Few would contest the assertion that Ethereum possesses one of the most varied and considerate communities assembled around any open-source endeavor. Driven by what can only be termed as fervent resolve, creators from all backgrounds have jeopardized their time and reputations to innovate in this transformative and predominantly uncharted area of advancement. In fact, even prior to its inception, Ethereum already showcases countless initiatives encompassing everything from self-sustaining currency to potential substitutes for governmental functions. Today, we are unveiling a new initiative to support and appreciate those who persist in this journey alongside us.
Introducing ÐΞVgrants.
ÐΞVgrants is an initiative that provides financial support for contributions to both the Ethereum framework and projects built upon Ethereum. Its objectives are threefold:
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To afford developers eager to contribute to the Ethereum ecosystem the chance to devote substantial time to their project, ultimately to see it through to completion.
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To enhance the codebase with beneficial components that are not the primary focus of ΞTHDEV, but would still provide significant value to Ethereum users overall.
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To broaden our outreach to various communities and the general populace.
ÐΞVgrants will concentrate solely on enhancing efforts that are currently underway. In simpler terms, if you have not commenced work on your project, you should initiate it before seeking to apply.
Be advised that while ΞTHDEV does not discriminate against applications from enterprises or developers aiming to benefit financially from ÐΞVgrant-funded projects, ÐΞVgrants should NOT be interpreted as a funding avenue for new business ventures. Only applicants who are creating an open-source public good for public advantage, will be taken into account.
What ÐΞVgrants is Not
- It is NOT a venture capital initiative. We will not “invest” or “allocate” funds for projects lacking continual development.
- It is NOT a bounty initiative. We do not intend to define specific objectives beforehand nor do we wish to assign value to them.
- It is NOT a ÐApp seed funding initiative. At this stage of our development, most ÐApps rank low in critical value for our development process.
To be eligible, you must:
- be actively engaged in a project;
- reasonably contribute value to essential components of the Ethereum core software, its development methodology or crucial aspects of the ecosystem (common services, APIs, ABIs).
Grant funding can be utilized to bolster or enhance the value of personal contributions, such as:
- remuneration for professional services or equipment;
- reimbursement for expenses incurred as part of cooperative workflow;
- support with living costs for project members (usually when taking leave from employment).
The application procedure.
Individuals interested in obtaining funding should contact the ÐΞVgrants administrator (grants@ethereum.org), providing three elements: a proposal that outlines the intended work, a project outline detailing timelines and anticipated working hours, and a suggested method for reporting on the progress and results of the project.
Additionally, we request that you include one or more methods of real-time communication – XMPP/Telegram/Skype ID, IRC nickname, phone number, etc. – and your time zone.
ΞTHDEV will strive to assess new proposals within a fortnight of receipt. Successful applicants will be asked to sign a contract with ΞTHDEV and to expedite development as swiftly as possible. This contract is a legal agreement between the successful applicant and ΞTHDEV, and we recommend that all applicants thoroughly review the terms before submitting their application.
How will evaluation proceed?
Preliminary evaluation
The preliminary assessment will be carried out by the ÐΞVgrants administrator, encompassing a review of the application, a high-level inquiry into the project’s condition, and an online discussion with one or more of the project developers. This evaluation will examine the social and technical advantages of the project, including its wider applicability and benefit to the Ethereum ecosystem, the general character of its developers, and the advancement achieved thus far.
Conclusive evaluation
Final assessments will be conducted by the ÐΞVgrants board, which comprises founding members of Ethereum along with the ÐΞVgrants administrator. This evaluation will scrutinize the condensed results of the prior two weeks’ initial assessments. Applicants may or may not be invited to segments of this discussion for the purposes of additional review and scrutiny.
What should a proposal include?
While we recognize that each project will present distinct characteristics to highlight, all applications will benefit from clearly addressing the following points:
- The project’s objectives and scope.
- The intended deliverables for the working period.
- Timelines and estimated working hours.
- The amount of funding requested.
- How the project benefits the Ethereum ecosystem.
- The methodology for reporting on progress and achievements.
How much funding can be requested, and what is the payment process?
While exceptions could be made in certain instances, ÐΞVgrants is aiming for funding requirements ranging from USD 1,000to1,000 to 10,000 for each initiative, or just enough to manage a few months of living costs for one or more programmers.
ΞTHDEV can facilitate distribution in two distinct manners, contingent on the requested sum, the duration of the proposed development timeframe, and the work executed initially:
Option one:
Fifty percent of the total sanctioned amount at the beginning of the initiative, and the remainder upon finalization.
Option two:
Several disbursements, corresponding to milestone accomplishments.
The preferred method can and ought to be specified in the application, but ΞTHDEV ultimately retains the authority to determine the method.
What about transparency?
All initiatives endorsed by ÐΞVgrants will be publicly disclosed by both name and application, on the upcoming ÐΞVgrants website as well as on the @DEVgrants Twitter profile. In most scenarios, any funded initiative will already possess a publicly accessible repository, and in every instance must comply with one or multiple designated open-source licenses.
In summary
Once more, we express our gratitude to you, the community, for all your development endeavors, feedback, and support. We aspire that this program will provide a small yet beneficial aid to your extraordinary efforts, and we eagerly anticipate reviewing your full applications.
Inquiries, comments, and applications should be directed to the ÐΞVgrants administrator at grants@ethereum.org. Interested individuals may also follow @DEVgrants on Twitter for updates regarding funded initiatives, changes in evaluation policies, and additional information.