> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.obol.org/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.obol.org/docs/community-and-governance/governance/grants-program/grant-track-for-strengthening-the-collective-operators-and-community-growth.md).

# Grant Track for Strengthening the Collective: Operators & Community Growth

The following guide will provide you with all the info you need to apply for a grant related to Strengthening the Collective: Operators & Community Growth. [You can apply directly on Questbook, here](https://questbook.app/proposal_form/?grantId=6808e08e9ccae779614e2cfe\&chainId=10\&utm_source=questbook\&utm_medium=grant_details\&utm_campaign=share).

## Is My Proposal In-Scope for This Grant Track?

This Grant Track funds work that builds **capabilities and coordination** within the Obol ecosystem — especially among distributed validator operators and active Collective members.

You’re likely in-scope if your proposal:

* Trains, certifies, or supports DV operators in joining Obol clusters
* Improves the Silver Techne onboarding experience, curriculum, or support
* Builds infrastructure, guides, or dashboards to track operator activity or status

Whether you’re focused on operator growth, or ecosystem education — we want to hear from you.

## Grant Track Priorities & **Goal**s

#### **Category A – Operator Development (Silver Techne)**

* Details: Train and certify a professional class of operators who can scale networks reliably by running Obol DVs. Currently there is [about 600 Silver Techne credentials](https://etherscan.io/token/0xfdb3986f0c97c3c92af3c318d7d2742d8f7ed8cc).
* Success Metrics: Grow the number of Silver Techne Credentials by 30%.
* Exemples: 
  * Design or improve training content for Silver Techne
    * Docs, videos, interactive workshops, validator testnets
  * Build or enhance certification workflows and dashboards
    * UX to issue/review credentials, operator leaderboards, cluster-readiness tools
  * Regionalize operator onboarding programs
    * Language localization, timezone-based support, squad coordination templates

> These proposals should prioritize transparency, inclusion, and fair access for contributors.

## Milestone Articulation

Grants are paid out in **staged milestones** that reflect real-world progress and value delivered to the operator ecosystem or community.

Examples of strong milestones:

* Training curriculum published, piloted with 20 new operators
* 50+ new Silver Techne credentials issued (with wallet verification)
* Launch of open project board with real-time community activity

## Security & Credibility Notes

Grant Requests that touch credentialing, access controls, or public dashboards must:

* Respect contributor privacy and security
* Be reviewed by at least one Collective contributor for community fit
* Prioritize open-source and reproducible tooling wherever possible

## What Makes a Strong Grant Request?

* **Community Fit**: Proposal aligns with Obol’s mission of decentralization and collective stewardship
* **Operator Support**: Drives real growth in the Silver Techne operator pool or quality of operator experiences
* **Transparency**: Proposes open processes, accessible documentation, and easy participation
* **Sustainability**: Suggests systems that can scale or run with community ownership
* **Clear Value**: Tied to quantifiable growth in contributions, certifications, or community activity

## Evaluation Rubric (0–5 points per category)

| **Category**              | **Description**                                                                  |
| ------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Team Experience**       | Is the team familiar with validator ops, contributor tools, or community design? |
| **Impact Potential**      | Will this grow or support long-term contributor or operator engagement?          |
| **Technical Feasibility** | Is the proposal scoped realistically and implementable with the given resources? |
| **Milestone Clarity**     | Are there measurable indicators of success and clear timelines for each phase?   |


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:

```
GET https://docs.obol.org/docs/community-and-governance/governance/grants-program/grant-track-for-strengthening-the-collective-operators-and-community-growth.md?ask=<question>&goal=<endgoal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.