The Stellar Community Fund published guidance on what makes successful grant applications stand out, based on feedback from round 36 panelists. The article outlines five key areas: clear project purpose, technical proof of execution, realistic budgeting, genuine community engagement, and proactive compliance planning.
Drawing from round 36 panelist feedback, this article provides a practical roadmap for Stellar Community Fund applicants. Successful proposals clearly define their problem and value proposition, with explicit technical architecture showing how they leverage Stellar and Soroban. Applicants should provide tangible proof through code repositories, demos, and detailed technical documentation. Budget justifications must be realistic and transparent, with consideration for phased funding approaches. Community building should be strategic and authentic—engaging in proper channels like the Stellar Developer Discord rather than spamming. Finally, proposals should proactively address regulatory and security challenges, including plans for audits if handling user funds. The article emphasizes that strong proposals combine clear vision, proven execution capability, justified costs, and the right team.