Big Green DAO Grants (Community-Led Grantmaking)

Big Green DAO Grants

Overview: Big Green DAO is a decentralized, democratic grantmaking initiative where nonprofits and donors vote side-by-side as equals to determine how unrestricted funds are allocated to grassroots organizations growing food and strengthening local food systems.

Program Philosophy:

Community-led decision making: Frontline organizations and community members decide where resources should go

Peer-to-peer model: Centers trust, transparency, and lived experience of grassroots leaders

Decentralized governance: Inspired by Web3 technology and DAO structures

First-of-its-kind: Launched in 2021 as the first nonprofit-led philanthropic DAO in the world

Award Structure:

Unrestricted grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000

Grants determined through community-led voting process

Recent round (Round 8): $495,000 distributed to 34 organizations

All grantees receive: unrestricted grant, Community membership, voting token for future rounds

Geographic Scope: United States (nationwide)

Focus Areas:

Organizations growing food

Strengthening local food systems

Urban farms, community gardens, mobile garden education

Food production and skill-building

Total Impact (as of 2026):

$4.04M+ granted since 2021

170+ organizations granted

How It Works

Three-Part Process:
1. Applying: Nonprofits submit streamlined applications
2. Voting: Community members (grantees and donors) vote on eligibility, budget allocation, and grant recipients
3. Awards: Successful grantees receive unrestricted funding, community membership, and voting participation rights

Eligibility Criteria

Corporate Eligibility (one of the following must apply):

A nonprofit corporation in good standing with the state

A governmental entity or tribal government

Registered to solicit charitable contributions

Operating under a fiscal sponsorship meeting requirements below

Mission/Program Match:

Your mission clearly states that you grow food as your primary area of impact (examples: urban farms, community gardens, mobile garden education classrooms)

You report outputs related to: food produced, number of participants growing food, educational sessions developing food-growing skills

Primary mission test: If you could not have edible plants, you could not deliver on your mission

Program-Level Match:
Some organizations without growing food as primary mission may have specific projects/programs that qualify if:

Project/program is established with dedicated budget line items for food-growing

You track participant impact related to how growing food created change

Edible plants are essential to program delivery

Fiscally Sponsored Organizations:
If your organization lacks 501c3 status, your fiscal sponsor must meet:

Been in existence for at least 5 years

At least $1,000,000 in assets

Has sponsored other organizations previously

Fiscal sponsor agreement in place for at least 6 months prior to application date

Fiscal sponsor fees less than 10% of total granted amount

*Note: Fiscal sponsors of multiple DAO grantees may be subject to additional eligibility/reporting requirements

Tax Classification Requirements:
Organization must meet one of these Section 170(c)(2)(B) of the Internal Revenue Code requirements:

509(a)(1) public charities and 509(a)(2) organizations

Church, synagogue, mosque, or other religious organization

War veterans' organization

Civil defense organization created under federal, state, or local law

Nonprofit volunteer fire company

Domestic fraternal society operating under lodge system (for charitable purposes)

Nonprofit cemetery company (for perpetual care)

State or U.S. possession (or political subdivision), or the United States or District of Columbia (for public purposes)

Federally recognized Indian tribes and political subdivisions (IRC 7871)

Public schools and universities

Non-Eligible Organizations, Programs, and Projects

Note (Grants Round 10 specific): Only open to current DAO Community Members (previously granted by DAO). Organizations granted within last 12 months are NOT eligible.

Always ineligible:

School garden programs (standalone)

Advocacy or umbrella organizations

Entities that want to "add a garden" to their site

Food distribution projects (unless directly connected to growing food or supporting people to grow)

Organizations with racially discriminatory practices

Private foundations and private operating foundations

Groups that participate in partisan politics

Type III Supporting Organizations under Section 509(a)(3)(B)(iii)

Foreign organizations

Terrorist organizations

Re-granting organizations

For-profit entities

Governance Structure

Big Green Community Committee: Leaders from across the country working to grow food in their communities. Committee leads governance and grantmaking, setting direction and ensuring decisions serve the Community and mission of supporting grassroots food-growing organizations.

DAO Structure:

Not fully autonomous; exists both on-chain and off-chain

Operates under Big Green's 501c3 umbrella, following all applicable laws

Multiple safeguards protect grantee members and donor investments

Blockchain-based organization governed by code and community members

Community-owned with built-in treasury requiring group approval for use

Grantees and donors have equal voting power

Benefits of Community Membership

• Access to capacity-building resources tailored to nonprofits
• Voting tokens for future grant rounds
• Peer-to-peer learning opportunities
• Ongoing education and professional development
• Support from fellow organizations strengthening food systems