How to Apply for a Grant

This page provides an overview of the application process. For complete details, please refer to the official Process Guide on the forum.

note

The Process Guide and Grant Agreement Terms linked below were written under CIP-63 and reference Gnosis Chain for payouts. Under CIP-82, the Grants Treasury has migrated to Ethereum Mainnet. Follow the CIP-82 guidance on this page where there are discrepancies.

Application Steps

1. Review existing materials:

   • Read the Process Guide and Grant Agreement Terms
   • Check the Grants Program Forum Section for similar past proposals
   • Review RFPs if you're looking for ideas

2. Create a forum post:

   • Visit the CoW Grants Program section
   • Click "New Topic" and use the Grant Application Template
   • Be sure to include all required sections and a clear funding request

3. Engage with feedback:

   • Respond to community questions and committee feedback
   • Refine your proposal based on discussions
   • Work with your assigned Steward to ensure strategic alignment with protocol priorities

4. Submit to Snapshot:

   • After sufficient discussion, submit your proposal to Snapshot
   • Include a link to the forum discussion and the final version of your application
   • Ensure you include a link to the CoW DAO Grant Agreement

5. Proposal voting:

   • The voting period lasts three days
   • The committee members vote based on the evaluation criteria
   • Update your forum post with the Snapshot link

Evaluation Criteria

As per the 2026 mandate (CIP-82), proposals are evaluated with an emphasis on outcome-based results:

1. Strategic Alignment: Does the project address priority areas like developer onboarding, MEV protection, or solver competition?
2. Measurable Impact: What are the expected outcomes (e.g., volume growth, user adoption, or infrastructure improvements)?
3. Feasibility: Can the proposal be implemented effectively within the current protocol architecture?
4. Technical Expertise: Does the team demonstrate the specialized knowledge required for intent-based trading and batch auctions?

After Approval

If your grant is approved:

1. A Steward will be assigned to manage the grant lifecycle
2. Deliver according to your milestones or time-based commitments
3. Request reviews through the forum when milestones are complete
4. Upon completion of the grant, you must complete a standardized feedback form to help improve program operations
5. Payments are typically processed at the end of each month, after technical review

Contact and Support

For questions about the grants program:

• Post in the CoW Grants Program forum section
• Visit the #grants channel in the CoW Protocol Discord
• View active progress on the CoW Grants Hub
• Browse grant repositories on the CoW DAO Grants GitHub