Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions about the Glow program
This comprehensive FAQ section addresses common questions about the Glow program, covering all aspects from eligibility to disbursement.
General Questions
What is the Glow program?
Glow is an experimental funding program designed and run by XRPL Commons which aims to reward participants in the XRPL ecosystem retroactively. It recognizes and rewards valuable contributions to the XRPL ecosystem that have already been completed and have demonstrated value.
Why is it called "retroactive" funding?
Glow is retroactive because it rewards work that has already been completed, rather than funding future work. This ensures that the community has already received value from the contribution before funding is provided.
How is Glow different from other funding programs?
Unlike traditional grants or accelerator programs that fund future work, Glow specifically rewards past contributions. It complements existing funding offerings in the XRPL ecosystem by focusing on recognizing work that has already provided value to the community.
What types of projects are eligible for Glow funding?
Eligible projects include any product, tool, documentation, or other initiative provided to the XRPL ecosystem for free. These can be core open-source projects like xrpld, explorers, wallets, standards proposals, or generally anything made available to the community at no cost.
How often are grants distributed?
Glow aims to distribute grants on a half-yearly basis. Grants are compiled and allocated in groups called cohorts. Each cohort represents nominations over a specific period.
Roles & Participation
What are the different roles in the Glow program?
There are four primary roles:
Scouts: Community members who identify and nominate potential contributors
Community Voters: XRPL wallet holders who can vote on nominations
Judges: Individuals who evaluate nominations and determine grant sizes
Recipients: Contributors who receive grants after being nominated and approved
How do I become a Scout?
Scouts are remarkable individuals in the community who are typically visible and known and have a chance to see many projects in the course of their day-to-day. Existing Scouts occasionally have the power to elect new Scouts. You can view current Scouts on the public Scouts page for each cohort.
How do I become a Judge?
Initially, Judges are members of the XRPL Commons team. Over time, they will be sourced from existing Scouts for a maximum tenure of 6 cohorts in a row and never more than six cohorts a year. There are typically 7 judges: 3 from XRPL Commons and 4 from the Community, elected for 6-month terms.
Can I apply for a grant directly?
No. Grant recipients don't apply directly for funding but must be nominated by Scouts. If you believe your contribution deserves recognition, reach out to a Scout from the current cohort to discuss your specific contribution.
Eligibility
Who is eligible to receive Glow grants?
Glow grants are only for individual contributors, not companies or institutions. To be eligible:
You must be over 18 years old
You should not be a Judge in the cohort where you're a nominee
Your contribution must have been made within the last 6 months
You can receive only one grant per cohort
Your contribution must be to an eligible project
Can I receive a grant if I work for Ripple?
No. Current employees or contractors of Ripple or partnered organizations are not eligible for Glow grants.
Can Scouts or Judges receive grants?
While Scouts can potentially receive grants, Judges cannot receive grants in cohorts where they serve as Judges. Individuals currently serving as Scouts or Judges for the Glow program should declare this status during the application process.
Are projects that received other funding eligible?
Projects that were completed as part of paid work engagements or were otherwise funded by another program generally aren't eligible for Glow grants, as Glow aims to reward unpaid contributions.
Can I be nominated for multiple contributions?
Yes, a contributor can be nominated multiple times by different Scouts, which may increase the chance of receiving a higher grant size. However, you can only receive one grant per cohort.
Nomination Process
How does the nomination process work?
Scouts connect to the Glow Platform and add projects and contributors if they don't exist yet. For each nomination, Scouts provide details about the contribution and when it was completed. Once nominated, community voting is enabled for that contribution.
What information do Scouts need to provide when nominating?
For projects: name, description, GitHub repo, X handle, and website URL. For contributors: first name, last name, email, GitHub, X handle, role, active dates, and status. For nominations: description of the contribution and the date it was completed.
Can I nominate myself?
No, you cannot nominate yourself. Nominations must come from designated Scouts.
Voting
How does voting work?
XRPL wallet holders can vote on nominated projects. To participate, wallet holders must first prove their wallet is active by signing a minimal one-drop transaction. Once verified, they can cast votes on all nominations in current and future cohorts.
What types of votes can be cast?
Three types of votes can be cast: yay (counts as +1), nay (counts as -1), or null (counts as 0). A single wallet can cast only one vote per nomination per cohort.
How do votes affect the grant decision?
Votes help inform the Judges' evaluation process. Projects with more community support (more positive votes) are prioritized for review.
Grant Sizes
What are the different grant sizes?
Glow grants come in three sizes, often referred to as "shirt sizes":
Small (100 XRP): For initial contributions, to encourage further engagement, or to say thank you.
Medium (1,000 XRP): For recurring contributions and/or those with significant impact on the XRPL ecosystem.
Large (4,000 XRP): For extensive contributions that likely required full-time commitment and achieved excellence in a noteworthy way.
How is the grant size determined?
Judges determine grant sizes based on the number of Scout nominations, community votes, GitHub activity, and the overall impact of the contribution. Each nomination is typically evaluated by at least 3 Judges, and the combined assessment determines the final grant size.
Application Process
What happens after I'm nominated?
If you're nominated, you'll receive an email notification inviting you to apply for a Glow grant through the Glow platform. You'll need to complete several forms to proceed with your application.
What forms do I need to complete?
Recipients need to complete:
Terms and conditions acceptance
Code of conduct acceptance
Self-eligibility declaration
Application form completion
Do I need to complete all forms for every nomination?
For your first nomination, you need to complete all forms. For subsequent nominations, only validation of the application form is required.
KYC and Disbursement
What is KYC and why is it required?
KYC stands for "Know Your Customer" and is a standard process to verify the identity of grant recipients. KYC, along with KYT (Know Your Transaction) and KYW (Know Your Wallet) checks, are required to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
Who conducts the KYC process?
Kudos conducts the KYC verification process for all Glow grant recipients.
How are grants disbursed?
Grants are paid exclusively in XRP tokens. Once your KYC is validated, funds are disbursed to your specified XRPL wallet address.
What happens if I don't pass KYC?
If you don't pass the KYC verification process, you won't be able to receive the grant, and the funds will be reallocated to the next Glow wave.
How long does disbursement take?
Full disbursement occurs upon successful KYC validation. The specific timeline may vary, but the goal is to process disbursements efficiently.
Technical Issues and Support
What if I encounter issues with the Glow platform?
For technical issues with the platform, please reach out to the support team via the contact information provided on the Glow website.
How do I connect my XRPL wallet to the platform?
The platform provides a "Connect Wallet" option that guides you through the process of connecting your XRPL wallet for voting or receiving grants.
What if I made an error in my wallet address?
It's crucial to double-check your wallet address when providing it. As stated in the terms, the recipient is fully responsible for any errors in the wallet address, and payments sent to incorrect addresses due to user error will still be considered complete.
Transparency and Governance
What information about the program is public?
For each cohort, the identities of Scouts and Judges are public, as are all nominations and their final assessment. To preserve the independence of Scouts and Judges, the specific actions they took are not disclosed - only aggregate results are released.
How is the program governed?
The Glow program is designed and run by XRPL Commons. The governance structure includes designated Scouts and Judges who operate according to established principles of transparency and fairness.
Can I provide feedback on the program?
Yes, feedback on the Glow program is welcomed and can help improve future cohorts. Please reach out through the official channels provided on the Glow website.
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