Climate Solutions Round Description
The Climate Coordination Network considers climate action a paramount public good, since climate change affects everyone globally. Their mission centers on accelerating community-supported climate solutions worldwide to foster sustainable and equitable futures.
The GG21 Climate Solutions Round aimed to distribute grants strategically to support impactful climate initiatives across the globe.
GG21 Snapshot: Outcomes and Statistics
- Matching Cap: 10%
- QF Mechanism: QF + COCM (50-50)
- Participants: 71 Climate Solutions Grantees
- Applications: 102 grantee submissions
- Total funding: $22,050
- Contributions: 794 unique donors
- Average contribution: $12.66
- Matching funds: Distributed in USDGLO
Climate Solution Round Implementation
New for GG21: Specific Eligibility Criteria + 70-Project Cap
The CCN team introduced significant changes to concentrate funding toward impactful projects:
Revised Eligibility Criteria: The team rewrote eligibility standards to specify required application components and disqualifying factors, including projects previously accepted.
Karma GAP Requirement: GG20 participants needed to post minimum 2 milestones and updates in their KarmaGap profiles.
Round Limit: The round accommodated 70 grantees (ultimately 71) based on project review score rankings.
Project Review Process: A detailed review evaluated projects across 8 categories on 1-5 scales, considering applications, Karma GAP milestones, and impact metrics. Two reviewers assessed each project.
Application Period: Applications closed before the round began—a first-time approach enabling finalized impact rankings beforehand.
The Climate Solutions Round: Global, Collaborative & Unique
The round's distinguishing characteristic involves cultivating supportive community dynamics that produce sustained productive relationships and collaborations. Review of multi-round grantees revealed clear patterns of mutual support and partnership.
Round Matching Results
The CCN team combined QF and COCM (Connection Oriented Cluster Matching) for matching calculations. Testing in GG19/GG20 showed COCM flattened results, discouraging well-marketed projects, while standard QF functioned as popularity contests disadvantaging smaller communities.
The 50-50 hybrid model balanced these concerns, rewarding community coordination while maintaining incentives for independent marketing efforts.
Impact Assessment
The GG21 round supported 71 projects globally, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, establishing core infrastructure, and facilitating cooperation to accelerate climate action.
Grantees provided specific metrics informed by the Climate Solution Metrics Garden, while returning participants included KarmaGAP documentation. The team distributed matching funds in USDGLO, generating over $10,000 additional funding directed toward climate initiatives through Glo Consortium revenue.
Participant Feedback
The CCN created comprehensive feedback forms. Survey respondents (n=17) provided input across multiple dimensions including pre-round support, application processes, KarmaGAP experiences, and review procedures.
Testimonials:
"Massive THANKS to #GG21, @Gitcoin, @climate_program and @letsGROWdao! It's been an intense time with loads of effort, filled with great conversations (and a few tangents and rabbit holes) all powered by next-level community vibes." — Impact Evaluation Foundation
"The @climate_program team. Thank you for maximizing your philanthropic impact by paying out matching funds in Glo Dollars." — Glo Dollar
"Just did a round of donations. So many great projects to choose from! Huge thank you to the CCN team for all of their work." — @Kentbabin, Carbon Copy
"It rocks, it needs to exist, it is why I hang out in the space, it is why I can tell people web3 can be used for good." — Anonymous feedback
Challenges for GG21
Communication to Grantees: New eligibility criteria and review processes confused some grantees who missed communications.
Review Process: The new methodology represented an improvement but required mid-process adjustments. One ambiguity involved distinguishing token launches for liquidity pools versus operational uses. The team mistakenly flagged $Earth as primarily a liquidity vehicle but subsequently reconsidered and included it as the 71st project after reassessing other applicants.
Checker: Community rounds required Checker usage, but the tool remained unchanged since before GG20. AI functionality proved unhelpful, and the new review process couldn't integrate within it. KarmaGAP milestone integration never materialized despite previous feedback.
Grants Stack Product Support: Multiple technical issues—indexer downtime, CSV download failures, checkout problems—received slow responses. Workarounds often came from round managers rather than support teams. One supporter couldn't donate before round conclusion without assistance.
Donor Turnout: Contributions and contributor counts declined significantly.
| Round | Total Crowdfunded | Unique Contributors |
|---|---|---|
| GG20 | $58,000 | 2,262 |
| GG21 | $22,050 | 794 |
Causes likely included absent OSS rounds, summer seasonality, and market conditions.
Incentives for Round Managers: Despite Gitcoin's matching pool contributions across three rounds, round managers received no compensation despite generating platform value.
Lessons Learned and Areas for Improvements
- Enhanced grantee review tools could further streamline workflows.
- Establishing clearer guidelines and codes of conduct addressing Sybil attacks would clarify acceptable donor behaviors.
- Continuing to refine eligibility criteria based on round learnings, particularly distinguishing token types.
Closing Thoughts
The CCN team expresses gratitude to Momus Collective and Gitcoin for matching pool support. They appreciate participating grantees, contributors, and the opportunity to serve as a Gitcoin Community Round for GG21, anticipating mutually beneficial future partnerships.
