Making a Formal Proposal

Our community operates on Intentional Do-ocracy, where any member is empowered to act. However, some decisions are too significant for one person to make alone. For these high-stakes actions, we use a Formal Proposal.

It is our primary tool for making collective decisions safely and transparently. It ensures that when we commit our shared resources — our time, our reputation, or our treasury — we do so with the clear consent of the community.

When a Formal Proposal is Needed

As defined in Section 3 of our constitution, you should create a Formal Proposal for actions that involve:

Committing significant community resources, especially spending funds from the main W3PN treasury.
Making fundamental changes to our shared assets, like altering the W3PN brand or primary mission.
Adopting official, long-term partnerships with other organizations.
Granting or revoking “Recognized Ecosystem Project” status.
Amending the Constitution itself.
Electing or removing Stewards.

If your idea doesn’t fall into one of these categories, you probably don’t need a proposal — you can just do it!

The Process: A Step-by-Step Guide

Follow these steps to ensure your proposal is well-received and has the best chance of success.

Step 1: Socialize Your Idea (The “Design” Phase)

Before writing a formal proposal, discuss your idea informally in the relevant public Commons stream (e.g., #governance, #infra). This is a crucial step to:

Gather initial feedback and refine your plan.
Find collaborators who believe in your idea.
Ensure that no one in the community is surprised when the formal proposal appears.

Step 2: Write Your Proposal Using the Template

To ensure clarity and consistency, all proposals should follow a standard format. Copy the template below and fill in the details. Be clear, concise, and explain both what you want to do and why it’s important.

Step 3: Post in the `#proposals` Stream

Once your draft is ready, post it as a new topic in the #proposals stream on Commons. The title of your topic should be clear and descriptive (e.g., “Proposal: Establish a Community Grants Program”).

Proposal Template

Copy and paste the text below to start your proposal.

### Formal Proposal: [Your Proposal Title]

**Proposer:** [Your Name/Handle]
**Date:** [Date of Submission]

**1. Summary:**
*A one-sentence summary of the proposal. What is the core action you are proposing?*

**2. Rationale:**
*Why is this proposal necessary? What problem does it solve or what opportunity does it create for W3PN? Provide context and your reasoning.*

**3. Action Items:**
*A clear, specific, and actionable list of what will be done if this proposal passes. If it involves spending funds, include the exact amount and the destination address.*
*   *Action Item 1*
*   *Action Item 2*

What Happens Next: The Lazy Consensus Process

After you post your proposal, the 72-hour review period begins.

If there are no objections: Your proposal automatically passes. Silence equals consent. You are now empowered to carry out the action items.
If a Member objects: A formal objection (which must include a reason) triggers a dialogue. The goal is to discuss the concerns and find a compromise. If a compromise can’t be reached, the issue can be escalated to the Stewards.

This process ensures that while we default to action, we have a robust safety mechanism to prevent harm and ensure community alignment on our most important decisions.