,500 and US$25,000 (about ₹2.38 lakh to ₹23.75 lakh), awarded in steps of US$2,500, with a cap of US$25,000 per project. Payment is made once the work is substantially complete: you email a final work summary with your payment details, gem.coop verifies the work, and the agreed stipend is paid within one month. Funded projects are also listed on a public page each year that you can link from your README.
- Disbursement
- Lump Sum
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
gem.coop members select the proposals to fund in January, and the award committee contacts accepted applicants. In the first round the proposals were judged by five long-time Ruby open source contributors. The 2027 panel is not named on the page.
Application Process
- 1
Submit proposal
Describe the Ruby open source work and the amount you need, during December.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Draft your application
Answer the form inside the grant tracker — AI drafts each response using your past answers, so you're not starting from a blank page.
- 2
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 3
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can I apply for the Gem Fellowship 2027?
Applications open on 1 December 2026 and are taken during the month of December, so they are not open yet. gem.coop members choose the winners in January.
Can I apply from India?
Yes. Applying from outside the United States is allowed, but gem.coop needs to be able to pay you somehow. Mention any payment concerns in your proposal.
How much can I get?
Awards are made in steps of US$2,500, from US$2,500 up to US$25,000 for a single project. That is about ₹2.38 lakh to ₹23.75 lakh.
Can I apply as an individual?
Yes. The fellowships are intended for individuals rather than companies.
Can I work on a project I do not own?
Yes, but you should clearly document that the project is interested in mentoring you or accepting your completed work. Opening an issue and discussing it with the team is the suggested route.
Can I use it to start a new project?
No. The awards are for existing projects, such as fixing bugs and adding features. They are not seed funding for creating a new project.
How is the money paid?
You email a final work summary with payment details once the work is substantially complete. In the 2025 announcement gem.coop said it would verify the work and pay the agreed stipend within one month.
What do I need to submit?
A proposal describing the work you plan to do and the amount you are requesting. If the project is not yours, show that the maintainers support your work.
Is it a grant or equity?
It is a grant paid as a stipend for agreed work. The page mentions no equity.
Is it free to apply and do I have to travel?
The page mentions no application fee and no travel. The work is done remotely on an open source project.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
