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How to Create a GIP

A practical guide to submitting a Gnosis Improvement Proposal, from first idea to final vote.

The GIP (Gnosis Improvement Proposal) process is how you take an idea for the Gnosis Ecosystem and make it happen through the GnosisDAO.

This guide walks you through every phase, what's required at each stage, and tips on what makes proposals succeed. The process has four phases:

  1. Ideation — Share your idea and build community support (7+ days).
  2. Formal GIP — Structure your proposal using the template and run a 5-day forum poll.
  3. Snapshot Vote — Submit for a binding, GNO-weighted vote (7 days).
  4. Accountability — Deliver results and report on progress.

Most proposals take 4–8 weeks from first forum post to Snapshot result, though this varies with complexity and community engagement.

tip

If you haven't already, read the Governance overview for a full explanation of the GnosisDAO process.

Before You Start​

A few things worth knowing upfront:

  • Anyone can submit a GIP. You don't need to hold GNO or be a delegate — just an idea and the willingness to engage with the community.
  • The GnosisDAO Forum is where proposals live or die. Snapshot voting is the final step, not the first. The real work happens in discussion.
  • 33% of proposals that reach voting fail on quorum alone — not because people voted against them, but because not enough people voted. Building support early is crucial.
  • The process outlined below is the recommended way to create a GIP based upon the historical success of proposals. This is not a requirement, and you are free to create a GIP in any way you see fit, but it is recommended to follow the process outlined below so you can maximise your chances of success whilst ensuring the GnosisDAO is able to make an informed decision on your proposal.
Need Help?
  • Discord — Connect with community members and get real-time support.
  • Forum Support Category — Post questions about the GIP process.
  • Reach out — to the forum moderators for assistance on governance and GIPs.

Proposal Tags​

As your proposal moves through each phase, apply the appropriate pre-defined tag from the GIP category directly to your forum proposal (not in the post title), so participants can see its current phase at a glance.

StageTagWhen to use it
1[DRAFT]When you first post your proposal and are iterating on feedback.
2[REVIEW]When the proposal is ready for structured community review (Phase 2).
3[VOTING]After you've submitted to Snapshot and the vote is open.
4[PASSED] or [REJECTED]Once the vote ends — update to match the outcome.
—StaleIf there's no activity for 14 days, the thread may be archived.

Tip: If you don't keep your tags up to date, moderators will step in to apply the correct tag.

Phase 1: Ideation — Test the Waters​

Duration: 7+ days minimum (average is 28 days — don't rush this)

Tag your post: [DRAFT]

This phase is about finding out whether your idea has legs before you invest time formalising it.

What to do​

1. Write up your idea

You don't need the full GIP template yet. Start with a clear post that covers:

  • What you're proposing
  • Why it matters to GnosisDAO
  • What it would cost (if anything)
  • What you're asking the DAO to decide

That said, we do recommend using the GIP Template from the start. It'll save you time in Phase 2, but it's not mandatory at this stage.

2. Post to the Forum

Sign up to the GnosisDAO Forum and create an account.

Create a new topic in the GIP category. Give it a clear, specific title. "Proposal to fund X" is better than "An idea I had."

3. Engage the Gnosis Ltd Ecosystem & Community team

Reach out to the Gnosis Ltd Ecosystem & Community team. They can help raise awareness of your proposal, connect you with relevant stakeholders, and give you early feedback on feasibility.

Use this form: https://tally.so/r/3jodRg

4. Respond and iterate

This is the most important part. Reply to questions. Incorporate feedback. Update your post based on what you learn. The proposals that succeed are the ones where the author is visibly engaged.

5. Keep your updates organized

Updates and iterations are a key part of this phase, but it’s important to keep things organized. Make changes to your proposal as edits to your original post.

If you make a lot of changes, reply under your post with a summary of what changed to keep everyone informed.

6. Run a temperature check

A simple forum poll will help you gauge sentiment before moving to Phase 2. See an example here.

Checklist: ready for Phase 2?​

  • Forum post created in the GnosisDAO category with [DRAFT] tag
  • At least 7 days of open discussion
  • 5 or more substantive replies (not just "looks good" — real engagement)
  • Ran sentiment check with a forum poll and responded to key questions and concerns
tip

Early engagement is the single strongest predictor of whether a proposal will pass. If your post isn't generating discussion, that's a signal to rethink your approach, improve your pitch, or do more direct outreach before moving forward.

Phase 2: Formal GIP — Structure Your Proposal for DAO Voting​

Duration: Average total time at this stage is 14 days

Tag your post: [REVIEW]

Your idea has community support. Now it's time to formalise it into a proper GIP using the template.

What to do​

1. Complete the GIP template

Use the GIP Template. Your formal GIP must include all of the following sections:

  • Abstract — A concise summary of what you're proposing (2–3 sentences)
  • Motivation — Why this proposal matters, what problem it solves
  • Specification — The precise details of what will happen if this passes
  • Budget — What it will cost, broken down clearly, including payment schedule
  • Timeline and milestones — A clear timeline including phases and expected delivery dates.
  • Risks — What could go wrong, and how you'd mitigate it

In the template there are additional sections that are optional, but are recommended to be included to help the community understand the proposal and the risks involved.

Be specific. "Fund our project" is not a specification. "Transfer 500,000 USDC from the GnosisDAO treasury to [address] over 12 monthly instalments of 41,666 USDC" is.

Think about readability and clarity of your proposal. Use bullet points where appropriate, and keep the text concise and to the point. It's a balance between being too verbose and too concise.

2. Post to the Forum and set GIP number

Post your formal GIP to the Forum in the GIP category with a clear, specific title and the next unused GIP number (check the most recent GIP on Snapshot and recent proposals in the Forum's GIP category to determine this).

Take feedback from the community into account and make changes to your proposal as necessary. We suggest holding the changes in the first comment, so others have visibility of feedback implemented.

3. Post the Forum poll

Your formal GIP post must include a forum poll open for 5 days. Under the GnosisDAO Participation Agreement, your proposal can advance to Phase 3 unless it is rejected by a relative majority on this poll. By convention (per the published GIP Template), polls include a "Make no changes" option — if it wins, the proposal does not advance. Community feedback at this stage is essential before moving to Snapshot. See an example forum poll here.

4. Get a technical review (if applicable)

If your proposal involves smart contracts, protocol upgrades, or technical infrastructure, get it reviewed by someone with the relevant expertise before advancing.

Be aware of technical dependencies and ensure you have review from the relevant teams.

Checklist: ready for Phase 3?​

  • Post tag updated to [REVIEW]
  • Complete GIP template
  • Forum poll run, not rejected by a relative majority (template convention: include a "Make no changes" option)
  • Achieve at least 10 poll votes
  • Technical review completed (if the proposal involves technical changes)
  • Any resource asks from other teams made clear
tip

If your poll has fewer than 10 votes after 5 days, that's a sign you need to do more outreach before submitting to Snapshot.

Phase 3: Snapshot Vote — The Decision​

Duration: Minimum 7 days

Tag your post: [VOTING]

This is the formal governance vote. It's on-chain and binding. If your GIP requires on-chain execution, the transactions must be attached to the Snapshot proposal via SafeSnap — see below.

What to do​

1. Set up your Snapshot proposal

To create a GnosisDAO Snapshot poll for your GIP, follow these steps:

  • Go to the GnosisDAO Snapshot Space and connect your wallet (or delegated wallet).
  • Click on New Proposal (top right corner).

Then fill out your proposal as follows:

FieldWhat to enter
TitlePaste the GIP title from your Gnosis Forum post.
Proposal DescriptionCopy the full GIP text from your Forum post into the description field. In discussion, add a link to the original forum post for reference.
ChoicesUse the Basic Voting mechanism choices for a GNO-weighted vote: For, Against, Abstain
Start & End DateDates are preconfigured for 7 days from the start date.
warning

Your Snapshot proposal must match your finalized GIP exactly. Do not make any changes between your forum version and Snapshot submission. This would void your proposal and require you to start again.

Attach SafeSnap transactions (if your GIP requires on-chain execution)

Under Clause 2.2 of the GnosisDAO Participation Agreement, any Phase 3 GIP requiring on-chain execution must use SafeSnap to define the array of transactions to be executed:

  • Use the SafeSnap plugin in the Snapshot proposal form to attach the exact transactions you want executed. See Snapshot's SafeSnap (Reality) guide for step-by-step plugin configuration.
  • Double-check target addresses, calldata, and the value of every transaction — once the vote passes, these are what executes.
  • GIPs without an attached SafeSnap transaction array cannot be executed on-chain, even if they pass the vote.

If your GIP is purely signalling (no on-chain action required), you can skip this step.

2. Rally participation

This is where most failed proposals break down. You need 75,000 YES votes to meet quorum. That's a high bar, and it requires active outreach:

  • Share the vote in relevant community channels
  • Ask the Gnosis Ltd Ecosystem & Community team to help amplify
  • Reach out directly to known delegates and large GNO holders
  • Post a reminder as the voting deadline approaches

3. Wait for the result

Voting is GNO-weighted with a minimum 7-day voting period. The proposal passes if it achieves both a majority of YES votes and meets the 75,000 GNO quorum. Both values are governance parameters — the 7-day minimum is defined by the daorequirements text record on gnosis.eth ENS, and the quorum by the quorum text record. Either can be changed by a future GIP, so verify the live values before submitting if it matters.

Checklist​

  • Snapshot proposal submitted to gnosis.eth
  • SafeSnap transactions attached (if the GIP requires on-chain execution)
  • Minimum 7-day voting period
  • 75,000 YES votes (quorum)
  • Majority YES to pass
Promoting Your GIP

33% of proposals that reach Snapshot fail because quorum is not met. The opposition didn't defeat them, apathy did. If you've made it to Phase 3, the vote itself is not the hard part. Getting people to show up is.

Gnosis Ltd can help to raise awareness of your GIP, but you are responsible for driving support. Key channels available:

  • GIP Spotlight feature on Gnosis Ltd operated media channels
  • Community calls or events either within the Gnosis Community or to the wider ecosystem
  • Social media posts or announcements on Twitter, X, or other social media platforms

To contact them, fill out this form: https://tally.so/r/dWD81A

Phase 4: Accountability — Deliver What You Promised​

Duration: Ongoing

Tag your post: [PASSED] or [REJECTED]

Your proposal passed. Congratulations. Now you need to deliver and show that you're delivering.

What to do​

1. Begin implementation

Start executing on the proposal. If it involves a treasury transfer, this will be co-ordinated with the GnosisDAO treasury manager via the moderation team. At the time of writing (April 2026) this is NOCA.

2. Post progress updates

Updates are required at 30, 60, and 90 days after execution as a minimum, posted on the Updates category of the Forum. If your project runs longer than 90 days or if you're expecting future funding from GnosisDAO, ongoing monthly updates are strongly recommended.

The Gnosis Ltd Ecosystem & Community team will facilitate update sessions where you can present progress to the Gnosis Community, operational teams, and governors.

3. Publish a completion report

When your project is done, post a final delivery summary. This should include:

  • What was delivered vs. what was proposed
  • Key metrics against stated goals
  • Lessons learned
  • Any remaining open items

4. Understand the consequences of non-delivery

GnosisDAO can terminate agreements for proposals that fail to deliver with a new vote. If you receive funding and don't provide updates or deliver results, future proposals from your team will face significant scepticism.

Checklist​

  • Forum post tag updated to [PASSED] or [REJECTED]
  • Progress update within 30 days of execution on the Updates category of the Forum
  • Regular updates (monthly for projects running longer than 30 days)
  • Final delivery report posted on the Updates category of the Forum
  • Metrics measured against the goals stated in your GIP

Quick Reference​

PhaseTagDurationKey RequirementPrimary Failure Mode
1. Ideation[DRAFT]7+ days (avg 28)5+ substantive repliesLow engagement → orphaned
2. Formal GIP[REVIEW]5-day poll (avg 14 days total)Not rejected by relative majority (10+ votes recommended)18% orphaned here
3. Snapshot Vote[VOTING]7 days minimum75K YES quorum + majority33% fail on quorum
4. Accountability[PASSED] / [REJECTED]Ongoing30/60/90 day updatesNo systematic tracking

TL;DR​

  1. Post your idea on the forum with a [DRAFT] tag. Get 5+ real replies over 7+ days.
  2. Formalise it as a GIP using the template. Tag it [REVIEW], run a 5-day poll, get 10+ votes.
  3. Submit to Snapshot for a 7-day vote. You need 75K YES votes. Actively rally participation.
  4. Deliver and report. Update your tag to [PASSED], then post updates at 30/60/90 days. Publish a completion report.

Last updated: May 2026