Applicant Name: feems

Applicant ETH Address: feems.eth

Organization(s) or Affiliation(s): -

Why do you want to serve as an Expert Evaluator for the Localism Fund?

I want to serve as an Expert because my work sits directly at the intersection of grant program design and community-rooted impact. I’ve seen how funding can fail when it’s detached from local knowledge, and I’m committed to supporting models that strengthen place-based capacity rather than impose external priorities. Localism aligns with both my professional experience in Web3 grant systems and my background in community food sustainability and social enterprise. I’d like to contribute to building funding programs that are credible, grounded, and accountable to the communities they serve.

🪴 Grant-Making Expertise

Program Design & Management: ****3

Evaluation & Impact Learning: 3

Financial Strategy & Fundraising: 2

Governance Systems & Mechanism Design: 3

Experiences, Highlights & Evidence:

I scored myself strongly here because I have both hands-on grant operations experience and published research in funding system design. I’ve served as an external reviewer across Arbitrum DAO, POKT, and Gitcoin (GG20–22, Tooling), and have also operated grant processes within Arbitrum DAO itself. My work focuses on aligning funding intent with clear decision criteria, transparent review processes, and outcomes that build long-term community capacity rather than short-term activity.

My research directly addresses how grants can be structured to learn, adapt, and compound impact over time:

• Funding by Design: Rethinking Grant Systems Through Lifecycle Architecture (Feems, 2025)