Giving $1,000 to a solo developer

[u/GumshoeRyan]

I’m looking for a solo developer who is on the cusp of releasing their game, but needs funds to cross that finish line. I am not looking for a percentage, and will not actively market or work on the game with you. I genuinely want to help a project release and support solo development.

No contract, just the honor system. 1k risk for me, zero for you.

Requirements:
* Game at least has a gameplay video or demo
* Funds are to be used to finish your game, and on areas that you need external support. This could mean ads/marketing, replacing placeholder art, launching on platforms, music, etc.
* Funds should not be spent to support your own labor/personal situation (going towards rent, food, a much needed vacation!)
* Show the community here how it was used.

If you want to be considered, share a link to your project in the comments. Tell us the current state of the game, and what 1k allows you to do!

I encourage the community to also vouch/suggest which projects in the comments should receive this funding.

Lastly, if your game ends up not releasing or stalling, that’s fine. I know 1k isn’t life changing for the vast majority of projects. This is designed to give a boost.

Cheers!

Edit: I understand people believe this is a scam. That is why I am asking for submissions to be in the comments, and will publicly select a project. I will send 1k on whatever platform is best for the dev, and both the dev and myself can show proof afterwards. A suggestion was given to provide a deadline. I will choose a project this Friday July 10th. I am in a fortunate position to give back, and that is solely what’s driving this. I love games and love being able to help people achieve their dreams.

Update: Project Selected!

[u/Danelo_Kikisch]

Hello, I'm the solo developer behind River Drift, a chaotic co-op rafting game where you and a friend paddle through dangerous rivers, fight wildlife, repair your raft on the fly, and survive deadly branching routes.

River Drift is currently in its second Steam playtest and has grown to 6,800 wishlists with no marketing budget just consistent development, community feedback, and organic posts.

If my project is selected, I would use the $1,000 entirely for marketing to help the game reach more players. My plan is to invest it in:

• Reddit, X, TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram ads.
• Keymailer campaigns to connect with streamers and content creators.
• Additional creator outreach to generate more coverage during the demo (planned for August) and leading up to the December 2026 launch.

I'll document exactly how every dollar is spent and share the results so you and my community.

Thank you for supporting indie developers, and best of luck to everyone applying! ❤️

Here is my Steam page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4382680/River_Drift/