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Application FAQ

At OpenSats, we allocate funds from our generous donors to developers and educators working on free and open-source projects in the Bitcoin and Nostr ecosystems. The OpenSats operations team is available to address any concerns or questions.

Please email us at support@opensats.org in case you have additional questions not covered below.

What kind of projects is OpenSats interested in funding?

All applications should be made with the following criteria in mind:

  • Good for Bitcoin
  • Free and Open-Source
  • Transparency & Education

Refer to our application criteria for more details.

What projects do we NOT fund?

We don't fund any shitcoin projects or anything detrimental to Bitcoin. Anything that is closed source is off the table too.

When can I apply for a grant?

Applications are open for the first two months of each quarter and closed in March, June, September, and December.

How long will it take to evaluate my application?

We strive to evaluate all applications in less than 90 days, but occasionally, it can take longer.

How will I know if my application was selected or not?

You will be notified via email.1

In which currency should I denominate my grant application?

All grants are denominated in USD, please propose your budget in USD.

How should I determine the budget for my application?

As each applicant will have different circumstances, budgets can vary substantially. We suggest that you consider your cost of living, the value of your time, and taxes when applying for a grant.

Can I receive [insert fiat currency]?

No. All grants are denominated in USD but paid in bitcoin. We will request on-chain addresses as part of the grant process.

We have hundreds of grantees worldwide and do not have the capacity or the liberty to provide accounting or legal advice across so many different jurisdictions. We recommend asking a local accountant or lawyer in your jurisdiction.

Can the grant be received as a company, trust, LLC, or similar?

Yes. We suggest working with your accountant or a similar professional if you need help setting up an entity and/or filling out the appropriate tax forms. You can also receive the grant as an individual. The congratulations email we sent you contains information on what tax form we need from you in each case.

Why do you require tax information from your grantees?

We are a 501(c)(3) public charity registered in Texas, USA. We are required by law to collect this information.

What are the requirements of OpenSats grants?

The general requirements are as follows:

  • Work produced must be published under a free and open-source license.
  • Submit a progress report every 90 days for the duration of the grant.
  • That's essentially it!

Footnote: If you're a lawyer, please refer to the fine print in our grant agreement.

What does it mean to produce work under a free and open-source license?

We expect both code and educational materials to be published under a free and open-source license and produced in the open. That means frequent, public commits to GitHub (or equivalent).

Writing all your code/educational materials in private, even if you plan to publish them later, is not compliant with our requirements.

Can grants be part-time or only full-time?

Grants can be full-time or part-time. We can accommodate different levels of commitment with corresponding levels of financial support.

How can I increase my funding chances?

  • Have Proof of Work in the Bitcoin and/or nostr ecosystems.
  • Ask for funding for a project you have already started working on, with Proof of Work.
  • Be humble.

If my application is rejected, can I reapply?

Yes. We suggest improving your application or putting in more Proof of Work before applying again. If you have questions about why your application was rejected, contact us at support@opensats.org.

Can anyone apply?

We cannot fund grants related to countries or programs on the OFAC Sanctions Program and Country Information list.

What should I do if I have general praise or criticism regarding OpenSats?

If you have something good to say about us, you are welcome to say it publicly and tag us on nostr.

If you have something that irks you and/or suggestions for improvements, please let us know via support@opensats.org. We are learning as we go, so any feedback is highly appreciated.

I have a question that isn't covered here; what do I do?

Have a look at the General FAQ. Your question might be answered there.

All application-related inquiries should be sent to support@opensats.org. Please refer to our contact page for additional details.

Footnotes

  1. If your application is spam or shitcoin related, you will not receive a notification as these applications do not meet our funding criteria. You can safely assume your application was rejected. ↩