Abstract
This proposal seeks to establish a Contributor Recognition System for RARI DAO by supplementing the existing Delegate Incentive Program with an additional layer of rewards for contributions that fall outside its current scope. By leveraging the same quarterly reporting and disbursement framework already in place for delegate incentives, this system minimizes operational overhead while broadening the range of activities that are acknowledged and rewarded. The ultimate goal is to strengthen DAO participation, encourage ecosystem growth initiatives, and ensure that high-value contributions such as work in the Creator Fund Working Group are recognized and compensated.
Motivation
The current Delegate Incentive Program has been highly effective in supporting the governance security of RARI DAO by rewarding delegates for activities directly tied to governance participation (e.g., voting, proposal creation). However, it does not cover valuable activities outside of governance that are equally critical for DAO growth and long-term sustainability.
For example, the recently established Creator Fund Working Group represents a high-value initiative that advances Rarible and RARI DAO’s mission. Yet, the delegates involved in this initiative currently receive no additional recognition or compensation, despite the potential impact of their work.
This narrow scope of recognition creates an unintended incentive misalignment:
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Delegates are primarily encouraged to focus on governance-related tasks that qualify for incentives.
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Initiatives and contributions outside this framework risk going under-recognized, leading to disengagement.
By supplementing the Delegate Incentive Program with a Contributor Recognition System, RARI DAO can broaden its incentive structure, motivating delegates (and potentially other contributors) to proactively propose, lead, and support ecosystem growth initiatives.
Rationale
This system is designed to:
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Reinforce the value of ecosystem growth initiatives – By showing that contributions like those in the Creator Fund Working Group are recognized and rewarded, RARI DAO strengthens its commitment to innovation and expansion.
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Encourage proactive participation – Delegates will be incentivized not only to fulfill governance security obligations but also to propose and execute creative, impactful projects that grow Rarible and RARI DAO.
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Minimize operational burden – By leveraging the existing quarterly delegate incentive disbursement process, the DAO avoids unnecessary overhead such as additional multisig management.
Specification
Eligibility:
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Delegates who contribute to DAO initiatives beyond the scope of governance can submit a quarterly Contributor Report documenting their activities, impact, and outcomes.
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Contributions may include (but are not limited to): working group participation, DAO tooling development, event organization, ecosystem partnerships, documentation, or community-building activities.
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Future iterations may explore extending eligibility to non-delegate contributors.
Submission & Disbursement
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Reports are submitted at the end of each quarter.
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Reports are aggregated and rewarded as part of the quarterly delegate incentive payout.
Steps to Implement
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Define Parameters - Collaboratively finalize parameters, and agree on open questions (below).
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DAO Vote - Publish vote on Tally for approval to establish the Contributor Recognition System.
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Pilot Phase - Launch a pilot for 1–2 quarters with delegates only, as a case study.
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Evaluation - At the end of the pilot, review effectiveness, impact, and engagement levels, and adjust accordingly.
Open Questions
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What should the reward amount be per contribution, per month or per quarter?
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Should rewards be variable (based on relative impact, effort or time) or fixed (equal for all approved contributions)?
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Should this system eventually include non-delegate contributors, and if so, how should eligibility and evaluation work?
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How to ensure transparency and fairness in evaluating contributions while minimizing administrative overhead?
Overall Cost
The current proposal introduces no immediate cost, as it establishes only the system and framework. Actual costs will depend on DAO decisions regarding reward size and structure. And costs will be integrated into the existing delegate incentive program budget and payout process, ensuring no additional operational infrastructure is needed.