Piloting an in-house mentorship program like the AsyncAPI Maintainership Program involves thoughtful financial planning. The program is designed to run in two modes depending on the Initiative's yearly financial standing:
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Funded Cohort: Where the AsyncAPI Initiative allocates a portion of its annual budget to support the program.
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Volunteer Cohort: Where the program runs entirely on community goodwill with no stipends or honorariums.
Thanks to generous donations through our Open Collective, a funded cohort may be possible in a given year — but it is not guaranteed. Whether there's a budget or not, the program runs.
We've also created a dedicated Open Collective page specifically for the Maintainership Program. This helps organizers easily manage and track program-specific expenses while keeping them loosely coupled from the broader Initiative's finances.
Budget Overview
Each year, before a new cohort is announced, the Initiative evaluates its finances to determine whether a funded cohort is feasible. If a budget is available, it is allocated to the program. If not, the cohort runs in a volunteer mode.
There is no guaranteed annual budget for the Maintainership Program. Budget availability depends entirely on the Initiative's financial position for that year.
Funded Cohort
When there's a budget, each project accepted into the program is funded with a fixed $2,000 budget, designed to fairly support both contributors and mentors. Whether a project is led by one contributor or a small team, the budget remains consistent to encourage scope discipline, collaboration, and resource sharing.
Cost Breakdown (Per Project)
| Expense Item | Amount (USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Contributor Stipends | $1,500 | Split equally among all contributors on the project. |
| Mentor Recognition / Honorarium | $500 | Given to the lead mentor (or split between multiple mentors if applicable). |
| Total Per Project | $2,000 |
If a project has two contributors, each will receive $750. If three, each receives $500, and so on. Mentor funds are fixed per project regardless of team size.
Annual Cohort Budget Projection
The number of project slots we support in a funded cohort depends entirely on available funding. For example, with a $16,000 annual budget, we can support up to 8 projects:
| Item | Per Project | Total (8 Projects) |
|---|---|---|
| Contributor Stipends | $1,500 | $12,000 |
| Mentor Honorariums | $500 | $4,000 |
| Total Budget Needed | — | $16,000 |
Actual project slots vary year to year depending on total funds raised and community needs.
Volunteer Cohort
When no budget is available, the program runs as a volunteer edition. Contributors and mentors participate without financial compensation. The structure, expectations, and community support remain the same, only the stipends are absent.
This model ensures the program can continue regardless of the Initiative's financial position in any given year.
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