During the first funded phase of the Ambassador Fellowship, we achieved remarkable success — even amidst periods of uncertainty and transition. This success was largely thanks to the dedication of individuals who stepped up as volunteers to ensure we not only met but exceeded our deliverables within the agreed timeframe.

Per the agreement with the Advisory Board (see[ Sprint Overview Document](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zc0WAzXezZSFryfZ-xlpLPt4xgouvl4mLamy60fO15k/edit?usp=drive_link)), a discretionary payment was to be made to the core team upon successful delivery by May 3, 2025. Through careful financial stewardship — managed solely by myself — $230,000 remained in the Ambassador Fellowship fund. The plan was to distribute $29,000 to the team, with the remaining $201,000 returned to the treasury when the Board stepped down (five weeks later than anticipated).

The delivery deadline was met, and the Advisory Board confirmed the work was completed successfully.

However, during this period, several Board members resigned due to the extended duration of their roles. With diminished capacity and activity, decision-making became increasingly difficult. Ultimately, the remaining funds — including the portion intended for the team — were returned in full to the treasury for administrative ease. As a result, the promised payments were not made.

Today, the Ambassador Fellowship remains active and is preparing a proposal for further funding to support its continued growth. Cohort Two is currently being seeded, and a waitlist for Cohort Three is already forming — a clear sign of the program's community value and continued success. You can find our[ Delivery Report here](https://drive.google.com/file/d/18WwkjxAzOe5SIbSICl5vcQ2ziAtnUCwe/view?usp=drive_link).

After careful consideration and consultation, I believe the fairest path forward is to submit individual compensation requests on behalf of each team member. These individuals fulfilled their commitments and contributed significantly to the Fellowship’s outcomes. The full list of team members and corresponding payment amounts can be found in this[ Spreadsheet](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/16J8qxv9-Z0ky35yRFn-OlkuxoRZt5s7XO75kwtsFSoQ/edit?gid=755697593#gid=755697593).

Thank you for your continued support of the team, the principle of fairness within the ecosystem, and the enduring impact of the Ambassador Fellowship.

#1601 Polkadot Proposal: Ambassador Fellowship Team Compensation Request - Michelle