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TED Talks Daily

How quadratic funding could finance your dreams | Kevin Owocki

Sep 30, 2024
Kevin Owocki, founder of Gitcoin, explores revolutionary crowdfunding models like quadratic funding that empower small donors. He reveals how a $1 contribution can grow to a $100 impact, focusing on the democratic principles that favor community contributions over large donations. Owocki also discusses challenges in implementing these models, especially in enhancing civic engagement and supporting essential projects. The conversation highlights how this innovative funding approach can reshape philanthropy for the better.
11:38

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Quick takeaways

  • Quadratic funding empowers many small donors to collectively influence project funding, prioritizing community-supported initiatives over larger individual contributions.
  • The challenges of quadratic funding, such as fraud prevention and the need for a matching pool, highlight the importance of robust implementation strategies.

Deep dives

Quadratic Funding Explained

Quadratic funding is an innovative approach to crowdfunding that prioritizes projects with broader community support rather than those funded by a few large donors. This method uses a unique matching mechanic where contributions are matched based on the number of contributors rather than the total amount raised. For instance, if two projects each raise $500, the one with a larger number of small contributions will receive a disproportionately larger share of a matching pool, demonstrating that many small donors can collectively wield greater influence. This model effectively democratizes funding, allowing projects that resonate with everyday citizens to gain the resources they need, thus reflecting true community priorities.

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