Hi Team, please see my feedback regarding this Grants Program Renewal Proposal below.
Additional Grant Committee Member
I understand that @sohkai was also introduced as a Grant Committee Member in January 2024 to provide technical input. It would be great to see this reflected in the CIP so the record of committee membership remains accurate.
Committee Calls and Time Zone Constraints
Seems a little rough. I appreciate the purpose of the ‘all-hands’ meetings, though time zone differences can be challenging. Since not all members are in the Northern Hemisphere, and attending calls in the middle of the night is impractical for some of us.
As a Mod on this Forum for the past 593 days, I am responsive to Applicants and Grantees. Using the Forums to communicate respects my anonymity and personal schedule.
I would suggest that Grant Committee calls be recorded (happy to have them expire after a few days) or meeting minutes provided, if the meeting needs to be called at all. Personally I prefer that Discord and this Forum serve as a primary communication channel for transparency to the CowDAO Community.
Stipend and Responsibilities
While I like the idea of committee members stewarding multiple grants, I think it is an unreasonable expectation under the current compensation structure. If we truly need heavy involvement (e.g., multiple check-ins, milestone reviews, etc.), this time commitment will quickly exceed the modest stipend.
As someone who joined CowDAO for fun and the whimsical nature of Cowswap, I must highlight that my hourly rate would quickly deplete this budget if I were to dedicate serious time to extensive oversight. Which leads into my next point.
I suggest tripling the stipend for those who choose to serve in this “Grant Steward” capacity, rather than introducing a discretionary bonus. This helps avoid ambiguity, ensures fair and consistent compensation for those who take on this workload, and makes it clear from the outset who is dedicating significant time to grant oversight.
Personally, my current schedule does not allow for such time-intensive stewardship, so I am happy to remain a committee member with standard responsibilities, and I would recuse myself from any “Grant Steward” role that demands more bandwidth.
Dedicated Grant Resource from Nomev Labs Lda
I also note that Nomev Labs Lda has guided much of the Committee’s operations over the past year. It would make sense for them to provide a Dedicated Grant Resource—especially when so much of the Committee’s valuable time is spent reviewing technically complex proposals. This would relieve committee members from bearing the technical burden, while still letting us provide input on strategic and governance aspects of grants.
If there is a significant cost impost on the profit margins of Nomev Labs Lda, then I suggest they raise a separate grant proposal for this resource, which I am sure will be accepted. Treasury reports from @kpk show that it can be afforded very comfortably.
I have raised this before, in Contract Renewal Proposal CIP-58. Such an arrangement would reduce friction and ensure we have the right expertise at the right time.
I hope these suggestions can spark constructive dialogue about refining the grant program.