Abstract
The Grant Allocator Track of the Polygon Community Grants Program (CGP) is a core component of Season 2, distributing up to 15 million POL tokens to builders across key themes. Independent Grant Allocators (GAs) will drive funding decisions, leveraging their expertise to identify and support high-potential projects that align with their respective focus areas. The Grant Allocator system is designed to ensure targeted, decentralized funding to accelerate ecosystem growth.
This post outlines the structure of the Grant Allocator Track, key themes for Season 2, and how builders can engage with the program.
Specification
Key Themes for Season 2
The first five Grant Allocators will focus on the following core themes:
- AI Agents, Applications, and Infrastructure
- Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN)
- Memecoins and Novel Token Experiments
These themes have been chosen to reflect emerging trends in Web3 and areas where Polygon can lead innovation. Each GA brings unique expertise to their domain, ensuring that funding is deployed where it can have the most impact.
More Grant Allocators are planned to be announced in the weeks following launch. However, the Community Treasury Board (CTB) reserves the right to delay or cancel additional GA launches if the initial rollout highlights any issues that need to be addressed to ensure a positive user experience.
Grant Allocator Responsibilities
Independent Grant Allocators will:
- Distribute grants within their specific theme, allocating a portion of the 15 million POL total. Each Allocator will have a specified maximum allocation, e.g., 1 million POL. Larger allocations (e.g. over one million) will be reserved for experienced allocators with a proven track record of growing the Polygon ecosystem.
- Evaluate applications using processes outlined in their public proposal.
- Submit end-of-season impact reports. While Grant Allocators do not need to strictly follow the Season 2 end date, they must provide a report on what has been distributed so far.
- Provide ongoing support to funded projects, ensuring progress toward milestones and goals.
Allocators may continue allocating past the end of Season 2. However, Allocators who have not completed or returned their allocation will not be eligible for a new one.
Grant Allocators will operate autonomously within their track, with oversight from the CTB to ensure transparency and accountability. Builders are encouraged to engage directly with relevant GAs to discuss project alignment and application details.
How Builders Can Apply
- Identify the relevant Grant Allocator for your project. A full list of active Allocators is available at the Polygon Community Grants homepage.
- Review the Grant Allocator’s guidelines to understand their specific application process and criteria.
- Prepare a project proposal that clearly outlines your goals, milestones, and expected impact on the Polygon ecosystem.
Applications will be reviewed by GAs according to their publicly posted processes. The CTB will not direct individual funding decisions, ensuring that GAs maintain full autonomy within their themes.
Why Decentralized Grant Funding Matters
Decentralized grant funding through Independent GAs ensures that industry leaders can leverage their expertise to back the most promising projects. This approach:
- Distributes decision-making across multiple stakeholders.
- Allows subject-matter experts to make informed funding decisions.
- Reduces bottlenecks in the funding process, accelerating project timelines.
The Community Treasury Board believes that empowering experts to manage grants is the most effective way to foster innovation and drive long-term ecosystem growth.
Next Steps for Builders
If you are working on a project within one of the core themes:
- Engage with the relevant GA to understand their focus and requirements.
- Submit a detailed project proposal that outlines your goals, milestones, and funding needs.
- Join the Polygon Founder Community Discord to stay updated on program announcements and to connect with other builders.