The program will allocate 250,000 CELO to individuals in two phases. Phase one will leverage EasyRPGF to identify citizen contributions and allocate up to 200,000 CELO based on CeloPG stewards and Celo delegates voting. Phase two will see an additional 50,000 CELO allocated to Celo Citizens based on their meaningful onchain participation measured through a version of Prosperity Account developed by CeloPG. Read on to learn about the program.

Important Program Dates
Application Submissions: Friday, December 20th - Wednesday, January 8th (8PM UTC)
Review Period: Thursday, January 9th - Monday, January 14th
Voting Period: Tuesday, January 15th - Monday, January 21st

Celo Citizen Retro Round Eligibility
We identify a Celo Citizen as any individual who has contributed meaningfully to the Celo Ecosystem, helping to realize Celo’s mission of a regenerative digital economy with conditions for prosperity for all. Through Celo Citizen Retro, we aim to reward efforts that go above and beyond an individual's role or mandate.

• Research & Development: Creation of open-source tools, research, onchain solutions, and innovative technical contributions that advance Celo’s mission of building a regenerative digital economy.

• Governance: Active involvement in shaping Celo’s future by participating in forum discussions, governance meetings, and casting onchain votes.

• Community & Adoption: Efforts to promote Celo’s growth through education, onboarding, marketing, organizing events, building strong communities, and other efforts that foster network adoption and engagement.

Each individual who has made a meaningful contribution in one or more of these categories is allowed to apply for the Celo Citizen Retro Round. See the Celo Forum post for more details and examples of specific behaviors that will be rewarded.

How to apply for Phase 1: EasyRPGF
Formal applications will be accepted in the EasyRPGF app from Friday, December 20th - Wednesday, January 8th (8 PM UTC). About 24 hours before the round goes live, this blog will be updated with the application link and a best practices guide.

A glimpse into Phase 2: Meaningful onchain participation
After completing the first phase, Celo contributors can earn additional rewards by creating their Prosperity Account and showcasing their meaningful onchain activity. In January, users can create their Prosperity Account, a Celo-specific Smart Account built on Safe that allows them to claim Badges based on their meaningful onchain activity. Users can level up their account by claiming additional badges. Up to 50,000 CELO will be distributed based on the Prosperity Account levels on the snapshot date, estimated to occur around the end of January.

The Citizen Retro Round Thread on the Celo Forum provides an overview of the activities guaranteed to be included in the first snapshot, with more activities announced in the coming weeks.

A regenerative digital economy for all
Celo’s mission is to build a regenerative digital economy that creates conditions of prosperity for all. Creating collective wealth and supporting all builders equitably is integral to the Celo vision. By nurturing individuals who contribute to the well-being of the Celo ecosystem through the Celo Citizen Retro, we contribute to creating a digital economy that can coordinate towards critical real-world change.

If you’re interested in helping shape the regenerative digital economy, consider this your invitation to join the Celo ecosystem. CeloPG will ensure that your contributions are acknowledged and rewarded.

For any questions or inquiries, please email stewards@celopg.eco

Real World Builders: Driving Real-World Impact with Celo

The Real World Builders program was designed to support teams working on impactful use cases of blockchain technology that positively affect physical communities and environments. These use cases included financial inclusion, ecological credits, Real World Assets (RWA), and Decentralized Physical Infrastructure (DePIN), among others.

Key Stats

• Matching Pool: 75,000 cUSD

• Number of Projects: 56

• Donations Made: $13,790.04

• Unique Contributors: 609

• Total Contributions: 2,577

For a look at all the matching results, you can check out the full results here.

The Real World Builder round had an outstanding balance between existing Celo projects participating in CeloRPGF0 and new projects recently deployed or launching on Celo. We also saw multiple graduates from the recent Celo Camp batches participating in the program to progress their projects. Simultaneously, some of the projects that applied for this RWB round received referrals to Prezenti - a Celo Ecosystem grants program, to be able to apply for additional development and funding opportunities.

Feedback & Challenges

Average Ratings (out of 5):

• Application Process: 5.0

• Fairness of Outcome: 4.0

• Communication & Support: 4.0

• Overall Program: 4.6

"Great support and the process was very smooth and clear."

However, there were also some challenges faced by participants. Some users experienced confusion and bugs while bridging funds and accessing gas tokens on the Celo network. To address this, we provided additional support resources, updated documentation, and direct assistance through the Telegram group. Despite the improvements, this remains an area where Celo, Gitcoin, and the wider Web3 ecosystem can continue to improve.

Regen Coordi-Nation: Building Global Regenerative Communities

The Regen Coordi-Nation Genesis Round was the first of its kind, aiming to support regenerative communities that use Web3 technology to address local needs and generate real-world impact. This initiative brought together the GreenPill Network, ReFi DAO, and Celo Public Goods under a shared mission to support communities dedicated to regenerative finance (ReFi) and sustainability.

Key Stats

• Matching Pool: 50,000 USDGLO

• Number of Projects: 46

• Donations Made: $8,450.45 (16.71% of the matching pool)

• Total Contributions: 1,473

Feedback & Impact

Average Ratings (out of 5):

• Application Process: 4.38

• Fairness of Outcome: 4.29

• Communication & Support: 4.25

• Overall Program: 4.14

The feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive. Beyond the financial support, the round strengthened collaboration between ReFi DAO, the GreenPill Network, and Celo Public Goods, helping align builders with the Celo ecosystem.

For more detailed results, reflection, and analysis on the round, check out the Gitcoin Forum.

Celo Impact

We recognize that the amount of matching received by many projects may seem modest, however we hope this funding has provided some form of meaningful boost at a time when macro funding conditions remain challenging. Furthermore, these rounds should be seen as part of a larger suite of grant opportunities within the Celo ecosystem, including Prezenti, the Celo Community Treasury, Foundation grants, accelerators, hackathons, and regional DAO support.

In addition, as part of the CeloPG H2 Budget, 1,250,000 CELO has been allocated for an application to Optimism Season 6 Intent Budget to run large-scale co-funded programs for Real World Builders and Climate Tech. If successful, the projects from these initial GG21 rounds will feed into larger programs, creating greater opportunities for impactful builders in the Celo ecosystem.

Beyond the funds raised and projects supported, these rounds have also had a significant macro-level impact on the Celo blockchain and community. GG21 not only empowered innovative projects but also increased awareness and engagement with Celo. Here are some key metrics:

• Number of Transactions: The GG21 rounds on Celo generated a large volume of on-chain activity, with over 4,050 contribution transactions. This also doesn't take into account all of the additional transactions that will have resulted from the round (bridging, swapping etc…)

• New Wallet Addresses: The rounds engaged over 750 wallets, with many of these being first-time donors to Celo. This indicates growing adoption and interest in the Celo ecosystem.

• Increased Engagement: The rounds helped boost awareness of Celo’s infrastructure, with significant social media engagement, as well as increased activity in key community spaces.

Additional Mechanisms & Impact

Regen Tips & Tunable Quadratic Funding

To further incentivize participation, we partnered with Regen Tips to boost engagement and provide exclusive rewards. Contributors to the rounds received $REGEN token allocations and additional rewards were offered for higher donations.

• $1 USDGLO donated = 10,000 $REGEN

• Donate > 10 USDGLO = 10x tip boost

• Donate > 69 USDGLO = 100x tip boost

We also trialed a ‘Proof-of-Regen Quadratic Multiplier’, which aimed to give donors up to double the matching power of their contributions based on their Proof of Regen score. This utlizes a mechanism developed by the Token Engineering Commons (TEC) known as ‘Tunable Quadratic Funding (TQF)’. However, after careful review, we decided not to use this mechanism in the final results due to technical challenges and the lack of desired impact of the multiplier on overall results. Nonetheless, this experiment provided valuable learnings for future rounds and we are in conversation with TEC regarding the build of a self-serve tool that would allow more control and customizability for future TQF experiments.

$BUILD Rewards

In addition to Regen Tips, we have also partnered with $BUILD to further reward Real World Builders on Celo. The $BUILD team has committed 1 billion $BUILD tokens to recognize and reward these impactful projects. Projects who participated in GG21 will receive instructions on how to claim their $BUILD.

CeloPG Signal Boosting

During GG21, Celo Public Goods provided funds to seven CeloPG stewards, each receiving 500 cUSD to distribute across both rounds. Projects that demonstrated a strong alignment towards boosting key Celo ecosystem metrics—such as TVL, transactions, and volume—received higher support from the stewards, which in turn amplified their matching and donations.

Guidelines for Stewards:

• Max $250 donated per round

• Max $50 donation per project

• Avoid donations to projects with direct affiliations

QF vs COCM Matching

One of the key innovations in GG21 was Gitcoin’s improved Connection-oriented cluster-matching (COCM) model. While traditional quadratic funding assumes independent decisions from contributors, COCM quantifies the level of coordination among supporters. This helps ensure a fairer distribution of funds by rewarding projects backed by more independent agents while reducing matching funds for those supported by coordinated groups.

Overall, we believe the COCM model to have worked well in both rounds, effectively balancing the results and reducing the impact of coordinated single-project donors.

You can explore more detailed COCM analysis of the rounds here:

• Real World Builders

• Regen Coordi-Nation

Passport Model Detection System

To protect against sybil attacks and airdrop farmers, we utilized Gitcoin’s passport model-based detection system. This system automatically analyzed users’ on-chain history to determine their matching eligibility. Results from the round were as follows:

• Real World Builders: 160 donors (26.3%) received full matching power; 59 users (9.7%) received partial matching.

• Regen Coordi-Nation: 95 donors (34.4%) received full matching power; 38 users (13.8%) received partial matching.

While this system worked well to prevent sybil attacks, one drawback was that legitimate donors without a robust Web3 history will receive lower matching rates or none at all. Still, we recognize the tradeoffs and commend Gitcoin for their ongoing innovation in sybil protection strategies.

Building Momentum for a Regenerative Future

The launch of the Gitcoin Grants Stack on Celo through GG21 was a major milestone. The Real World Builders and Regen Coordi-Nation rounds highlighted the potential of Web3 technology to solve real-world problems, while also providing valuable lessons for future improvements. We’re excited to see how the partnerships and innovations from these rounds will continue to grow and shape the future of Celo’s mission of financial inclusion and regenerative finance.

Stay tuned for more updates on Celo’s public goods initiatives and future opportunities within the Celo ecosystem by visiting the Celo Public Goods website or follow us on Twitter (X) and Warpcast.

Application period:  24 July to 12 August, 2024
Rounds live: 7 July - 21 August, 2024

Focused on building real world solutions
Since its inception, Celo’s mission has been to create conditions of prosperity for all by focusing on creating infrastructure for financial inclusion and real world solutions to thrive. Web3 applications often optimize for internet-native interactions, and while valuable, this results in many unaddressed real world challenges.

To drive real change and growth, we need to focus on the areas where Blockchain technology has a transformative impact. We’re excited to run two programs during GG21 that aim to provide the required support and resources for Real World Builders.

Real World Builders
The Real World Builders program supports teams working on use cases of blockchain technology that positively impact physical communities and environments, such as financial inclusion, ecological credits, Real World Assets (RWA), Decentralized Physical Infrastructure (DePIN), and more.

Donors and builders in this round will be eligible for additional rewards, such as $BUILD tokens and $REGEN tip amplifiers. CeloPG will also provide additional support to Top projects.Eligibility criteria for the Real World Builders round are:

• A clear statement of a real-world problem and how the project meaningfully contributes to solving this problem.

• An active (MVP) deployment on Celo or a clear plan on how it will use Celo and how this will benefit the Celo ecosystem e.g. growth of users, transactions, and wallets.

• Feasible milestones and a roadmap for upcoming plans and development.

• Description of funding received, which should be under $2M.

CeloPG Stewards will review and vote on each proposal according to a rubric that considers the problem-solution fit, a team assessment, past performance, commitment to and impact for Celo, and an assessment of milestones, feasibility, and execution plan.

75,000 cUSD in matching | Apply here

Regen Coordi-Nation​
The Regen Coordi-Nation round, a pioneering collaboration between GreenPill Network, ReFi DAO, and Celo Public Goods, aims to foster a global movement of regenerative communities that leverage Web3 technology to address local needs and create real-world impact.

Detailed blog with round details →  The Regen Coordi-Nation Genesis

The Regen Coordi-Nation GG21 Genesis Round is now open to applications from ReFi DAO Local Nodes, GreenPill Local Chapters, and Celo Regional DAOs. To participate, each local community must receive a nomination from the respective evaluation and governance processes of ReFi DAO, GreenPill, or Celo Public Goods

The program consists of two phases: an initial matching allocation of 50,000+ USDGLO during GG21 and a Retro round based on progress, with at least $50,000 more in funding distributed.

100,000 cUSD in grants | Application process

QF Signal Boosting
Each of the seven CPG Stewards will also boost top applications through a series of CeloPG sponsored donations. Stewards will look for the highest-quality projects that make the most compelling case for their alignment, utilization, and support of the Celo Ecosystem. As a result, these projects will receive higher donations and matching funds!

Future Potential
As part of the CeloPG H2 Budget, 1,250,000 CELO has been allocated to apply for Optimism Season 6 Intent Budget to run large-scale co-funded programs for Real World Builders and Climate Tech. If successful, these initial GG21 rounds will feed into these larger programs and create even greater opportunities for impactful builders in the Celo ecosystem.

Register to CeloPG for additional resources
If this is your first time participating in a CeloPG program, consider registering your project through the CeloPG registration form ‍to gain access to the CeloPG Community Telegram channel, which coordinates feedback and support for projects.

https://tally.so/r/3EXBv2

For any questions or inquiries, please email stewards@celopg.eco.

CeloPG is excited to collaborate with Giveth and support the Giv-Earth round. It will contribute to a matching pool of over $30k USDGLO deployed on Celo. Applications are already open and are being reviewed on a rolling basis!

Important Program Info

• Project review is on a rolling basis through the application form.

• Round start date: June 25, 2024

• Round end date: July 9, 2024

• Round location: https://giveth.io/qf

USDGLO Rewards for Projects
The matching currency that will be distributed to Giv-Earth projects is USDGLO by Glo Dollar– a stablecoin that funds Public Goods simply by holding it. Glo Dollar has gained significant early traction on Celo, with over $160,000 USDGLO in the network and allowing protocol rewards to be sent directly to the CeloPG Multi-sig to further accelerate Celo Public Goods!

Earn $REGEN by donating to projects
In addition to supporting environmental innovation, the Giv-Earth program allows Celo donors to earn $REGEN, a Crypto for good meme token that recognizes and rewards Regenerative on-chain activities. $REGEN will be distributed to all addresses that donate to verified Giveth projects and meet the minimum donation threshold!

A regenerative digital economy for all
Celo’s mission is to build a regenerative digital economy that creates conditions of prosperity for all. Creating collective wealth and supporting all builders equitably is integral to the Celo vision.

If you’re interested in helping shape the regenerative digital economy, consider this your invitation to become part of the Celo ecosystem. CeloPG will ensure your contributions will be acknowledged and rewarded.

For any questions or inquiries, please email stewards@celopg.eco.

​CeloPG is excited to host #CeloRPGF0, the first Retroactive Public Goods Funding program on Celo in collaboration with EasyRPGF. Inspired by the innovation in the public goods funding space, such as Optimism Retroactive Public Goods Funding, we’re kicking off an initial program to reward Celo ecosystem builders for their past contributions to the well-being of our ecosystem.

Up to 250,000 CELO will be distributed to active projects and individuals who have developed and supported the Celo ecosystem since the launch of Celo Mainnet in 2020. Spearheaded by the Celo Public Good Stewards, a group of 9 Celo stakeholders committed to supporting the development of Public Goods in the Celo ecosystem, CeloRGPF is an essential element of the CeloPG H1 2024 strategy.

Important Program Dates

Register Interest: Live now → https://tally.so/r/3EXBv2
Application Submissions: April 8th - May 8th → Apply via EasyRPGF
Application Review: April 30th - May 13th
Voting Period: May 13th - May 20th
Results: Presented at Celo Gather on May 24th

#CeloRPGF0 Eligibility

In alignment with Celo’s mission of creating a regenerative digital economy with conditions for prosperity for all, this program aims to channel support to projects across three key Celo Public Goods verticals:

• ReFi: Projects with an active deployment on Celo that support or directly enable real-world impact and ecological benefits.

• dApps and Infra: Celo dApps and infrastructure that directly impact Celo users and stakeholders.

• Celo Community and Adoption: Non-software projects and initiatives that help propel Celo forward, such as educational resources, content creation, community growth, user onboarding, and support for Celo governance.

Projects that fall into the above categories and have created a demonstrable and significant impact on Celo over the past 12 months can apply for this round.

How to apply?

1. First, fill in the CeloPG Registration form to gain access to CeloRPGF program and receive an invite to the private CeloPG Group and mailing list.

2. Optional: Mint a Hypercert, a digital claim about the positive impact your project contributed to the Celo ecosystem. Follow the CeloPG Hypercert Minting Guide for guidance and best practice.

3. Formal applications in the EasyRPGF app from April 8th to April 30th for projects to provide full details and link their Hypercert.

4. Steward review and voting period from April 30th - May 20th, where projects may be asked to provide additional data and answer any questions.

5. Receive the result of CeloRPGF0 on May 24th during Celo Gather or online on the same day.

💡Review the Celo EasyRPGF Submission Guide to increase your chances of a high-quality application!

Review and Voting Details

The CeloPG Stewards will review all CeloRPGF0 applications to assess their integrity and ensure they align with the purpose of funding active projects that have developed and supported the Celo ecosystem. Projects should submitted their application in the EasyRPGF app during the defined application period dates.

All projects that meet the criteria and pass the steward review will move on to the voting stage, which will occur from May 13th to May 20th. During this time, Celo community stakeholders, selected based on their experience in the category they represent, will assess each project's impact and the funding it has raised to date and vote to determine how much CELO is allocated to each project.

A regenerative digital economy for all

Celo’s mission is to build a regenerative digital economy that creates conditions of prosperity for all. Creating collective wealth and supporting all builders equally is integral to the Celo vision. By nurturing projects and individuals who contribute to the well-being of the Celo ecosystem through CeloRPGF and other Celo Public Goods programs, we contribute to creating a digital economy that can coordinate towards critical real-world change. #CeloRPGF0 is just the beginning! ♻️

If you’re interested in helping shape the regenerative digital economy, consider this your invitation to become part of the Celo ecosystem. CeloPG will ensure your contributions will be acknowledged and rewarded.

For any questions or inquiries, please email stewards@celopg.eco

On-Chain Climate Finance

Having led eight Gitcoin Core Rounds, distributing USD 3.9m in funding to projects on the frontline of fighting climate change, The Climate Coordination Network (CCN) spun out of Gitcoin in October 2023. Continuing its work as a decentralized community round, CCN has confirmed its planned round for GG20. During the round, projects rally donations to receive a share of the generous match funding supplied by CCN partners.

In partnership with Climate Collective, an organization incubated by Celo working to unlock technology and data innovations to accelerate progress towards climate and nature goals, Celo Public Goods is excited to join forces for the upcoming GG20 Climate Round to further support impactful climate and ReFi projects building on Celo.

Application period opens: April 2nd, at noon UTC.
Round live: 23 April - 7 May 2024
Total Match funding: at least $250,000 DAI + $50,000 cUSD

How to apply for the round

To be eligible for the program, a project must formally apply to participate in the Climate Solutions round. A committee from the Climate Coordination Network reviews each application to ensure alignment with the round eligibility. Detailed eligibility criteria and an overview of the review process can be viewed on the CCN Climate Solution Portal.

Once accepted into the Climate Solutions round, projects have to meet one of the following criteria to be eligible for additional Celo cUSD matching:

1. Have an active deployment on the Celo blockchain.

2. Have a clear public intention, commitment, or roadmap towards supporting Celo.

The Celo Public Goods Stewards will review all projects that apply for Celo matching based on these criteria.

Pre-register your project to receive additional support

The CeloPG Stewards have created a pre-registration form for projects that want to participate in the Climate Round and other CeloPG programs. By pre-registering, projects will gain access to the CeloPG Community Telegram channel, which coordinates feedback and support for projects.

Pre-register for CeloPG programs → https://tally.so/r/3EXBv2

Tips to increase the quality of your application

GG20 Climate Round applications will open on April 2nd at noon, and applicants are advised to submit applications as early as possible to guarantee acceptance before the round starts. A clear, engaging title and summary at the beginning of your application, detailing fund usage and project importance, paired with an attention-grabbing banner or picture, can significantly enhance its reception and visibility.

It's also crucial to showcase your team's qualifications and share achievements and plans for future projects to build trust with the community. Engagement beyond your project, such as supporting other grantees and maintaining active communication with your followers, particularly on platforms like Twitter, enhances your grant's success by fostering a genuine community connection. For a comprehensive guide on maximizing your grant's chances, visit Gitcoin's Tips for Grant Success and CCN’s Climate Solution Portal.

Hypercert Minting

Celo Public Goods Program recommends all grantees to submit Hypercert impact claims. Hypercerts, based on the ERC-1155 standard and stored on IPFS, encapsulate impact claims of projects to enable transparent tracking and rewarding of contributions. For a detailed walkthrough on minting Hypercerts for your grant application, refer to the complete Celo Public Goods Program: Hypercert Minting Guide. This process underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in project funding, enhancing impact capital allocation.

For any questions or inquiries, please email stewards@celopg.eco.