grants/overview-all-platforms
Web3 Grants Comprehensive Guide (Multi-Platform Comparison)
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v1.0.0·Updated 3/20/2026
Help you find the most suitable Grant platform
Overview of Major Platforms
| Platform | Ecosystem | Max Amount | Best For | Application Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| W3F Grants | Polkadot/Substrate | $150K | Infrastructure/Tools/Protocols | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| NEAR Grants | NEAR Protocol | ~$50K | DApps/Tools/Content | ⭐⭐ |
| Ethereum Foundation ESP | Ethereum | Unlimited | Research/Protocol/Public Goods | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Gitcoin Grants | Multi-chain | Community Donations | Open Source Projects | ⭐ |
| Chainlink BUILD | Multi-chain | Services+Resources | Chainlink Integration Projects | ⭐⭐ |
| Optimism RPGF | Optimism | Unlimited | Public Goods/Infrastructure | ⭐⭐ |
| Arbitrum DAO | Arbitrum | Unlimited | Ecosystem Building | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Polygon Grant | Polygon | ~$100K | DApps/Tools | ⭐⭐ |
| Base Ecosystem Fund | Base | Unlimited | Base Ecosystem Projects | ⭐⭐ |
AgentRel Case Count
- W3F: 24 cases →
grants/overview-w3f - NEAR: 12 cases →
grants/overview-near - Gitcoin: 5 cases
- Ethereum ESP: 5 cases
Platform Selection Decision Tree
What are you building?
├── Polkadot/Substrate related → W3F Grants (up to $150K)
├── NEAR ecosystem DApps/Tools → NEAR Foundation Grants
├── Ethereum research/protocol layer → Ethereum Foundation ESP
├── Cross-chain/Multi-chain/Open source → Gitcoin Grants (community matching donations)
├── Using Chainlink → Chainlink BUILD Program
├── Public goods on Optimism → RPGF (no application needed, retroactive distribution)
├── Arbitrum ecosystem → Arbitrum DAO Treasury
└── Base ecosystem → Base Ecosystem Fund
General Application Tips
- Clear problem definition — Explain in one sentence what problem you're solving and for whom
- Verifiable milestones — Each phase should have concrete deliverables, avoid vague descriptions
- Reasonable budget — Reference similar projects, both too high or too low will raise questions
- Team background — GitHub activity and past Web3 project experience are plus points
- Community engagement — Post discussion threads in forums early to gain community recognition
- Ecosystem fit — Demonstrate how your project enhances the value of the target ecosystem
Common Rejection Reasons
- Unclear technical approach, only ideas without implementation path
- Overly vague milestones ("development completed" is not a milestone)
- Inflated budget without reasonable justification
- Weak connection to the ecosystem
- Team lacks relevant experience