I explore participatory fundraising models through decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs). There have been some stunning examples of rapid fundraising through DAOs, and while t’s still unclear how DAO-based, participatory funding campaigns can be applied to the social sector, they do represent a new era of crowdfunding.

Got better ways to do decision making at scale? Instead of spinning up yet another DAO that will take months to make headway of its raison d’etre, how about targeting local non-profits that have been doing necessary, impactful work for years, often operating in a decentralized manner?

First, Optimal Kickstarter only funds public goods: successful projects are made freely available to all. Second, Optimal Kickstarter has a benevolent patron who supplements the contributions of the crowd in a pre-specified formula. When you fund a project through Optimal Kickstarter, it essentially lets you buy support for a project with someone... See more

Attracting a crowd is much easier than keeping them. The most important component to a successful crowdsourcing effort is a vibrant, committed community and understanding what motivates people to contribute in the first place. People ned to feel rewarded for their efforts.