The Gem Fellowship is a grant partnership between gem.coop and Contributed Systems, the company behind Sidekiq Pro and Sidekiq Enterprise.

Each year, individual Ruby developers can submit applications during the month of December, proposing projects for funding. In January, gem.coop members select proposals to fund with $2,500 to $25,000 USD.

Gem Fellowship 2026

Read the Gem Fellowship announcement, then about the 2026 Gem Fellows.

Gem Fellowship 2027

Applications will open on December 1, 2026.

FAQ

Q. Who is behind the Gem Fellowship?
A. Contributed Systems, the company behind Sidekiq Pro and Sidekiq Enterprise, has committed to provide $100,000 in grants for three years. These grants are meant to provide funding to the altruistic people who maintain and improve the open source tools freely available to the Ruby community.

Q. Can other companies add additional funds to increase the size or number of Fellowships?
A. Yes! Gem.coop wants to represent the broader open source Ruby community, and we would love to increase the impact of this program with support from your company.