Zcash Community Grants Dashboard: How to Find and Track ZCG Grants
Learn how to find, evaluate, and track Zcash Community Grants with the new ZcashGrantHub dashboard and GitHub-based application process.
TLDR: The Zcash Community Grants (ZCG) program funds ecosystem development, and a new community-built dashboard called ZcashGrantHub now makes it easier to browse, filter, and track grant applications. You can view all active grants, monitor milestones, and even submit applications through the improved interface.
Why Zcash Community Grants Matter
The Zcash Community Grants program allocates treasury funds to projects that strengthen the Zcash ecosystem. Grants cover software development, education, marketing, and infrastructure — everything from payment processors to privacy research.
The program operates through a DAO structure on DAODAO, with a grants committee reviewing and approving applications. Since launching, ZCG has funded dozens of projects including wallets, node software, content creation, and compliance tooling.
Funded projects include Zkool2 (Linux wallet), CipherPay (payment processor), Nodus (Light API infrastructure), and the Zcast Spanish-language podcast (130+ episodes).
How to Find Zcash Community Grants
The GitHub method (original). All ZCG applications live as GitHub Issues in the ZcashCommunityGrants repository. Search filters let you sort by status (active, completed, rejected) and date. This is the canonical source of truth — every approved grant starts here.
ZcashGrantHub (new community dashboard). Launched in April 2026, ZcashGrantHub pulls live data directly from the ZCG GitHub repository and organizes it into a browsable interface. The dashboard offers:
- Filter grants by status, category, and funding amount
- View milestone progress and risk assessments
- See treasury balance trends and application analytics
- Submit new applications through a guided 10-step form mirroring the official template
The project was built using AI-assisted development (Lovable + Cursor AI) and went from concept to working prototype in two days.
Evaluating a Grant: What to Look For
Budget clarity. Strong applications include specific cost breakdowns with line items. Vague budgets like "development work - $15,000" raise red flags. Look for hourly rates, estimated hours, and deliverable definitions.
Milestone structure. Grants should define measurable milestones with deliverables — not broad timelines. A six-month wallet project should have weekly or bi-weekly checkpoints with demonstrable progress.
Team track record. Grant applicants should link previous work, open-source contributions, or references that prove relevant experience. Anonymous first-time applicants with large budgets warrant extra scrutiny.
Community feedback. Check the GitHub Issue comments for community reactions. Active discussion with constructive feedback typically signals a serious application.
Categories of Zcash Community Grants
Core infrastructure. Node software (Z3 development), Light API servers (Nodus), and consensus improvements. These grants directly impact network reliability and developer experience.
Wallets and user tools. Zkool2 received support for its Flatpak Linux distribution. Wallet grants improve accessibility for average ZEC holders.
Education and media. Zcast's Spanish podcast received a Minor Grant and has produced over 130 videos and 30 Twitter Spaces sessions. Content grants expand Zcash reach to non-English audiences.
Privacy and compliance. Projects like Zecret Ballots (privacy-preserving voting) and ZK-compliance tooling address both technical advancement and regulatory positioning.
Payment infrastructure. CipherPay's Zcash payment processor beta addresses the merchant adoption gap. Payment grants reduce friction for real-world ZEC usage.
How to Apply for a Zcash Community Grant
Step 1: Define your project clearly. Write a one-page summary answering: what problem does this solve, why does it matter for Zcash, and how will you measure success?
Step 2: Build a budget and timeline. Break costs into specific line items. Set milestone dates aligned with measurable deliverables.
Step 3: Submit via GitHub. Applications use the standard grant_application.yaml template in the ZcashCommunityGrants repository. Include team credentials, technical approach, and success metrics.
Step 4: Engage with feedback. Community members and committee reviewers will comment on your application. Respond to questions promptly and revise based on constructive feedback.
Step 5: Track progress through milestones. Once funded, publish regular updates linked to your milestone schedule. Transparency maintains community trust and enables future funding.
Grants in the Zcash Ecosystem Beyond ZCG
The Zcash Foundation runs its own separate grant program for core protocol development. Projects like the Z3 node software and Crosslink upgrade received Foundation funding rather than community grants.
ZCG focuses on community-driven ecosystem growth — applications, tools, content, and user-facing projects. When planning an application, consider whether your project aligns better with ZCG's community mandate or the Foundation's core development priorities.
Key Takeaway
Zcash Community Grants represent one of the most active and transparent crypto funding programs in operation. With ZcashGrantHub now providing a user-friendly interface alongside the canonical GitHub Issues, discovering and tracking grants has never been easier. For developers, content creators, and builders in the Zcash ecosystem, ZCG funding can turn ideas into deployed products.