FAQ
Check out the FAQ to answer all your questions! If you can't find your answer, ask it in the #scf-general channel on the Stellar Developers Discord, and someone will help you shortly.
General
What is the Stellar Community Fund?
SCF is the Stellar Community Fund - an open-application awards program that leverages community input to fund and support Web3 teams building on Stellar. SCF consists of several community-driven programs that fund and foster your project from ideation to successful launch and growth.
Who is eligible to apply for SCF?
SCF has a number of programs meant for projects at many stages of development, but generally, the SCF Build Award is for teams with significant existing traction. As a general rule, all projects should be building on Stellar, and should not fall within ineligible criteria. Individuals, Teams of Individuals, and Entities are all encouraged to submit for SCF.
What types of projects does SCF support?
SCF supports projects from ideation to launch and growth. SCF supports projects from ideation to launch and growth. The main project categories supported by SCF are End-User Applications and Financial Protocols. Some developer tooling is supported through RFPs and the Public Goods Award.
To what extent does Stellar and/or Soroban need to be integrated into my project?
To be considered for selection, you must showcase that Stellar is or will play a core and valuable role in your project. Don't shoehorn Stellar into your project just to get awards. Reviewers and voters want to see that your team is committed to the Stellar ecosystem, not just shopping around for funding.
Application Process
Can I submit multiple projects?
There are some case-by-case exceptions to this rule, but generally, each submitter can only submit one project at a time. Should you get an award, you’ll need to finish your project deliverables first (or an equivalent amount of work should the deliverables need to be changed for valid reasons) before submitting another project. Learn more in the resubmission guidelines.
How do I apply for the SCF?
You can find step-by-step submission instructions for each program here in the handbook, but the initial project submission form can be found on communityfund.stellar.org.
I have received or am receiving other SDF grants. Can I still submit my project to the SCF?
Entities in which either the Matching Fund or Enterprise Fund have invested are not eligible to receive an SCF Award.
Recipients of any currently outstanding Research & Development Grant and/or Academic Research Grant are not eligible to receive an SCF Award unless and until such recipient has submitted all required deliverables and fulfilled all obligations under their respective Grant Agreement(s).
Recipients of any currently outstanding Marketing Grant, Currency Support Grant, and Ecosystem Infrastructure Grant, will not be eligible to receive an SCF Award for any project or deliverable that falls within the scope, whether directly or indirectly, of their respective Grant Agreement(s).
Who reviews projects and votes for project allocation?
Projects are reviewed by a rotating delegate panel made up of SDF employees and trusted Stellar Community members. Anyone can become an SCF Delegate Panelist by earning the Pilot Role, which represents a significant commitment to the Stellar Ecosystem and to the Stellar Community Fund.
SCF operates using a verified member system where individuals unlock different abilities as they move through the tiers. SCF Pathfinders are eligible to participate in Community Vote by delegating their votes to trusted delegates. SCF Navigators are able to vote directly for projects. SCF Pilots can vote directly for projects, and nominate themselves to be part of the Delegate Panel. Delegates carry the heaviest voting weight, based on delegation and quorum
Can I track voting results as they come in?
SCF does not share live voting results, since the reputation-based voting mechanism (Neural Quorum Governance) relies on having complete data from voters before calculating results.
Are there any extra requirements for Issuers of Fiat-Backed Tokens?
If your project already issues or plans to issue a stablecoin or digital asset backed by fiat currency as a part of your SCF submission, you will need to complete a Stellar Info File, and as per the requirements in the Stellar documentation, it must include a URL to an attestation or other proof, evidence, or verification of reserves, such as a third-party audit.
Can I apply for multiple rounds of funding?
Short answer: yes. Long answer: most projects will begin in one of the three available SCF Build tracks. After successfully completing all milestones of a Build Award, teams who demonstrate significant traction may be eligible for additional funding, either through another Build Award, the Growth-Hack program, or other supporting programs like the Public Goods Award and the Liquidity Award.
Funding Details
How much funding can I apply for?
The SCF Build Award is an award (paid in four installments) of up to $150,000 worth of XLM*.
How are SCF Awards paid out?
While the requested budget amount of each submission is valued in USD, the actual pay-out currency is XLM, Stellar's native currency*.
SCF Build Awards are split into 4 milestone-based tranches. Subsequent tranches are unlocked when deliverables are verified.
Tranche #0: 10% of total awarded budget (at time of award)
Tranche #1: 20% of total awarded budget
Tranche #2: 30% of total awarded budget
Tranche #3: 40% of total awarded budget
Can my project receive more than one SCF Award?
Short answer: yes. Long answer: most projects will begin in one of the three available SCF Build tracks. After successfully completing all milestones of a Build Award, teams who demonstrate significant traction may be eligible for additional funding, either through another Build Award, the Growth-Hack program, or other supporting programs like the Public Goods Award and the Liquidity Award. Grant funding should be a launchpad, not a long-term plan, and the most successful SCF projects use SCF as a starting point.
Post-Award Requirements
What are the reporting requirements if my project is funded?
The SCF Build Award is split into 4 total tranches of funding, so you will need to report back on your progress in order to receive your total budget. You can find more information on this in the SCF Build section of the handbook.
What happens if I can’t complete my project as planned?
We understand that unforeseen circumstances can sometimes affect a project's progress. If you encounter challenges that prevent you from completing your project as planned, please reach out to us as soon as possible to discuss the situation. While any funding already provided will not be withdrawn, additional award payments will be contingent upon the successful completion of each project tranche.
Are there any restrictions on how the funding can be used?
The different SCF programs have different requirements for funding, so be sure you carefully review program-specific guidelines before submitting. General guidelines for all projects can be found here.
Legacy and Transition Projects
What if my project was funded under the previous SCF structure?
Yes, any previously funded project that have completed all deliverables of a previous Build Award may submit for additional award(s), up to a total maximum of $150,000 in XLM across all awards accumulated over its lifetime.
Projects that have previously already received $150,000 may be eligible for additional awards only on a case-by-case basis, subject to a lifetime accumulated funding cap of $300,000 in XLM. If you fall into this category, reach out to communityfund@stellar.org when you submit for the additional award.
Any such follow-on awards may also require additional legal and business due diligence.
Community Involvement
How can I connect with other applicants and community members?
Join the Stellar Developers Discord Server to connect with other folks in the Stellar Community. This is a great way to ask project-specific questions, find partners to collaborate with, and get feedback prior to submitting.
How does Discord work?
Unfamiliar with Discord? No problem, check out this beginner’s guide, and learn how to navigate the SCF Discord here.
Should I invite my own community to the SCF Discord?
While you're more than welcome to invite your community, it doesn't actually benefit you or them unless you have members that have a significant interest in your project and the Stellar ecosystem. At that point, they may be interested in becoming verified members or submitting to the SCF themselves!
Can verified member status be retracted?
Verified status can be retracted if:
You indicate you'd no longer like to be part of the SCF; OR
You violate the Discord Rules and Guidelines;
For more information on how this would work for tiers, click here.
How can I get more involved with SCF from a governance and structure perspective?
You can start by getting verified as a community member here. As you move up the tiers, more opportunities become available to you, including participating in Community Vote, influencing future SCF structure changes, and serving on Category-Specific Delegate Panels.
Additional Support and Resources
Where can I find resources to help with my application?
This handbook provides the most up-to-date information about category-specific eligibility, program structure, and program guidelines. More information (including past SCF Awardees) can be found on the SCF Website.
Who can I ask if I have more questions?
Email communityfund@stellar.org, or (for a faster response), send a message in #scf-general in the Stellar Developers Discord.
Are there opportunities for feedback if my application is not selected?
Projects that do not make it past initial screening rounds (interest form submission) will not receive project-specific feedback. At this stage, projects are encouraged to dig into the materials provided in the handbook to improve their submission.
Projects that make it through to Panel Review / Community Vote in SCF Build will receive personalized feedback from reviewers.
Disclaimer
*To determine the number of XLM equal to the USD value of any Award, the USD valuation of XLM shall be calculated using the CF Stellar Lumens-Dollar Settlement Price as administered, maintained, and reported by the cryptocurrency index provider CF Benchmarks Ltd. (using the ticker “XLMUSD_RR”) (available at https://www.cfbenchmarks.com/indices/XLMUSD_RR), or, if such settlement price is unavailable or reasonably suspected by SDF to be unreliable, the settlement price as reported on a substantially similar and equally reputable cryptocurrency index provider as determined by the SDF in its discretion. The USD valuation of XLM for any particular Award shall be calculated using the CF Stellar Lumens-Dollar Settlement Price (or other agreed upon settlement price) reported on the day such Award is scheduled to be paid. The Participants acknowledge and understand that XLM is a highly risky and volatile asset, and that SDF does not provide any representations, warranties, or guarantees of its value.
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