Grants Program
Rolling funding for builders, researchers, and community organizers working on public goods infrastructure.
What We Fund
The Foundation funds work that strengthens the shared infrastructure of a conscious digital economy. We look for projects that produce open, reusable outputs: research papers, protocol libraries, developer tools, educational content, and community programs.
We do not fund closed-source products, token launches, or marketing campaigns. If the primary beneficiary is a single company or token holder, it is not a public good.
Grant Tracks
$5,000 to $15,000
Individual Research
For independent researchers and academics producing original work in our focus areas. Suitable for papers, experimental prototypes, and formal analysis.
Examples: Tokenomics models, governance simulations, identity system audits, economic mechanism reviews.
$15,000 to $50,000
Infrastructure
For teams building open source tools, protocol libraries, or developer infrastructure that serves the broader ecosystem.
Examples: Smart contract toolkits, testing frameworks, SDK development, documentation platforms.
$5,000 to $25,000
Community
For organizers running educational programs, workshops, hackathons, or community initiatives that expand access to blockchain development.
Examples: Developer bootcamps, regional meetup series, translated documentation, mentorship programs.
How It Works
01
Submit
Send your proposal to grants@aro.foundation with project scope, timeline, budget, and team background.
02
Review
The Foundation review committee evaluates proposals on a rolling basis. Expect a response within 4 to 6 weeks.
03
Decision
Approved projects receive a grant agreement outlining milestones, reporting requirements, and fund disbursement schedule.
04
Funding
Funds are disbursed in tranches tied to milestone completion. First tranche released upon signing.
05
Reporting
Grantees submit milestone reports and publish their work openly. Final report required for grant completion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply?
Individuals, teams, and organizations worldwide. We fund work, not credentials. Show us what you are building.
Do I need to be affiliated with ARO?
No. The Foundation funds public goods for the broader ecosystem. You do not need any prior relationship with ARO.
What must be published openly?
All research outputs, code, and documentation produced with grant funding must be released under open licenses (MIT, Apache 2.0, or CC BY for written work).
How long do grants take?
Most grants fund 3 to 12 month projects. We are flexible on timeline if the scope justifies it.
Can I apply for multiple tracks?
Yes, but submit separate proposals for each. One proposal per track.