Nouns Governance: How Nouns DAO Voting & Proposals Work
Understanding Governance & Nouns DAO
Imagine a community where decisions aren’t made by a CEO or board but by its members. Instead of a few people controlling the direction, everyone votes on key issues using blockchain technology, ensuring a transparent and decentralized process.
Nouns DAO is a community-run organization where members propose, discuss, and vote on key decisions—no centralized leadership, just collective action.
How It Works:
- Noun NFTs act as governance tokens – One Noun equals one vote.
- Holders and delegates decide on funding – Treasury funds are allocated based on votes.
- Anyone can contribute – Even if you don’t own a Noun, you can participate in governance discussions and initiatives.
How Nouns DAO Governance Works
Nouns DAO funds projects through a structured voting process:
- Ideas are proposed – Anyone can submit ideas as candidates.
- Noun holders vote – Once a candidate is sponsored, Noun holders and delegates vote on it.
- Successful proposals get funded – If approved, proposals receive funding automatically.
Treasury & Funding
Nouns DAO is funded through daily Noun auctions. Proceeds go into the DAO treasury, which supports proposals, funds experiments, and fuels the Nouns ecosystem.
Who controls the funds?
The treasury is entirely controlled by the DAO meaning only approved governance proposals dictate spending.
What gets funded?
Projects that expand the Nouns ecosystem, build public goods, or fund creative experiments typically receive strong community support.
All decisions, votes, and funding distributions are recorded on the blockchain, ensuring transparency and automation. Explore Past Funded Proposals
See Nouns Governance in Action
One example of Nouns DAO’s impact is Precious Plastics, a community-driven initiative that received funding to scale its mission of reducing plastic waste and educating people about sustainable recycling.
Learn more about how Precious Plastics was funded via Nouns Governance.
How Proposals Work
Step 1: Submit a Candidate
A proposal candidate is a draft idea shared with the community for review. Before moving forward, it should undergo a refinement period where members provide feedback on its impact and budget.
Why this matters:
- Feedback strengthens ideas before voting.
- Addressing concerns early increases approval chances.
How to submit:
- Share your idea as a candidate or start a discussion in the Farcaster /nouns channel.
- Be open to making revisions based on community input.
Step 2: Sponsorship & Promotion
A candidate becomes an official proposal once it is sponsored by three Nouns. This ensures only well-supported ideas move forward.
- Sponsorship requires three Nouns (from one holder with multiple Nouns or three individual holders).
- Once sponsored, the proposal moves to a vote.
Step 3: Voting & Execution
Proposals undergo a seven-day voting period, where Noun holders decide whether to approve them. You can track and participate in active proposals here.
Proposal Process Timeline
- Editable Stage (2.5 Days) – Proposals can still be modified based on feedback.
- Pending Stage (0.5 Days) – The proposal is public, but voting hasn’t started yet.
- Active Voting Stage (4 Days) – Noun holders cast votes.
- Queueing & Execution (2 Days) – Approved proposals enter a queue and execute onchain.
Post-Voting Execution
- Approved proposals receive funding automatically via blockchain transactions.
- Some proposals require active follow-ups for successful implementation.
- Community members monitor execution via Farcaster.
If a proposal fails, it can be revised and resubmitted.
How to Get Involved in Governance
Even if you don’t own a Noun, you can still help shape Nouns DAO.
Join the Discussion
- Follow discussions on Farcaster to engage with the Nouns community in the Farcaster /nouns channel.
- Comment on proposal candidates to help refine ideas before voting.
Join Nouncil & Vote Collectively
Nouncil is a group that reviews and votes on proposals together.
- Meetings happen every Thursday at 10 AM EST in the Nouncil Discord.
- Anyone can attend, provide feedback, and apply for membership.
- Builders with proposals can present their ideas by signing up in advance.
Participate in NOGS Governance
NOGS allows more people to participate in governance, even without owning a Noun.
- How it works: $NOGS holders vote on the proposal proportional tot he amount of $NOGS they hold.
- Why it matters: Enables a more decentralized governance structure with broader participation.
- How to get involved: Simply hold $NOGS tokens to vote and contribute.
Become a Delegate
Delegation allows Noun holders to assign their voting power to active community members.
- Delegates ensure diverse voices are heard in governance.
- Reach out to a Noun holder to become a delegate.
Contribute to Nounish Projects
Nouns DAO funds creative and experimental projects that push Web3 forward. If you’re a developer, designer, writer, marketer, or anyone. Everyone can contribute:
- Find active projects by checking governance discussions and funding proposals.
- Apply for a grant if you have an idea aligned with the Nouns mission.
- Collaborate with other members in the community.
Why Governance Matters
Governance defines the future of Nouns DAO. Community-driven decision-making has:
- Funded impactful projects
- Expanded Nouns’ reach
- Introduced new collaboration models
By participating, you shape the evolution of Nouns DAO. Whether you propose ideas, provide feedback, or help execute projects, your contributions matter.
Learn More & Get Involved
Want to dive deeper? Here are useful resources:
- What is Nouns DAO? – Learn the basics.
- Noggles & Nounish Culture – Understand the community ethos.
- Nouns Governance – View active proposals.
Ready to get a Noun and help shape the future of Nouns? Bid in the Daily Auction, browse the marketplace for available Nouns, or collect $NOUNS tokens to redeem for a Noun.
