Gitcoin Grants 23 (GG23) is designed to support builders at various growth stages through refined funding mechanisms and structured rounds. GG23 introduces two primary funding models: Quadratic Funding (QF) for early-stage projects and Retro Funding (RF) for mature, high-impact initiatives.
QF enables community-driven crowdfunding, while RF focuses on rewarding established projects based on historical contributions. This new approach aims to create a fairer distribution of funds, ensuring emerging projects have an opportunity to grow while also sustaining impactful, long-term contributors.
The program structure will now include three key Quadratic Funding rounds covering dApps & Apps, Dev Tooling, and Web3 Infrastructure, each allocated $200K. Additionally, Retro Funding will distribute $600K among 30 selected high-impact projects. Community Rounds will receive $150K, bringing the total matching pool to $1.35M. Notably, the Hackathon Alumni round has been sunsetted in favor of a more streamlined funding model.
Grant Ships
A significant change in GG23 is the introduction of Grant Ships, a new governance model for Community Rounds. These decentralized rounds empower communities to allocate funding based on their specific needs, reinforcing Gitcoin’s commitment to grassroots funding. The top three Community Rounds will receive additional incentives and automatic eligibility for GG24.
Builder Onboarding Program
GG23 is also expanding its builder support beyond funding. The Builder Onboarding Program will provide mentorship and education to grantees, ensuring they can effectively leverage Gitcoin’s ecosystem. Additional spaces will be launched for builders to collaborate, further fostering innovation and community engagement.
Retro Funding eligibility is determined through a data-driven, community-curated approach. Only projects that have participated in multiple past rounds (GG18–GG22) and meet specific metrics are eligible. A new tiered badgeholder system will govern voting for Retro Funding, with Gitcoin Stewards and trusted contributors having the highest voting weight. GTC holders and past donors will also participate, ensuring a balanced decision-making process.
The Gitcoin team has outlined key performance indicators for success, including a 45% retention rate for past grantees, 30% participation from first-time projects, and an 80%+ builder satisfaction rate. Additionally, GG23 serves as a testing ground for experimental funding models and predictive funding mechanisms.
With GG23, Gitcoin continues to refine Quadratic and Retro Funding to better serve the builder community. While the system is not expected to be perfect from the outset, the commitment to continuous learning and iteration remains at the core of Gitcoin’s mission. As GG23 unfolds, the team welcomes feedback on engagement, voting processes, and funding allocation to optimize the program’s impact. You can learn more on this Forum.
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