Proposal Writing for DAOs
Proposal Writing for DAOs
Section titled “Proposal Writing for DAOs”Guide to proposal writing for daos
How to write proposals that pass and actually get implemented.
Section titled “How to write proposals that pass and actually get implemented.”Why Proposals Fail
Section titled “Why Proposals Fail”Most rejected proposals fail not because the idea is bad but because the proposal is unclear, poorly scoped, or doesn’t address community concerns.
Anatomy of a Good Proposal
Section titled “Anatomy of a Good Proposal”1. Title
Section titled “1. Title”Clear, specific, descriptive. “Fund Community Garden Phase 1” not “Garden Stuff.”
2. Summary (2-3 sentences)
Section titled “2. Summary (2-3 sentences)”What are you proposing? What will it cost? What will it achieve?
3. Background/Context
Section titled “3. Background/Context”Why is this needed? What problem does it solve? What evidence supports this?
4. Specification
Section titled “4. Specification”Exactly what will be done. Deliverables, timeline, responsible parties.
5. Budget
Section titled “5. Budget”Detailed breakdown. How much, for what, paid to whom.
6. Success Criteria
Section titled “6. Success Criteria”How will we know this worked? Measurable outcomes.
7. Risks
Section titled “7. Risks”What could go wrong? How will you mitigate?
Before You Propose
Section titled “Before You Propose”Temperature Check
Section titled “Temperature Check”Before writing a formal proposal, discuss informally. Get feedback. Gauge support.
Build Coalition
Section titled “Build Coalition”Talk to potential supporters. Address concerns before the vote, not during.
Address Objections Preemptively
Section titled “Address Objections Preemptively”If you know someone will object, address their concern in the proposal itself.
Common Mistakes
Section titled “Common Mistakes”- Too vague: “We’ll improve community engagement”, how?
- No budget: Proposals without numbers can’t be evaluated
- No success criteria: How will we know if this worked?
- No timeline: When will each deliverable be completed?
- Surprise proposals: Springing proposals without prior discussion
Moving Forward
Section titled “Moving Forward”Draft your proposal. Share it informally. Iterate based on feedback. Then submit formally.