This May is the return of Maintainer Month on GitHub, where a global community of contributors alongside the Open Source Initiative (OSI) are gathered to celebrate and honour the individuals who steward and sustain Open-Source projects. 2025 is the fifth year of Maintainer Month, themed "Securing Open Source."

GitHub and its affiliates are highlighting maintainers throughout the entire month. They celebrate those who prioritise security in their projects, share their stories and provide a platform for collaboration and learning. According to GitHub, this celebration is taking place because "open source maintainers are behind the software we use every day, but they don't always have the community or support they need."

Screenshot of GitHub Maintainer Month webpage, 2025, GitHub

Maintainer Month is organised annually by GitHub and supported by a diverse group of open-source stakeholders. GitHub describes it as "a time to gather, share knowledge, and express appreciation for those who keep open source projects running." These maintainers not only review issues and merge pull requests but also navigate community dynamics, mentor new contributors, and increasingly adopt security best practices to protect their code and users.

How can anyone get involved?

GitHub signifies Maintainer Month as an "open source project — anyone can jump in and contribute!" You don't have to be a maintainer to participate. You can join as an organisation, or even as a fan of open source. Everyone is invited to join. Visit GitHub's webpage to find out how you can join or partner. GitHub is also calling those interested in partnering to reach out.

OSI is joining forces with GitHub and a global community of contributors, to celebrate maintainers month, and is also offering several opportunities to join, such as: a) spotlighting maintainers and security best practices at Opensource.net, b) hosting the OSI Affiliate Town Hall on May 21st to discuss ways to support maintainers, foster secure development practices and share resources across the world, and c) sharing stories and amplifying voices.

Click here for the full schedule of activities for the entire month.

Everyone is invited to participate in Maintainer Month! "A month for open source maintainers to gather, share, and be celebrated."