Check out the FAQ to answer all your questions! If you can't find your answer, ask it in the #support channel on the SCF Discord, and someone will help you shortly.
General
What’s the difference between Stellar and Soroban?
Stellar: an open-source blockchain network optimized for payments and asset issuance, designed to connect the world’s financial systems, all on a single network.
“Classic Stellar” is your Toyota that you take to and from work every day. It gets good gas mileage, has extremely low maintenance costs, and is just straight-up the most reliable car on the road. It’s not flashy, but it’s safe, dependable, and gets the job done.
Soroban: Stellar’s new smart contracts platform, written in Rust, and built to work with Stellar.
Soroban, on the other hand, is still a car. But you can get a little crazy with it. A lift kit to get you up that treacherous mountain slope? Sure! A snorkel to forge a canyon river? Go for it. Spinners on your wheels for a little extra pizzazz? Maybe even some hydraulics for some bounce? Yes, and yes! Oh, the places you can go!
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 has several community-driven programs that funds and fosters 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 all stages of development. 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. The 4 main project categories are:
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 and/or Soroban is or will play a core and valuable role in your project. Don't shoehorn Stellar and/or Soroban into your project just to get awards.
The level of development that is already done and what you aim to do sets the project scope, influencing the SCF program that you are eligible for.
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 SCF?
You can find step-by-step submission instructions for each program here in the handbook, but all submission forms 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).
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?
The SCF process is meant to be a continuous journey, so rather than applying for another round of funding through the same program, you’ll move on to the next step in the process. Though this process will look different depending on your project, the basic structure is SCF Kickstart → SCF Build → SCF Growth.
What are the evaluation criteria for applications?
General application criteria can be found here. For more specific criteria divided by project category, look here. This criteria was developed by Category Delegate Panels, so projects should view it as a source of truth and review it closely.
The SCF Build Award is a one-time award of up to $150,000 in 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*.
Post-Award Requirements
What are the reporting requirements if my project is funded?
The SCF Build Award is split into 3 tranches of funding, so you’ll 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?
Legacy projects may have project-specific questions and unique circumstances. Find out more about legacy projects here.
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.
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
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 (SCF Kickstart Selection/SCF Build Prescreening) 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 SCF Kickstart or to 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.
