Announcing the Official Launch of the Prosperity Grants Program
Empowering builders to launch their ideas and drive innovation of GoodDollar within the Celo ecosystem.
At a Glance
- The Prosperity Grants Program is now accepting applications.
- A total of 422,106,128.145 G$ ($75,000 USD) is distributed across four grant categories to provide funding along with mentorship and collaborative opportunities for mission-aligned projects building with GoodDollar in the Celo ecosystem.
- Don’t wait! Apply early to get your project off the ground sooner. The application deadline is November 17, 2023.
In a recently published roadmap, GoodDollar outlined goals to support the long-term vision of ecosystem expansion driven by the community. In line with these goals and our mission to bridge the economic wealth gap through financial access, inclusivity, and education, we are thrilled to announce the official launch of the Prosperity Grants Program!
Launching a community-driven future with GoodDollar on Celo, the Prosperity Grants Program invites mission-aligned builders, innovators, educators, ambassadors, communities, organizations, and all to join us in shaping the diverse, inclusive, and equitable future that you want to see. This is your chance to transform your vision into reality.
The inaugural Prosperity Grants Program will kick off Season 1 with 422,106,128.145 G$ ($75,000 USD) allocated across four distinct grant categories, echoing the dynamic characteristics of the GoodDollar ecosystem. Whether you’re an individual with a game-changing idea or an organization eager to make a difference, all inspired applicants are invited to apply.
Here’s What Grant Recipients Can Expect from the Prosperity Grants Program
🌏 Real-World Impact:
Create meaningful impact by developing your mission-aligned project with an organization committed to bridging the wealth divide, advancing DeFi education, and bolstering local and digital economies.
💰 Get Your Project Funded:
The Prosperity Grants Program will allocate a total of 422,106,128.145 G$ ($75,000 USD) across four grant categories, providing financial support to bring your initiatives to life, subsidizing costs from development to marketing, and even hosting a local educational workshop.
🤝 Network, Collaborate, and Grow:
Being in the Prosperity Grants Program opens doors for networking and collaboration with fellow builders, innovators, and founders. Grantees will be able to engage in networking events, upskill at educational workshops, and receive mentorship from GoodDollar and Celo leaders.
🚀 Boost Visibility and Credibility:
Amplify your project’s presence and credibility. The Prosperity Grants Program facilitates networking events and demo opportunities, providing greater visibility across the GoodDollar and Celo ecosystems.
🔗 Interoperability and Wide User Base:
Build on GoodDollar’s accessible and interoperable protocol, which delivers UBI to over 590,000 recipients, ensuring longevity and immediate access to an expansive user base.
What are the 4 Grant Categories?
The Prosperity Grants Program has curated four distinct grant categories — Advocates, Educational Programming, Market Implementations, and Open Source Software Tooling. Unified by the overarching themes of access, inclusion, sustainability, and education, each grant category is distinct, featuring its own set of criteria, objectives, and success metrics, all tailored to achieve its intended outcome.
Ideal applicants for the Prosperity Grants Program should be working on projects that fit into at least one of the grant categories:
1. Advocates
Designed for individuals with a strategy and plan to contribute to the GoodDollar ecosystem through a one-time activation, event, workshop, or deliverable. Ideal candidates include researchers, storytellers, creatives, content creators, and community ambassadors. Examples of projects supported by Advocate grants may resemble:
- 1-day workshops
- “How-To” GoodDollar online media series
- Impactful community-based video case study
2. Educational Programming
Aimed at individuals and organizations passionate about education and developing robust and consistent educational programming centered on financial education and empowerment through GoodDollar. Ideal candidates include educators or community development organizers with knowledge and experience in creating an ongoing curriculum. Examples of projects supported by Educational Programming grants may resemble:
- Creation of a local 6-week GoodDollar educational course
- Establishment of a local GoodDollar recycling program at a school
3. Market Implementations
Whether you’re a mission-driven organization or a pioneering social entrepreneur, market implementation grants provide a broad spectrum of opportunities to bring your GoodDollar integrated initiatives to life. NGOs and community organizations can amplify their existing operations by building on the GoodDollar protocol and integrating G$. Examples of projects supported by organizational Market Implementation grants may resemble:
- Creation of a microcredit dApp that integrates G$ as a payment and issues loans in G$ to microentrepreneurs
- A water and sanitation NGO in Rwanda deploys a project in a local village, enabling the acceptance of G$ as payment
- A P2P digital marketplace integrates G$ as a payment token in the application and launches it to its community
Individual social entrepreneurs can join as Fellows, experimenting with GoodDollar in their communities and disseminating their findings. Examples of projects supported by individual Market Implementation grants may resemble:
- Analyzing the impact of G$ loans on local communities
- Onboarding local stores to accept G$ as a form of payment
4. Open Source Software Tooling
For the digital architects out there, this category supports individuals and groups who build open-source software as a digital public good and contribute to the GoodDollar GitHub. Examples of projects funded by Open Source Software Tooling grants may resemble:
- DAO tooling to enable greater participation and decision-making of GoodDAO members
- E-commerce and payment tooling to simplify the integration of G$ payment technology for developers
What Does Success Look Like?
Projects should demonstrate alignment with GoodDollar and Celo’s mission of advancing global economic prosperity, incorporating the socioeconomic themes upheld by the Prosperity Grants Program, such as fostering financial education, community finance, regenerative finance, and alternative economics. Applications should clearly articulate intention, objectives, expected outcomes, and strategies for incorporating GoodDollar adoption into projects.
The evaluation process consists of a thorough review and interview by the Evaluation Committee, processed on a rolling basis. Ensure all applications for Season 1 of the Prosperity Grants Program are submitted by the deadline of November 17, 2023.
Defining success within the Prosperity Grants Program depends on reaching milestones and achieving outcomes related to the designated grant category. Milestones are co-determined in partnership with the Grants Manager and are unique to each project.
Let’s Start Building!
Are you inspired to start building for good with GoodDollar on Celo? Great!
Application submissions are open and reviewed on a rolling basis. Since applications are evaluated as they come in, the sooner you submit your application, the sooner you can start implementing your project!
Applications close on November 17, 2023, and although that seems like a lifetime away, we encourage you to start assembling your project materials as soon as possible.
🌐 Check out the Prosperity Grants Program page for more information
👾 Have questions? Want to connect with peers? Join the Prosperity Grants Program Discord channel
Our team is thrilled to launch the Prosperity Grants Program, and we can’t wait to create a more financially inclusive and equitable future together.
If you know anyone who might be interested or a good fit for the Prosperity Grants Program, pass along this blog and our website for more details.
