⭐ HeroDevs’ Open Source Sustainability Fund: A New Lifeline for Aging Software
In the world of software, “open-source” often brings to mind active communities, constant updates, and rapid innovation. But behind the thousands of tools we rely on every day — from programming languages to security libraries — there’s a quieter truth: much of that software is held together by a handful of unpaid maintainers, and many important tools eventually reach end-of-life (EOL). When that happens, bugs linger, security vulnerabilities go unpatched, and organizations that still depend on the code are left stranded.
This is exactly the problem HeroDevs is stepping in to solve.
In 2025, HeroDevs launched a groundbreaking $20 million Open Source Sustainability Fund, designed to support the maintainers, teams, and communities responsible for critical but aging open-source projects. In an era where the world runs on open-source software, but funding rarely matches the impact, this initiative arrives at the perfect time.
What the Fund Is About
HeroDevs specifically focuses on supporting open-source projects that have reached or are approaching EOL — software that people still use, but the original creators can no longer maintain. These could be frameworks, libraries, tools, or systems that sit deep inside tech stacks, silently powering apps, APIs, hospitals, financial systems, or government servers.
The fund offers grants ranging from $2,500 to a quarter-million dollars, with the goal of keeping this essential software secure, updated, and usable. This is a big shift in the ecosystem. Historically, maintainers have burned out, companies have dropped support, and communities have been left scrambling. HeroDevs aims to break that cycle.
Why It Matters
The importance of this fund goes far beyond writing patches. It addresses a deep structural problem in the open-source world:
- Millions of people use open-source software every day, often without knowing it.
- Companies depend on these tools but contribute little or nothing back.
- Maintainers are often unpaid volunteers, working nights and weekends out of love or necessity.
- When a project goes EOL, users are left vulnerable to security issues and compatibility problems.
HeroDevs’ initiative is one of the first serious attempts to financially stabilize this gap. By giving grants directly to maintainers, the fund supports the humans behind the code — the ones who understand the project’s architecture, history, and future needs.
This helps businesses too. Companies that still rely on older versions of software often find themselves stuck between “rewrite everything” and “risk security failures.” The Sustainability Fund gives them a realistic third option: trusted, professionally maintained continuity.
HeroDevs’ Philosophy: Continuity Over Abandonment
Unlike many organizations that only care about the “latest and greatest,” HeroDevs embraces the reality that not all software needs to be replaced. Sometimes, systems are stable, battle-tested, and perfectly suited to their environment — they just need updates.
Their stance is refreshing:
- Preserve the code that works.
- Update what needs fixing.
- Support the maintainers who know the system best.
- Stabilize the ecosystem instead of causing churn.
This approach also helps prevent the common “rewrite trap” — a costly, risky, multi-year process many organizations dread.
Challenges Ahead
No major initiative is without obstacles.
- Sustainability itself is tricky. A one-time grant helps, but long-term maintenance often requires recurring support.
- The open-source world is vast. Choosing which projects deserve funding will always be subjective.
- Corporate reliance is enormous. Large companies may need to step up and contribute too, or the fund could become overwhelmed.
Still, HeroDevs is laying a foundation that others can build upon. Their fund is not just financial support — it’s a signal to the open-source community that maintainers matter and infrastructure is worth investing in.
Conclusion
HeroDevs’ Open Source Sustainability Fund is one of the most promising initiatives the open-source world has seen in years. By focusing on aging but essential software, it shines a light on a neglected class of projects that quietly support our digital society. Instead of letting good software die or forcing expensive rewrites, HeroDevs offers a balanced, human-centered alternative: invest in the maintainers, preserve the code, and empower the community.
If the fund succeeds, it could change not only how open source is maintained, but also how the industry values the people behind the tools we rely on every day.
Acknowledgements
This blog post was made possible thanks to organizations, reporters, and open-source communities whose work supports the broader ecosystem. Special thanks to the following:
HeroDevs
Open Source Maintainers & Contributors
Software Ecosystem Advocates
Technology Journalists & Reporters
Community Platforms
Research & Open Knowledge Contributors
We acknowledge and appreciate all contributors — visible and invisible — whose work keeps open-source software alive.
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