### Terms and Conditions
- [x] I agree to the [Grant Agreement](https://9ba4718…c-5c73-47c3-a024-4fc4e5278803.usrfiles.com/ugd/9ba471_f81ef4e4b5f040038350270590eb2e42.pdf) terms if funded
- [x] I agree to [Provide KYC information](https://9ba4718c-5c73-47c3-a024-4fc4e5278803.usrfiles.com/ugd/9ba471_7d9e73d16b584a61bae92282b208efc4.pdf) if funded above $50,000 USD
- [x] I agree to disclose conflicts of interest
- [x] I agree to adhere to the [Code of Conduct](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/zcg-code-of-conduct/41787) and [Communication Guidelines](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/t/zcg-communication-guidelines/44284)
- [x] I understand all milestone deliverables will be validated and accepted by their intended users or their representatives, who will confirm that the deliverables meet the required quality, functionality, and usability for each user story.
- [x] I agree that for any new open-source software, I will create a `CONTRIBUTING.md` file that reflects the high standards of Zcash development, using the [`librustzcash` style guides](https://github.com/zcash/librustzcash/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md#styleguides) as a primary reference.
- [x] I understand when contributing to existing Zcash code, I am required to adhere to the project specific contribution guidelines, paying close attention to any [merge](https://github.com/zcash/librustzcash/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md#merge-workflow), [branch](https://github.com/zcash/librustzcash/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md#branch-history), [pull request](https://github.com/zcash/librustzcash/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md#pull-request-review), and [commit](https://github.com/zcash/librustzcash/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md#commit-messages) guidelines as exemplified in the `librustzcash` repository.
- [x] I agree to post request details on the [Community Forum](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/c/grants/33)
- [x] I understand it is my responsibility to post a link to this issue on the [Zcash Community Forums](https://forum.zcashcommunity.com/c/grants/33) after this application has been submitted so the community can give input. I understand this is required in order for ZCG to discuss and vote on this grant application.
### Application Owners (@Octocat, @Octocat1)
@CryptoEpoch
### Organization Name
Crypto Epoch ( x.com/crypto_epoch )
### How did you learn about Zcash Community Grants
I first learned about Zcash Community Grants during Istanbul Blockchain Week (IBW) through discussions with members of the Zcash community. After that, I began following the Zcash Community Forum, studying previously funded proposals, and actively participating in community discussions to better understand the ecosystem and its long-term vision.
### Requested Grant Amount (USD)
15500
### Category
Education
### Project Lead
```project-lead.yaml
Name:
Hayri ( Crypto Epoch https://x.com/crypto_epoch )
Role:
Program Director
Background:
I have over four years of experience managing KOLs, creators, community leaders, and ecosystem partnerships across multiple blockchain projects. During this time, I have coordinated international creator campaigns, built relationships with community leaders from different countries, and managed global KOL groups focused on Web3 education and ecosystem growth. This experience provides a strong foundation for recruiting, coordinating, and supporting community leaders throughout this program.
Responsibilities:
Overall program management
Establish and manage the official X account
Establish and manage the Community Leaders Telegram group
Participant recruitment and selection
Curriculum planning and coordination
Community partnerships
Weekly program supervision
Reporting to ZCG
Final evaluation and reward distribution
```
### Additional Team Members
```team-members.yaml
Name:
Nova
Role:
Community Operations Manager
Background:
Experienced in Web3 community operations and participant coordination, with experience supporting online communities and educational initiatives.
Responsibilities:
Participant onboarding
Managing the Community Leaders Telegram group
Weekly participant support
Activity and submission tracking
Community moderation
Supporting AMA sessions
Assisting with weekly program operations
-------------------------------------------------------------
Additional Team Member #2
Name:
Lexi
Role:
Community Partnerships & KOL Manager
Background:
Experienced in KOL management, creator partnerships, and community growth across multiple Web3 ecosystems.
Responsibilities:
Community Leader recruitment support
KOL relationship management
Community partnerships
Reviewing participant submissions
Coordinating communication with participants
Supporting program planning and execution
```
### Project Summary
The Zcash Community Leaders Network is a global education program that trains trusted Community Leaders before they educate their own communities. Each season, approximately 20 participants will complete a structured learning path using existing Zcash educational resources, pass a knowledge assessment, and then educate their communities while earning performance-based rewards. The program creates a repeatable and sustainable model for expanding accurate Zcash education across different regions, languages, and communities.
### Project Description
## Educating Communities by Educating Their Leaders
Many people will never read technical documentation, understand zero-knowledge cryptography, or study how Zcash works in depth. Instead, they learn through people they already know and trust.
Across the Web3 ecosystem, Community Leaders, moderators, educators, creators, and local organizers already introduce new technologies to thousands of people every day. By giving these trusted individuals a strong understanding of Zcash, they can become reliable educators within their own communities.
The Zcash Community Leaders Network (ZCLN) is designed to create a repeatable global education program that develops knowledgeable Community Leaders before they educate others.
The first season will include approximately 20 Community Leaders selected through an open application process. The number is intentionally limited to protect educational quality, provide direct participant support, and ensure that contributions can be reviewed properly.
Rather than creating another educational course, the program will intentionally build upon existing Zcash educational resources, including previously funded initiatives such as the Mastering Zcash video series, official documentation, and other community learning materials.
This reduces costs, avoids duplicating work already funded by ZCG, and allows the project to focus on what is currently missing: a structured system for recruiting, educating, assessing, coordinating, and supporting trusted Community Leaders.
Each season will last six weeks.
### Week 1: Recruitment, Learning, and Assessment
Applications will open globally, and selected participants will join the ZCLN program and its private Telegram group.
Participants will complete a structured learning path covering topics such as:
- The purpose and mission of Zcash
- Financial privacy
- Shielded transactions
- Wallets and practical usage
- The Zcash ecosystem
- Common misconceptions
- How to explain Zcash to non-technical audiences
After completing the learning materials, participants will take an online knowledge assessment through Google Forms.
Only participants who successfully pass the assessment will continue into the active program.
### Weeks 2–5: Community Education
Participants will use what they have learned to educate their own communities through the communication formats that best fit their audiences.
Activities may include:
- Educational X posts and threads
- Telegram or Discord discussions
- Videos and articles
- X Spaces
- AMA sessions
- Local meetups
- Beginner-friendly wallet or privacy education
The objective is not to force identical promotional tasks. Participants will be encouraged to explain Zcash naturally in their own language and voice while maintaining educational quality and technical accuracy.
Every contribution will be submitted through a Community Contribution Tracking System using Google Forms and Google Sheets.
The program team will review submissions throughout the season based on:
- Educational quality
- Technical accuracy
- Originality
- Consistency
- Community engagement
- Positive ecosystem contribution
The official ZCLN X account will serve as the public educational hub of the program. It will publish beginner-friendly Zcash education, explain privacy concepts in simple language, share learning resources, announce AMA sessions and new seasons, highlight strong Community Leader contributions, and amplify accurate educational content produced by participants.
Community Leaders will be encouraged to tag the official ZCLN account when publishing their work so that high-quality contributions can be reviewed, recognized, and shared with the wider ecosystem.
### Week 6: Evaluation and Rewards
During the final week, all submitted contributions will be reviewed using the predefined evaluation criteria.
The strongest contributors will receive performance-based rewards from the Community Reward Pool. Rewards will not be based only on follower count, views, or the number of posts. Educational quality, technical accuracy, consistency, originality, and meaningful community impact will be prioritized.
Participants who successfully complete the season will remain part of the ZCLN alumni network.
Experienced graduates may continue supporting future cohorts by:
- Answering participant questions
- Sharing previous experience
- Supporting onboarding
- Participating in AMA sessions
- Mentoring new Community Leaders
- Continuing to publish accurate Zcash education
Graduates who make meaningful contributions to future seasons may also receive smaller mentor rewards when funding is available.
This proposal is not focused on creating more educational content that already exists. It is focused on creating more knowledgeable and trusted educators.
By combining existing Zcash educational resources with assessment, coordination, incentives, and a recurring seasonal structure, ZCLN creates a sustainable model for expanding accurate Zcash education across different languages, regions, and communities.
### Proposed Problem
The main challenge is no longer simply creating more educational content. The challenge is creating trusted educators who can communicate that knowledge accurately to their own communities.
Most people will never study Zcash through technical documentation, cryptography research, or developer resources. They rely on trusted individuals within their own communities to explain new technologies in an understandable and culturally relevant way.
Many Web3 Community Leaders, creators, moderators, and educators already influence large audiences across different countries and languages. However, there is currently no recurring and structured program that recruits these leaders, educates them about Zcash, verifies their understanding, and supports them while they educate others.
Existing Zcash educational resources provide valuable knowledge, but those resources alone do not create a system for participant selection, assessment, community coordination, contribution tracking, quality review, and long-term leader development.
As a result, education remains fragmented, difficult to scale, and dependent on isolated individuals.
This project addresses that gap by transforming existing educational resources into a structured and repeatable Community Leader development program.
### Proposed Solution
The Zcash Community Leaders Network will recruit approximately 20 trusted Community Leaders for each six-week season.
Participants will first complete a structured learning path using existing Zcash educational resources. They must then pass a knowledge assessment before entering the active community education phase.
After passing the assessment, participants will spend four weeks educating their own communities through formats such as X posts, articles, videos, Telegram discussions, X Spaces, AMA sessions, or local educational activities.
Every contribution will be submitted through a Community Contribution Tracking System and reviewed according to predefined quality criteria.
The program follows a repeatable process:
- Global applications and participant selection
- Structured Zcash learning path
- Mandatory knowledge assessment
- Four-week community education period
- Contribution tracking and weekly review
- Final performance evaluation
- Performance-based reward distribution
- Alumni and mentor support for future cohorts
The program also establishes a permanent X account and a private Telegram network, creating communication infrastructure that can continue supporting future seasons.
This model allows existing Zcash educational resources to reach new audiences through trusted people without duplicating content already funded by the ecosystem.
### Solution Format
The project will be delivered as a recurring six-week cohort program designed specifically for Community Leaders.
Participants will complete a structured learning path built on existing Zcash educational resources, followed by a knowledge assessment conducted through Google Forms. Only participants who successfully complete the assessment will continue into the active program.
Accepted participants will join a private Zcash Community Leaders Network (ZCLN) Telegram group, which will serve as the operational hub for each cohort. This private group will be used for announcements, assignments, Q&A sessions, mentorship, AMA coordination, and ongoing participant support throughout the program.
During the education phase, Community Leaders will create educational content within their own communities. Every contribution will be submitted through the Community Contribution Tracking System using Google Forms, allowing the program team to review activities consistently and transparently.
The official X account will serve as the public face of the program by publishing educational content, highlighting outstanding Community Leader contributions, sharing learning resources, announcing new seasons, and amplifying high-quality educational content produced by participants.
Each season concludes with participant evaluation, public reporting, and performance-based reward distribution. Community Leaders who successfully complete the program will remain part of the ZCLN network and will be invited to support future cohorts as experienced mentors.
### Dependencies
The successful delivery of this project depends on:
• Existing Zcash educational resources (including the Mastering Zcash video series, official documentation, and other community educational materials).
• Community Leaders who are willing to participate in the program and actively educate their own communities.
• The Zcash Community Forum for community engagement and participant outreach.
• Public communication platforms including X and Telegram for educational activities and program coordination.
• Google Forms and Google Sheets to manage participant assessments, contribution tracking, and program reporting.
• Collaboration with members of the Zcash ecosystem for AMA sessions, educational discussions, and community knowledge sharing when available.
### Technical Approach
The project will use a structured cohort-based education model rather than custom software development. Existing Zcash educational resources will serve as the learning foundation, while Google Forms and Google Sheets will be used for applications, assessments, contribution tracking, and reporting. Telegram will be used for private participant coordination, and the official X account will serve as the public education hub for sharing educational content and highlighting Community Leader contributions.
### Upstream Merge Opportunities
N/A
### Hardware/Software Costs (USD)
1000
### Hardware/Software Justification
Software costs primarily cover the tools required to operate the program efficiently, including X Premium for the official program account, graphic design software for educational materials, and productivity tools used for participant coordination, reporting, and content management.
### Service Costs (USD)
2000
### Service Costs Justification
Service costs will primarily support monthly educational AMA sessions with guest speakers and subject matter experts, helping participants better understand Zcash through direct interaction with experienced ecosystem contributors.
### Compensation Costs (USD)
4500
### Compensation Costs Justification
Hayri (Program Director): $2,000 – Responsible for overall program management, participant selection, curriculum coordination, reporting, and final evaluation.
Nova (Community Operations Manager): $1,000 – Responsible for participant onboarding, Telegram coordination, operational support, and activity tracking.
Lexi (Community Partnerships & KOL Manager): $1,000 – Responsible for participant recruitment support, partnerships, community communication, and program coordination.
Content & Social Media Manager: $500 – Responsible for managing the official X account, publishing educational content, highlighting Community Leader contributions, and supporting program communications.
Community Reward Pool: $8,000 – Performance-based incentives distributed to Community Leaders based on educational quality, technical accuracy, consistency, originality, and measurable community impact throughout each season.
### Total Budget (USD)
15500
### Previous Funding
No
### Previous Funding Details
N/A
### Other Funding Sources
No
### Other Funding Sources Details
_No response_
### Implementation Risks
Recruiting and retaining committed Community Leaders throughout the full six-week program may be challenging. To reduce this risk, participants will go through an application process, complete a mandatory knowledge assessment before joining the program, and remain eligible for performance-based rewards only by actively participating throughout the season.
### Potential Side Effects
Some participants may initially focus on earning rewards rather than creating high-quality educational content. To reduce this risk, rewards will be based on educational quality, technical accuracy, consistency, originality, and meaningful community impact rather than activity alone.
### Success Metrics
The success of the program will be measured using objective metrics, including:
• Number of Community Leaders accepted and successfully completing the program.
• Assessment completion and pass rates.
• Number of educational contributions submitted.
• Educational quality and technical accuracy of submitted content.
• Community engagement generated by participants.
• Number of active Community Leaders returning to support future cohorts.
• Growth and long-term sustainability of the Zcash Community Leaders Network.
### Startup Funding (USD)
5500
### Startup Funding Justification
Startup funding is essential to establish the operational foundation of the Zcash Community Leaders Network before recruiting the first cohort. It will fund the initial work of the Program Director, Community Operations Manager, Community Partnerships & KOL Manager, and Social Media Manager while enabling the setup of the program's core infrastructure, including the official X account, participant application process, knowledge assessment system, contribution tracking system, and community management tools required to successfully launch the first season.
### Milestone Details
## Milestone 1 – Education & AMA Sessions
**Amount (USD):** $2,000
**Expected Completion Date:** Week 2
### User Stories
- As a Community Leader, I want to deepen my understanding of Zcash before educating my own community.
### Deliverables
- Community Leaders complete the structured learning curriculum.
- Knowledge assessment conducted and successfully completed.
- Participants who pass the assessment join the active cohort.
- **One or two experienced Community Leaders are invited to host educational AMA sessions, sharing practical experience and answering participants' questions.**
- The active Community Leader cohort officially begins.
### Acceptance Criteria
- Participants have successfully completed the educational phase.
- Knowledge assessments have been reviewed and qualified participants have joined the active cohort.
- **At least one educational AMA session has been completed and documented.**
- The active Community Leader cohort officially begins.
Milestone 2 – Community Education & Reward Distribution
Amount (USD): $8,000
Expected Completion Date: Week 6
User Stories
As a Community Leader, I want my educational contributions to be fairly evaluated and rewarded.
Deliverables
Four weeks of community education completed (Weeks 2–5).
Educational contributions reviewed.
Final performance evaluation completed during Week 6.
Community Reward Pool distributed.
Final public report published.
Participants transition into the ZCLN alumni network.
Acceptance Criteria
Community Leaders have completed the program, all educational contributions have been evaluated, rewards have been distributed according to predefined criteria, and the first cohort has successfully graduated.
```
### Supporting Documents
```files.yaml
```