He can apply. I think also you can apply if you are potential
and established member around forum.
If you want to be a merit source:
1. Be a somewhat established member.
2. Collect TEN posts written in the last couple of months by other people that have not received nearly enough merit for how good they are, and post quotes for them all in a new Meta thread. The point of this is to demonstrate your ability to give out merit usefully.
3. We will take a look at your history and maybe make you a source.
Regarding local board theymos is more eager about local board to assign merit source.
I am especially eager to have merit sources in sub-communities such as the local sections.
So there is no problem for apply. He will qualified or not it will decide by admin. Because admin will review post history of applicant.
About merit distribution admin also describe well,
While we will not be directly moderating this, I encourage people to give merit to posts that are objectively high-quality, not just posts that you agree with.
A merit source should be follow above quote.
Regarding giveaway, can you pointed me where he announced he will send merit for support him ? I can't find his post. But I saw on his thread he was given some merit for reply and that was not big. I think it's not much problem. Even it's look not fine. But I think it will not prevent him to become merit source if his other condition is fine.