Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) represent one of the most promising materials in nanoscience today, with their unique electronic, chemical and mechanical properties. Strong van der Waals interactions and poor solubility greatly affect their potential for applications in various fields. In the past decade, great efforts have been undertaken to modify CNTs into organophilic material via covalent and non-covalent grafting strategies. This review focuses on advances in various strategies used for the surface initiated polymerization and provides perspectives on grafting polymers covalently from CNTs.