Setting Up a Gitcoin Grants Clone for Your Ecosystem

Quadratic Funding (QF) is a democratic mechanism for allocating a matching pool to community projects. Unlike simple voting, QF amplifies the impact of small contributions, making it ideal for funding public goods. The formula calculates a project's matching amount as the square of the sum of the square roots of individual contributions. This means a project with 100 donors giving $1 each receives more matching funds than a project with one donor giving $100, incentivizing broad-based community support. Gitcoin Grants popularized this model for Ethereum's ecosystem, distributing over $50 million in matched funding.

To host your own QF platform, you need a full-stack application. The core components are a smart contract suite for managing rounds and distributing funds, a frontend application for user interaction, and a backend service for indexing and calculations. The recommended starting point is the Gitcoin Grants Stack, an open-source monorepo containing all necessary components. You can fork the repository and deploy it to a platform like Vercel or Railway. The stack uses Next.js for the frontend, Express for the API, and leverages EVM-compatible chains like Polygon or Optimism for lower transaction costs.

Configuration is the most critical step. You must define your grant round parameters in environment variables and configuration files. Key settings include the matching pool size, round start/end dates, the ERC-20 token for donations, and the verification method for sybil resistance (like Gitcoin Passport). The packages/round and packages/graphql services need to be pointed to your blockchain RPC endpoint and database. For production, you should use a dedicated PostgreSQL instance and a reliable RPC provider like Alchemy or Infura to ensure data integrity and API reliability during the round.

A secure deployment requires managing administrator privileges and fund custody. The round manager address, set during contract deployment, has the power to finalize the round and distribute the matching pool. This should be a multi-signature wallet controlled by trusted ecosystem stewards. All donated funds and the matching pool are held in the smart contracts, which are non-custodial and transparent. After the round ends, the finalizeRound function on the contract calculates the final matching amounts using the QF formula and allows projects to withdraw their matched funds. Always audit the contract code and conduct a test round on a testnet before going live.

The core of a Gitcoin Grants clone is a full-stack web application. You will need a Node.js runtime environment (v18 LTS or later) and a package manager like npm or yarn. The frontend typically uses a React-based framework such as Next.js (version 13 or 14), while the backend relies on serverless functions or a Node.js API. Ensure you have Git installed for version control and cloning the repository from platforms like GitHub or GitLab.

Smart contract interaction is fundamental. You'll need access to an EVM-compatible blockchain for deployment and testing. This could be a local development chain like Hardhat Network or Anvil, a testnet (e.g., Sepolia, Base Sepolia), or eventually a mainnet. Essential developer tools include Hardhat or Foundry for compiling, testing, and deploying contracts, and MetaMask or another Web3 wallet for managing test accounts and interacting with the dApp.

You must configure several third-party service accounts. A Supabase project is required for backend database and authentication. You will also need API keys for Pinata or another IPFS service for decentralized file storage, and for Etherscan or the relevant block explorer for contract verification. For handling cryptocurrency payments, configure a WalletConnect project ID. Optionally, set up Alchemy or Infura for reliable RPC endpoints.

The application requires specific environment variables to function. These include database connection strings from Supabase, your blockchain RPC URLs, private keys for deployment accounts (stored securely), and the addresses of your deployed smart contracts. A .env.example file is usually provided in the repository; copy it to .env.local and populate it with your actual keys and endpoints before starting the development server.

For a production deployment, you will need a hosting platform. Vercel is a common choice for Next.js applications due to its seamless integration. You must connect your Git repository and configure the same environment variables in the Vercel project settings. Ensure your Supabase project is upgraded from the free tier if you anticipate high traffic, and consider using a paid IPFS pinning service to guarantee file persistence.

Quadratic Funding (QF) is a democratic mechanism for allocating a matching pool to projects based on the number of contributors, not just the total amount. It amplifies the impact of small donations, making it ideal for funding public goods. To implement this, you need a system that collects donations, calculates the QF match using the formula (sum of sqrt(donations))^2, and distributes the pooled funds. While building from scratch is complex, several open-source frameworks provide a production-ready foundation, with the most prominent being the Gitcoin Grants Stack.

The core technical stack for a QF platform consists of a smart contract suite, a frontend application, and indexing/API services. The smart contracts handle the critical logic: securing funds, recording votes (donations), and executing the match distribution after a round concludes. You'll need contracts for a round manager, a voting strategy (like QF), and a payout strategy. The frontend allows users to discover projects, connect wallets, and donate. Services like The Graph or Supabase are typically used to index blockchain data for fast querying of round stats and project details.

Starting with the Gitcoin Grants Stack is the most practical approach. It's a modular, open-source collection of smart contracts and applications. Begin by forking the official repositories: the grants-stack monorepo for the frontend and the allo-v2 repository for the smart contracts. The contracts are deployed on multiple EVM-compatible chains. You will need to configure environment variables, set up a decentralized storage solution like IPFS or Ceramic for project metadata, and connect to an RPC provider for your target network (e.g., Optimism, Polygon, or a testnet).

Configuration is key. You must define your round parameters: the start/end times, the matching pool size, the token used for donations (like ETH, USDC, or a native token), and the eligibility requirements for projects. The allo-v2 contracts use a registry for managing programs and rounds. You'll interact with them via a CLI or a custom script to create your funding round. The frontend application needs to be pointed to your contract addresses, RPC URL, and storage endpoints. This setup creates a self-contained QF instance for your community.

Beyond deployment, consider operational requirements. You need a process to curate and approve project applications before a round begins. You must fund the matching pool smart contract and decide on a finalization method—often a multi-sig transaction—to trigger the distribution after the round ends. For transparency, you should run an indexer to provide a public API of all donations and results. While the Grants Stack handles the core mechanics, successful rounds require clear communication, project support, and community engagement to drive participation.

Alternative frameworks exist, such as clr.fund which offers a more minimal, on-chain focused implementation. The choice depends on your needs: the Grants Stack is feature-rich and battle-tested, while clr.fund prioritizes decentralization and auditability. Regardless of the stack, running a QF round is a powerful way to leverage community sentiment for resource allocation. It aligns incentives, surfaces underfunded ideas, and can become a cornerstone of your ecosystem's governance and growth strategy.

Begin by forking the two primary repositories on GitHub. The first is the Allo Protocol, the smart contract layer that manages the grant funding logic. The second is the Grants Stack, the frontend application that users interact with. Forking creates a personal copy of each repository under your GitHub account, allowing you to make changes without affecting the original project. You can find these repos at github.com/allo-protocol/allo-v2 and github.com/gitcoinco/grants-stack.

Once forked, clone the repositories to your local development machine. Use the git clone command followed by the URL of your forked repository. For example, git clone https://github.com/YOUR_USERNAME/allo-v2.git. It's recommended to organize these projects in a single parent directory, as the frontend application will need to reference the contract addresses and ABIs from the protocol. This local setup is essential for the subsequent steps of environment configuration and contract deployment.

After cloning, you should verify the structure of each project. The Allo Protocol repo contains the core Solidity contracts, deployment scripts, and tests. The Grants Stack repo is a Next.js application with components for program creation, project applications, and donation flows. At this stage, you are not yet running any code; you are simply establishing the foundational codebase that you will configure, customize, and deploy in the following steps of this guide.

Begin by forking the official Gitcoin Grants Stack repository from GitHub. This open-source codebase contains the core smart contracts, including the RoundImplementation, QuadraticFundingVotingStrategy, and PayoutStrategy contracts. Clone the repository to your local machine and install the necessary dependencies using npm or yarn. You will need Node.js version 16+ and a package manager installed. The project uses Hardhat for development and testing, so ensure your environment is configured accordingly.

Configuration is managed through environment variables and deployment scripts. The key file is .env.example, which you should copy to .env and populate with your specific values. Essential variables include: DEPLOYER_PRIVATE_KEY for the wallet that will deploy the contracts, RPC_URL for the blockchain network you're targeting (e.g., an Ethereum Sepolia or Polygon Mumbai endpoint), and ALLO_OWNER which sets the admin address for the protocol's core Allo registry. Carefully review the contracts/config files to understand adjustable parameters like round durations and matching fund caps.

Before deploying to a testnet or mainnet, run the existing test suite with npm run test to ensure everything compiles and functions as expected. To deploy, use the provided Hardhat scripts. A typical command for deploying to a testnet is npx hardhat run scripts/deploy.ts --network mumbai. This script will deploy the Allo registry, the RoundFactory, and the necessary strategy contracts. The console output will provide the addresses of all deployed contracts; record these addresses meticulously as they are required for the frontend configuration in the next step. Verify the deployments on a block explorer like Etherscan or Polygonscan.

A subgraph is a data indexing protocol that transforms raw blockchain data into a queryable GraphQL API. For a grants platform, this is essential for efficiently displaying live data like total funds raised, donation history, and project leaderboards without making slow, repeated RPC calls. You define a subgraph manifest (subgraph.yaml) that specifies the smart contracts to index, the events to listen for, and how to map that event data into your defined GraphQL schema. The Graph's decentralized network of indexers then syncs this data, making it available via a public endpoint.

First, you must define your data schema in a schema.graphql file. For a grants system, core entities typically include GrantRound, Project, Donation, and Vote. Relationships are defined using GraphQL's type system; for example, a GrantRound has many Projects, and a Donation links to both a Project and a contributor address. This schema dictates the structure of your final database and the queries your frontend can make. Use the Graph CLI (graph init) to scaffold your project based on your contract's address and ABI.

The core logic resides in mapping functions written in AssemblyScript (a subset of TypeScript). These functions, defined in files like src/mapping.ts, are triggered by contract events. When a DonationSent event is emitted, your handler function creates a new Donation entity, calculates derived fields, and updates related entities like the project's totalReceived. It's crucial to handle entity IDs carefully, often using a combination of transaction hash and log index, and to load existing entities with Entity.load() before updating them to avoid overwrites.

Before deploying to the hosted service or decentralized network, test your subgraph locally. Use graph codegen to generate TypeScript types from your schema, then run graph build to compile the mappings. You can deploy to a local Graph Node for testing with graph create and graph deploy. This allows you to verify that your handlers correctly process mock data. Common issues include incorrect event signatures in the manifest, type errors in mappings, or entities not being saved due to a missing entity.save() call.

For production, deploy to The Graph's Hosted Service (for testnets/mainnets) or the Decentralized Network. Using the CLI, authenticate with graph auth, then deploy with graph deploy --product hosted-service <your-username>/<subgraph-name>. Your subgraph will begin syncing, which can take from minutes to hours depending on blockchain history. Once synced, you can query it via the provided HTTP endpoint using GraphQL. For a grants UI, you might query all active rounds or aggregate donations per project. The subgraph becomes the primary data layer for your application's dynamic content.

Begin by updating the core branding elements in the frontend's configuration files. Locate the public directory and replace the default favicon, logo images, and OpenGraph meta tags. Next, edit the application's title, description, and theme colors in the main configuration file (e.g., next.config.js, tailwind.config.js, or a dedicated config.ts). This ensures the UI displays your ecosystem's name, logo, and color scheme instead of the default Gitcoin branding.

The application fetches data from your deployed smart contracts and indexer. You must update the contract addresses and ABIs in the frontend's configuration. Typically, this involves modifying a file like lib/config.ts or constants/contracts.ts to point to your RoundFactory, QuadraticFundingVotingStrategyFactory, and ProgramFactory contracts. Also, update the subgraph endpoint URL to query your custom subgraph, which indexes events from your contracts.

For deeper customization, you can modify the grant program's logic and UI components. This includes adjusting the application form fields for projects, changing the matching pool distribution calculation display, or altering the voting mechanism interface. These changes are made in the React components within the components and pages directories. For example, to change the types of questions grantees answer, you would edit the form component and its corresponding validation logic.

Finally, review and customize the text content throughout the application. Use a global string management file or directly edit text in components to replace all instances of "Gitcoin Grants" with your program's name, update help text, and tailor instructions for your community. Ensure all links (like documentation and social media) in the footer and headers point to your ecosystem's resources. A thorough review in a local development environment is crucial before building for production.

After deploying your Allo Protocol-based grants stack, the first step is to configure the core parameters that define your ecosystem's funding rounds. This is done through the Allo Manager or your custom admin dashboard. You must set the pool manager address, which controls the round, and define the strategy contract that governs the distribution logic (e.g., Quadratic Funding via DonationVotingMerkleDistribution). Other critical initial settings include the round's start and end timestamps, the matching cap to control subsidy size, and the registry (like allo-v2/registry) for project verification. Ensure the treasury wallet has sufficient funds for matching pools.

The admin panel is your primary tool for managing the round's lifecycle. Key administrative functions include: reviewing and approving project applications submitted to the registry, curating the list of accepted projects for a specific round, and distributing funds after the round concludes. For Quadratic Funding rounds, you must run the payout calculation off-chain using tools like the allo-v2/quadratic-funding SDK to determine final matching amounts, then submit the merkle root of the distribution to the strategy contract to enable claims. Monitoring transaction volume and gas costs on your chosen chain (e.g., Optimism, Polygon) is also crucial during active rounds.

Establish clear operational workflows for recurring rounds. This includes a standardized project application template, a review rubric for your committee, and a communication plan for announcing rounds and results. For security and transparency, use a multi-sig wallet (like Safe) as the pool manager and treasury. All administrative actions—adding managers, updating parameters, finalizing rounds—should be executed via this multi-sig. Document all decisions and keep an off-chain record of payout calculations for audit purposes. Regularly update your stack by pulling improvements from the upstream Allo Protocol repositories to incorporate security patches and new features.

You have successfully deployed a quadratic funding mechanism that allows your community to vote with their capital. The key components are in place: a smart contract registry for projects, a matching pool for funds, and a user interface for donations. The next critical step is security and testing. Conduct a thorough audit of your forked contracts, focusing on the RoundImplementation and VotingStrategy logic. Use tools like Slither or Mythril for automated analysis and consider a professional audit for mainnet deployment, especially if handling significant treasury funds.

To grow your ecosystem, you must actively manage the grant rounds. This involves setting clear round parameters: the matching pool size, minimum/maximum donation amounts, and the application period. Use the admin functions in the RoundFactory to control these settings. You'll also need to establish a transparent process for project applications and vetting. Consider integrating with Sybil-resistant identity systems like Gitcoin Passport to prevent fraud and ensure fair distribution of matching funds, which is the core value proposition of quadratic funding.

Finally, explore advanced customizations to tailor the platform. The codebase is modular, allowing you to swap voting strategies or add new features. You could integrate ERC-20 token matching for multi-currency support, implement recurring rounds for sustained funding, or build analytics dashboards using the subgraph to track impact. Engage with your developer community by sharing your fork on GitHub and documenting any changes. The official Gitcoin Grants Stack documentation is the best resource for deep technical reference as you iterate on your deployment.