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Ecosystem Grants

NEAR Foundation — Ecosystem Grants

Non-dilutive grants for developers and projects building on NEAR Protocol

Geneva, SwitzerlandEst. 2020Hundreds of projects funded
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Quick Facts

Best For
Teams building on NEAR Protocol who want non-dilutive funding and ecosystem support
Grant Sizes
$5,000–$250,000+
Terms
Non-dilutive; milestone-based delivery

Overview

NEAR Foundation's grants programme funds developers, projects, and communities building within the NEAR ecosystem, with particular focus on DeFi applications, developer tooling, and consumer-facing applications that drive adoption of the NEAR protocol. NEAR's focus on user experience and developer friendliness shapes its grants priorities — projects that make NEAR easier to build on or easier to use for mainstream audiences are particularly well-positioned for funding.

Focus Areas

NEAR DeFi & dAppsDeveloper ToolingConsumer ApplicationsEducational ContentAurora (EVM on NEAR)AI & Blockchain on NEAR

Who They Fund

NEAR Protocol DevelopersdApp TeamsCommunity BuildersEducational Content Creators

How to Apply

Apply via near.foundation/grants; rolling applications

Frequently Asked Questions about NEAR Foundation — Ecosystem Grants

What is the NEAR Foundation grant size range?
NEAR Foundation grants range from $5,000 for individual developers and early-stage contributors through to $250,000+ for significant ecosystem infrastructure projects. The programme is tiered based on project scope and impact potential, with the majority of grants falling in the $10,000 to $100,000 range for development work on the NEAR protocol and its ecosystem applications.
Who is eligible for NEAR Foundation grants?
NEAR Foundation grants are open to NEAR protocol developers, dApp teams, community builders, and educational content creators. Projects building DeFi applications, developer tooling, consumer-facing applications that drive NEAR adoption, Aurora (EVM on NEAR) infrastructure, and AI and blockchain convergence projects on NEAR are explicitly prioritised. Work on other chains without a NEAR component is outside the programme's scope.
Are NEAR Foundation grants dilutive?
No — NEAR Foundation grants are non-dilutive, with no equity or tokens taken in exchange. The programme operates on a milestone-based delivery model, requiring teams to report on progress against agreed deliverables, but does not create any commercial or ownership relationship. This makes grants accessible to open source contributors and early-stage founders without investor relationships.
How do I apply for a NEAR Foundation grant?
Applications are submitted via near.foundation/grants on a rolling basis — there are no fixed application windows. A clear project description, technical scope, team background, and milestone plan are the core application components. The Foundation's focus on user experience and developer-friendliness means proposals that make NEAR easier to build on or use for mainstream audiences are particularly well-positioned.
How long does the NEAR Foundation grant decision process take?
NEAR Foundation grant decisions typically take 4-8 weeks from application submission, though timelines vary with application volume and project complexity. Teams should apply well before they need the funding, as grant income should not be assumed as an immediate bridge. The Foundation's rolling application process means there is no need to wait for specific windows.
What types of projects does the NEAR Foundation prioritise?
NEAR Foundation grant priorities reflect the protocol's core thesis of user experience and developer accessibility: DeFi and dApps that drive NEAR adoption, developer tooling that lowers the barrier to building on NEAR, consumer-facing applications that reach mainstream users, and educational content. Projects building on Aurora (NEAR's EVM-compatible layer) are also well-positioned, as Aurora adoption increases the NEAR ecosystem's reach to Ethereum-native developers.

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