# Optimism Retroactive Public Goods Funding (RPGF) Complete Guide

## What is RPGF?
RPGF is Optimism's pioneering **retroactive** funding mechanism—contribute first, get rewarded later. No need to apply in advance; just build and you have a chance to be recognized.

## Core Philosophy
> "It's easier to agree on what was useful than what will be useful"
> Things that have already generated value are easier to evaluate, making retroactive funding fairer than upfront grants.

## RPGF Rounds History
| Round | Time | Total Funding | Recipients |
|------|------|--------|---------|
| RPGF 1 | 2021 | $1M | 58 projects |
| RPGF 2 | 2023 | $10M OP | 195 projects |
| RPGF 3 | 2023 | $30M OP | 501 projects |
| RPGF 4 | 2024 | $10M OP | 208 projects |
| RPGF 5 | 2024 | $8M OP | - |

## Funding Categories
1. **OP Stack & Collective** — Optimism protocol development
2. **Developer Ecosystem** — Tools, SDKs, documentation
3. **End User Experience** — DApps, wallets, UX improvements
4. **Governance & Education** — Governance tools, educational content

## How to Receive RPGF?
1. **Do valuable work in the Optimism ecosystem** (no application needed)
2. When RPGF begins, submit Impact Attestation
3. BadgeHolders (voters) evaluate and vote on allocation
4. Funding distributed proportionally based on votes received

## Ways to Increase Your RPGF Chances
- **Publish impact data**: User count, transaction volume, GitHub stars, downloads
- **On-chain verifiability**: The more on-chain proof, the better
- **Community presence**: Stay active in Optimism Discord/Forum
- **Sustained contributions across rounds**: Continuously maintained projects fare better than one-off initiatives

## Application/Participation Links
- Agora (voting platform): https://vote.optimism.io
- RetroPGF official site: https://retrofunding.optimism.io
- Optimism Forum: https://gov.optimism.io

## Difference from Traditional Grants
| | Traditional Grants | RPGF |
|-|-----------|------|
| Timing | Apply first, build later | Build first, reward later |
| Risk | May fail to get approved | Contributions are always recorded |
| Evaluation Criteria | Potential/plans | Actual impact |
| Uncertainty | High | Low |