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Ecosystem Grants

Solana Foundation — Developer Grants

Non-dilutive funding for developers and projects building on Solana

Geneva, SwitzerlandEst. 2019Millions granted annually across hundreds of projects
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Quick Facts

Best For
Developers and teams building on Solana who need non-dilutive funding for open source or public goods work
Grant Sizes
$5,000–$500,000+
Terms
Non-dilutive; no equity or tokens taken; deliverable milestones required

Overview

The Solana Foundation's grants programme is one of the most active and well-resourced in blockchain, funding developers, tooling projects, educational initiatives, and ecosystem infrastructure across the Solana network. Grants are tiered from small developer grants ($5K–$25K) for individuals and community contributors through to significant ecosystem grants ($100K+) for critical infrastructure. The Foundation has also run hackathons and accelerators that have produced some of Solana's most successful projects, including Serum and the entire DeFi ecosystem.

Focus Areas

Solana DeFi InfrastructureDeveloper Tooling & SDKsConsumer dApps on SolanaEducational ContentValidators & Network InfrastructureGaming on Solana

Who They Fund

Solana DevelopersdApp TeamsInfrastructure BuildersCommunity EducatorsValidator Operators

How to Apply

Apply via solana.org/grants; Solana Foundation also runs seasonal hackathons with prize pools

Frequently Asked Questions about Solana Foundation — Developer Grants

What is the Solana Foundation grant size range?
Solana Foundation grants range from $5,000 for individual developers and community contributors through to $500,000+ for critical infrastructure projects. Most developer grants fall in the $10,000 to $100,000 range. The Foundation also runs seasonal hackathons with separate prize pools, providing a parallel pathway to non-dilutive funding for teams building on Solana.
Who is eligible for Solana Foundation grants?
Solana Foundation grants are open to Solana developers, dApp teams, infrastructure builders, community educators, and validator operators — essentially anyone building on or supporting the Solana network. The programme funds both technical work (tooling, SDKs, protocol infrastructure) and non-technical contributions (educational content, community building), with the primary criterion being clear benefit to the Solana ecosystem.
Are Solana Foundation grants dilutive?
No — Solana Foundation grants are non-dilutive. No equity or tokens are taken in exchange for grant funding. Deliverable milestones are required, providing accountability for the use of funds, but there is no commercial relationship or ownership stake created by the grant. This makes Solana Foundation grants particularly valuable for open source contributors and early-stage teams.
How do I apply for a Solana Foundation grant?
Applications are submitted via solana.org/grants on a rolling basis. The application requires a clear project description, technical scope, team background, requested grant amount, and milestone plan. The Foundation also runs seasonal hackathons with defined application windows and competitive prize structures — hackathon participation can serve as a pathway into the grants programme for teams that place well.
How long does the Solana Foundation grant process take?
Initial review typically takes 4-8 weeks from application submission, though timelines vary based on application volume and the complexity of the proposed work. Larger grants requiring committee-level review may take longer. Teams should apply well in advance of when funding is needed — grant income should not be assumed as a bridge for immediate operational costs.
Does the Solana Foundation only fund developers building on Solana?
Yes — the Solana Foundation's grants programme is specifically focused on the Solana ecosystem. Projects building primarily on other chains or on chain-agnostic infrastructure without a meaningful Solana component are outside the programme's scope. Teams building cross-chain infrastructure that includes Solana support may qualify, but Solana-specific benefit must be demonstrably central to the proposal.

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