<aside> 💡 This guide walks you through the full lifecycle of a SafeDAO governance proposal — from initial idea to implementation. Whether you are a token holder, delegate, or community member, anyone can submit a proposal.

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Overview

SafeDAO governance decisions are made through Safe Ecosystem Proposals (SEPs). Every SEP moves through a structured process with three phases:

  1. Phase 0 — Discussion (optional): Gather early feedback on the Safe{Forum}
  2. Phase 1 — Draft: Post a formal proposal using the SEP template and get delegate signaling
  3. Phase 2 — Vote: On-chain vote via Snapshot

Each phase runs within a monthly sprint cycle. SafeDAO operates in seasons (4 sprints each, ~16 weeks). Since SEP #53, any sprint can accept any proposal type.

Step 1: Identify your proposal type

Every SEP belongs to one of the following types. The Safe Ecosystem Foundation determines the final classification.

Proposal Type Description Execution
Constitutional Proposals Changes to the SafeDAO Constitution Offchain
Governance Proposals Changes to the governance framework or resource allocation framework Offchain
Other SEPs All other governance domains (treasury, grants, protocol parameters, etc.) Off-/Onchain
Grants Council Nominations Voting on grants council nominations for the Safe Grants Program (SGP) Offchain

<aside> ⚠️ Note: OBRA (Outcomes-Based Resource Allocation) proposals for ecosystem funding are currently paused per SEP #54. Check the forum for the latest status before submitting a resource allocation proposal.

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Step 2: Phase 0 — Start a discussion (optional but recommended)

Before writing a formal proposal, post a discussion thread on the Safe{Forum} to test your idea with the community. This is Phase 0.