New (but actually more normal) funding mech alert!!

"..the Optimism Foundation is experimenting with “backstop grants.” A backstop grant is a way to give teams the confidence to devote full-time energy to the Collective while still orienting them towards Retro Funding as their long-term source of support."

Basically, the Foundation will award you a normal grant to build something within the scope of a RPGF round.

If you build it, and then don't get adequately rewarded via RPGF, the backstop grant will cover the difference.