Grant Types

The CoW Grants Program offers different types of grants to accommodate various project needs. Understanding the differences will help you choose the most appropriate structure for your proposal.

Milestone-Based Grants

Milestone-based grants are designed for projects with clearly defined deliverables and outcomes.

Key characteristics:

• Structured around specific, measurable deliverables
• Payment tied to completion of defined milestones
• Suitable for development projects, integrations, or research with clear outputs
• Each milestone includes detailed descriptions, deliverables, due dates, and funding amounts

When to choose:

• Your project has clear, measurable deliverables
• You can break down the work into distinct phases
• You need funding based on completion of specific objectives

Time-Based Grants

Time-based grants are not tied to specific deliverables but to the provision of time and effort over a period.

Key characteristics:

• Based on dedicated time commitment rather than specific deliverables
• Suitable for ongoing roles, maintenance, or advisory services
• Can be structured by hours, days, or months
• Requires clear scope of work and responsibilities

When to choose:

• Your contribution involves ongoing work or maintenance
• The value is in consistent effort rather than specific outputs
• Your role requires flexibility in addressing emerging needs

Hybrid Grants

Some projects may benefit from combining aspects of both milestone and time-based grants.

Key characteristics:

• Combines fixed deliverables with ongoing time commitments
• Allows for both structured outcomes and flexible contributions
• Must clearly specify which parts are milestone-based and which are time-based

The specific grant type must be clearly stated in your application and will be confirmed during the approval process.

Bonus Allocations

As introduced in CIP-63, the Grants DAO Committee may award discretionary bonuses to grantees who demonstrate exceptional performance. These bonuses:

• Are capped at 10,000 xDAI or equivalent in COW per grant
• Do not require additional milestones or deliverables
• Are awarded at the committee’s discretion for outstanding contributions
• May be given for exceptional results, significant ecosystem impact, or extraordinary efficiency

For complete details on grant types and requirements, refer to the CoW DAO Grant Agreement.