# Grants Committee: CoW Grants - Retro Round is Open for Applications

**URL:** <https://forum.cow.fi/t/grants-committee-cow-grants-retro-round-is-open-for-applications/3164>\
**Category:** CoW Grants Program\
**Created:** [August 18, 2025, 11:31pm UTC](https://forum.cow.fi/t/grants-committee-cow-grants-retro-round-is-open-for-applications/3164 "2025-08-18T23:31:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Sov](https://dub1.discourse-cdn.com/flex013/user_avatar/forum.cow.fi/sov/32/1295_2.png) [@Sov](https://forum.cow.fi/u/Sov)\
**Post date:** [August 18, 2025, 11:31pm UTC](https://forum.cow.fi/t/grants-committee-cow-grants-retro-round-is-open-for-applications/3164/1 "2025-08-18T23:31:49Z")

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The Retro Round is now open for submissions! This thread will help with information on how to participate. As a reminder, we started the discussion here, and we appreciate all the comments and suggestions from the community:

> [@Grants Committee: CoW DAO's First Retro Funding Round](https://forum.cow.fi/t/cow-daos-first-retro-funding-round/3128):
>
> The Grants Council is proposing CoW DAO’s first retroactive funding round, a new approach to rewarding ecosystem contributions that focuses on demonstrated impact rather than upfront promises. Why Retroactive Funding? The concept of retroactive funding was pioneered by Optimism. Many of you may already be familiar with the concept; if you would like a refresher, it’s described [in this article](https://medium.com/ethereum-optimism/retroactive-public-goods-funding-33c9b7d00f0c): [https://medium.com/ethereum-optimism/retroactive-public-goods-funding-33c9b7d00f0c](https://medium.com/ethereum-optimism/retroactive-public-goods-funding-33c9b7d00f0c) The core insight …

### **Submission Process**

1. **Post in our grants category** : [https://forum.cow.fi/c/cow-grants-program/](https://forum.cow.fi/c/cow-grants-program/10/none)

2. **Title your post** : [RETRO ROUND] Your Project Name

3. **Use our standard grant application template** : [https://forum.cow.fi/t/for-grantees-grant-application-template/2768](https://forum.cow.fi/t/for-grantees-grant-application-template/2768)

4. **Follow our grantee process guide for best practices** : [https://forum.cow.fi/t/for-cow-grantees-process-guide-feb-2025/2830](https://forum.cow.fi/t/for-cow-grantees-process-guide-feb-2025/2830)

### **What to Include in Your Proposal**

Focus your submission on:

- **What you’re building** - Be specific about deliverables

- **Alignment with focus areas** - Show how it fits our priorities (solver infrastructure, dev tools, MEV protection, AI agents, UX)

- **Impact metrics** - How will you measure and demonstrate success?

- **Timeline** - Your build plan through the end of the year

- **Track record** - Previous work that shows you can deliver (if applicable)

### **Important Notes**

⚠ **RFP vs Retro Round** :

- If you’re responding to an existing RFP, → Use the traditional grant process with milestones

- If you have an original idea → Submit to the retro round

### **Timeline Reminder**

- **Now through the end of the year** : Build period

- **January 2026** : Evaluation and funding decisions

- **Updates** : Share progress in your proposal thread as you build

### **Questions?**

Drop them here or reach out to the Grants Council. We’re here to help builders succeed.

Let’s see what the CoWmunity can build!