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-driven organization where token holders propose, discuss, and vote on decisions that shape the ecosystem. Unlike traditional organizations with centralized leadership, every major decision in Nouns DAO is made collectively.
Nouns DAO uses Noun NFTs as governance tokens, allowing holders to vote on funding, protocol updates, and community projects. One Noun represents one vote. Holders and delegates decide how funds are allocated and which projects move forward.
You don’t need to own a Noun to participate in governance. There are several ways to contribute and get involved.
How Nouns DAO Governance Works
Nouns DAO funds and develops 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, the proposal receives funding and moves to execution.
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 governed 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-chain, ensuring transparency and automation. Approved proposals receive funding without manual intervention.
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 through governance. Through funding from Nouns DAO’s, Precious Plastics was able 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 undergoes 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 on NounSwap.
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 on-chain.
Post-Voting Execution
- Approved proposals receive funding automatically via on-chain transactions.
- Some proposals require active follow-ups for successful implementation.
- Community members monitor execution via Farcaster and Discord.
If a proposal fails, it can be revised and resubmitted.
View Active Proposals
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 of DAO members who review and vote 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.
Join the Nouncil Discord
Participate in NOGS Governance
NOGS (Nouns Open Governance System) allows more people to participate in governance—even without owning a Noun.
- How it works: $NOGS holders signal support for ideas, influencing discussions before official votes.
- Why it matters: Enables a more decentralized governance structure with broader participation.
- How to get involved: Simply hold $NOGS tokens to vote and contribute.
Learn More About NOGS
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, or marketer, there are many ways to 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 the community by joining teams working on decentralized governance projects.
Learn about how Precious Plastics used Nouns Governance.
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:
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.
