Gitcoin DAO 2026 Budget Request

TL;DR This seeks funding for DAO operations through January 2026 - December 2026, funds released in two tranches. The DAO 2026 Strategy presents an integrated approach to governance, builder engagement, and ecosystem growth, focusing on progressive decentralization and global expansion. We are requesting $1,053,469 from the treasury to execute this vision. We did not spend the reserves from the 2025 budget, therefore it will carry forward to the 2026 budget request.

Note: Grants Lab dissolved mid-2025, and in H2 of 2025 we moved into the Gitcoin 3.0 era; this request represents our evolved strategic direction.

Vision: A future where Ethereum funds its foundations and future through ecosystem coordination.

Mission: Fund What Matters.

Current State & Progress The DAO navigated significant organizational changes throughout 2025, focusing on stability, restructuring and financial sustainability:

Maintained and took over essential organization operations through the Grants Lab spindown mid 2025

Sustained Gitcoin Grants builder satisfaction rate at +80%

Achieved our first domain-led GG round with minimal resources

Initiated governance structure experiments

Structurally adapted to meet a more financially sustainable model moving forward

These accomplishments, while modest, provide a foundation for our more ambitious 2026 plans. Gitcoin deliberately hit the brakes in 2025. We spun down burn, shed organizational debt, and returned to a founder-stewarded, lean network.

Organizational Context With the dissolution of Grants Lab mid-2025, and a shift towards Gitcoin 3.0 in H2 of 2025, the DAO has continued to operate on minimal resources within budget constraints, while restructuring for greater efficiency. The key changes that were made since the last budget request is as follows:

Dissolution of Gitcoin’s business unit, Grants Lab A renewed focus on the Gitcoin Grants program A return of Kevin Owocki, leading the organization as Executive Steward A shift towards Gitcoin 3.0, building the infrastructure for pluralistic, domain-driven funding. The first pilot was run in GG24 After three prior eras (PMF → QF scale → DAO/enterprise overreach), 2025 marked a reset: no organizational debt, lean core team, and strategic optionality. Gitcoin’s next era in 2026 is organized around activating three reinforcing legs:

Alignment Build coalitions that align technology, capital, and human thriving (e.g. public goods, d/acc, privacy, open source). Alpha Attract top-tier builders, founders, and funders — and develop the capability to spot early, high-upside opportunities. Accelerate Return to Gitcoin 0.1 velocity: lean teams, fast iteration, high-quality execution.

Read more: https://gov.gitcoin.co/t/proposal-gitcoin-dao-2026-budget-request/25075