Is it accepted to add github sponsors for private projects containing only a public issue tracker?

[rsm-gh]

Hello,

As far as I understand, GitHub Sponsors is intended to sponsor projects that host their code in GitHub, meaning that it is at least OpenSource.

Then I wonder if it is accepted by the GitHub staff, to use it for founding private projects? For example, some projects maintain their code as private, but they create a Public GitHub repo to track the issues.

I'm very interested by this since I host a free project with closed source, but I'd like to host the issue tracker on GitHub, and the donations would be certainty a big advantage.

Is there any official documentation about this?

Best regards,
rsm~

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[LqhResearch]

Hi @rsm~,

You're correct that [GitHub Sponsors](https://github.com/sponsors) is primarily designed to support open source developers and projects. However, GitHub does not require your entire codebase to be public in order to use GitHub Sponsors.

Here are a few important points based on [GitHub’s documentation](https://docs.github.com/en/sponsors):

1. Public engagement is key: While your code can remain private, it's encouraged that you provide public value — for example, through issue tracking, community support, documentation, or educational content.

2. Closed source is allowed: There is no strict rule that the sponsored project must be open source, but transparency with your sponsors is very important. If the project is not open source, you should clearly communicate that in your profile or README so sponsors understand what they are supporting.

3. GitHub’s review process: All GitHub Sponsors profiles are subject to review. As long as your profile complies with [GitHub’s Sponsors Terms](https://docs.github.com/en/site-policy/github-terms/github-sponsors-additional-terms) and you're not misleading users, hosting an issue tracker for a closed-source but free-to-use project is generally acceptable.

So in your case — a free, closed-source project using GitHub for issue tracking and community interaction — it's likely acceptable, especially if you're transparent about the nature of your project.

I hope this helps! If you're still unsure, you can also [contact GitHub Support](https://support.github.com/contact) for a definitive answer.

Best regards,
LqhResearch

[rsm-gh]

Its clear,

Thank you for the answer @LqhResearch .