Support Inclusion in Tech (SiNC) has opened applications for its Contributor Funding program for 2026, offering direct financial support to WordPress contributors to help cover the real costs of open-source participation.
The program is open to WordPress and FAIR contributors of all demographics, with applications accepted from contributors residing in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America. All eligible submissions will be entered into a random selection process. Applications are open through February 28, 2026, with grant recipients announced in March 2026. Five grants of $250 USD each will be awarded, with one recipient selected from each continent.
The 2026 Contributor Funding Program
The initiative is designed to provide financial support to WordPress.org contributors and FAIR contributors to help cover the costs associated with open-source participation. For this year, the grant has been raised to $250 from the previous year’s $240.
Winstina Hughes, founder of Support Inclusion in Tech, said the program is about more than financial assistance, noting that it also aims to recognize the individuals who form the backbone of the WordPress community and highlight the passion and effort of contributors worldwide, “Our grant program isn’t just about financial support; it’s about shining a light on the incredible individuals who are the backbone of the WordPress community. We want to recognize the passion and hard work of WordPress.org and FAIR contributors from every corner of the globe, reinforcing our shared commitment to inclusion and collaboration.”
Winstina also shared with WP-Content.co that, “ SiNC wants to partner with more companies in Asia that want their support to directly reach contributors, speakers, and organizers—knowing funds go to real costs like travel, internet, tools, and accessibility needs.”
Funding is provided directly to WordPress contributors and organizers and is not tied to deliverables or promotional requirements.
While not meant to fully address open-source sustainability challenges, the initiative represents one part of a broader effort to support contributors who are already absorbing the costs of their work, “ We’re not pretending this fixes everything about open source sustainability. It’s one piece of a much bigger puzzle, one way of getting resources to people who are already doing the work but shouldering the costs themselves.”
The inaugural cohort received 21 applications, and the recipients who received the grants were:
- Eleonora Anzini: Europe (Italy)
- Suji K Chandran: Asia (India)
- Sumner Davenport: North America (USA)
- Tabi Idris Nfongang: Africa (Cameroon)
Support Inclusion in Tech (SiNC) is also seeking senior leaders to mentor WordPress contributors in 2026.