Abstract
This proposal introduces a Grants Program governed by Wormhole Governance and its delegates. The program is intended to fund and support initiatives that meaningfully contribute to the growth and success of the Wormhole ecosystem. The program will have a budget of $250,000 USD, also denominated in $W. Delegates will be responsible for evaluating proposals and voting, while the Wormhole Foundation will handle administrative execution and fund disbursement. Since there is currently no onchain treasury, all disbursements will be handled manually by the Wormhole Foundation.
Motivation
By establishing this program, Wormhole governance further evolves and provides a concrete way for its community members to engage and support the broader Wormhole ecosystem. It provides a clear and transparent way for community members to request and receive funding for ecosystem-aligned work.
Specifications
Budget
The initial Grants Program will operate with a total budget of up to $250,000 USD or the equivalent amount in $W, with a hard cap applied to both denominations. The USD-to-$W exchange rate for the overall program cap will be determined using a 7-day Time-Weighted Average Price (TWAP) as of the day the proposal is approved via onchain voting.
Each individual funding proposal must specify the requested amount in either USD or $W. When necessary, the Wormhole Foundation will perform currency conversions using the 7-day TWAP on the day of funding disbursement. To ensure accurate budget management, the Foundation will maintain an ongoing tally of both USD and $W disbursed, ensuring neither cap is exceeded over the lifetime of the program.
Proposal Categories
The program will cover two categories of proposals:
-
Funding Requests: This category is available for proposals that focus on a funding request for a very specific ask, e.g. products, audits, research, and similar.
-
Community Initiatives: This category is available for proposals that focus on overall community development and growth, e.g. grants, marketing, events, and similar.
Proposals should follow the proposal templates available below.
Governance and Approval Process
The governance process for proposals seeking funding from the Grants Program need to follow the Wormhole Governance Proposal Process as outlined in the WIP-2 forum post.
Administration and Fund Disbursement
While Wormhole Governance will approve or deny proposals for funding, the Wormhole Foundation will be responsible for administration (including performing KYC/KYB checks on funding recipients) and disbursement of the grants. There will be no onchain execution of the grants at this stage, given there is currently no onchain treasury.
Reporting
The Wormhole Foundation will also be responsible for regular reporting back to Wormhole Governance regarding how funds from the Grants Program are being spent. Reports will initially be delivered on a monthly basis and include status updates and disbursed amounts. The reporting cadence may be adjusted over time depending on the volume of approved proposals.
All recipients of funding through the Grants Program are required to submit a public report to Wormhole Governance within 30 days of completing their proposed initiative or milestone. Reports should be posted in the same governance forum thread as the original proposal and include the following:
- Summary of activities carried out
- Status of deliverables and milestones
- Quantitative impact (KPIs as defined in the proposal)
- Qualitative outcomes and learnings
- Detailed breakdown of how funds were spent
- Any remaining funds and plan for their use
- Links to relevant artifacts (e.g., code, content, event recaps, photos)
Funding Request Proposal Template
Abstract (2–3 Sentences)
Provide a concise overview of the initiative, stating the purpose and expected outcome.
Example:
“This proposal aims to increase our reach in the Latin American community by translating our documents to Spanish for easier onboarding”
Motivation
Explain the importance of this project:
- What problem or opportunity does it address (e.g., UX, Wormhole reach, Access to specific group of people)?
- How does it strengthen the Wormhole ecosystem and brand awareness?
Rationale
Describe how the proposal supports Wormhole’s broader mission and governance principles:
- Foster community-led growth and participation.
- Encourage adoption of Wormhole’s cross-chain technology.
- Ensure responsible use of funds.
Proposed Activities & Goals
Outline the specific actions and their intended impact:
- Ecosystem specific projects (leads to the development of Wormhole as a foundational technology)
- Partnerships (external collaborations)
- Marketing Initiatives (content creation, social media campaigns)
- Translation of documents (leading to increased adoption)
Project Impact & Measurement
Explain how success will be measured:
- KPIs (core product usage metrics, active users from specific blockchain)
- Reporting (commitment to transparent updates and final results)
Steps to Implement
Detail how you will execute the proposal:
- Plan / Preparations (development requirements, project management process, responsible people)
- Execution (project timelines, progression communication strategy)
- Follow-Up / Evaluation (collect feedback, measure KPIs)
Timeline
Provide dates or ranges for all stages:
- Start Date
- Milestones (project specific)
- Completion Date (when final deliverables or reports are published)
Overall Cost / Budget
Break down required funding:
- Fixed Costs (project specific)
- Variable Costs (project specific)
- Recurring Costs (monthly stipends for maintenance)
- Contingency (buffer for unexpected expenses)
Mention the source of funds (community treasury, foundation grants, etc.).
Resubmission Guidelines (If Previously Not Passed)
If the proposal is a resubmission, include:
- Link to Previous Proposal
- Reasons for Rejection
- Changes Made
- Additional Information (addressing prior concerns)
Notes on Phased Governance & Foundation Oversight
- Foundation-Controlled Accounts: Acknowledge if final approval or fund disbursement depends on the Wormhole Foundation’s multi-sig or any other special permissions.
- Emergency or Fast-Track Processes: Mention if there is a need for expedited governance paths, with clear justification.
Declaration of no conflict of interest
By completing this form, I confirm that we are able to deliver on the proposal, that there is no conflict of interest, or that such conflicts have been disclosed, we will adhere to the requirements of the Foundation to receive the necessary funds, which include but are not limited to passing KYC/KYB requirements, providing a wallet in which to receive funding, signing necessary legal agreements. We agree that should we be unable to comply with these requirements and other reasonable requests from the Foundation, the Foundation can cease collaboration.
Community Development Proposal Template
Use Case:
- Proposals that focus on overall community development and growth.
- Initiatives requiring funding from DAO treasury assets (e.g., grants, marketing, events).
Abstract (2–3 Sentences)
Provide a concise overview of the initiative, stating the purpose and expected outcome.
Example:
“This proposal aims to allocate 50,000 community tokens to fund a multichain hackathon series that encourages developers to build on Wormhole-supported networks.”
Motivation
Explain the importance of this community effort:
- What problem or opportunity does it address (e.g., education, user acquisition, marketing)?
- How does it strengthen the Wormhole ecosystem and brand awareness?
Rationale
Describe how the proposal supports Wormhole’s broader mission and governance principles:
- Foster community-led growth and participation.
- Encourage adoption of Wormhole’s cross-chain technology.
- Ensure responsible use of community funds.
Key Terms (Optional)
Define specialized community or marketing terms, if any:
- Hackathon Grants
- Developer Bounties
- Ambassador Programs
Proposed Activities & Goals
Outline the specific actions and their intended impact:
- Events or Campaigns (conferences, hackathons, workshops)
- Online Initiatives (content creation, ambassador programs, social media campaigns)
- Partnerships (sponsorships)
Community Impact & Measurement
Explain how success will be measured:
- KPIs (number of participants, dev signups, community growth)
- Reporting (commitment to transparent updates and final results)
Steps to Implement
Detail how you will execute the proposal:
- Plan / Preparations (venue booking, marketing materials, sponsor onboarding)
- Execution (event timelines, role assignments, communications strategy)
- Follow-Up / Evaluation (collect feedback, measure KPIs, post-event report)
Timeline
Provide dates or ranges for all stages:
- Start Date
- Milestones (marketing launch, sponsor announcements, etc.)
- Completion Date (when final deliverables or reports are published)
Overall Cost / Budget
Break down required funding:
- Fixed Costs (venue fees, marketing materials, promotional events)
- Variable Costs (prize pools, travel reimbursements, speaker fees)
- Recurring Costs (monthly stipends for ambassadors or staff)
- Contingency (buffer for unexpected expenses)
Mention the source of funds (community treasury, foundation grants, etc.).
Resubmission Guidelines (If Previously Not Passed)
If the proposal is a resubmission, include:
- Link to Previous Proposal
- Reasons for Rejection
- Changes Made
- Additional Information (addressing prior concerns)
Notes on Phased Governance & Foundation Oversight
- Foundation-Controlled Accounts: Acknowledge if final approval or fund disbursement depends on the Wormhole Foundation’s multi-sig or any other special permissions.
- Emergency or Fast-Track Processes: Mention if there is a need for expedited governance paths, with clear justification.
Declaration of no conflict of interest
By completing this form, I confirm that we are able to deliver on the proposal, that there is no conflict of interest, or that such conflicts have been disclosed, we will adhere to the requirements of the Foundation to receive the necessary funds, which include but are not limited to passing KYC/KYB requirements, providing a wallet in which to receive funding, signing necessary legal agreements. We agree that should we be unable to comply with these requirements and other reasonable requests from the Foundation, the Foundation can cease collaboration.