A Path to Sustainability
If you need a shorter version please scroll to the bottom.
Dear Giveth Community,
We’re at a pivotal moment for Giveth, where we have a unique opportunity to strengthen our platform, improve user engagement, and diversify our income streams. Relying heavily on future grants has brought us this far, but it’s time to take steps to build a more sustainable future for Giveth.
This post outlines the challenges we’re facing, the opportunities within reach, and a step-by-step strategy to ensure Giveth not only survives but thrives.
The Challenges We Face
- Reliance on Grants
Grants are a critical source of funding for Giveth, but they are inherently unpredictable. The competitive nature of grant applications and the dependency on external factors leave us with little control over our financial future. This uncertainty limits our ability to make long-term plans or investments, creating a reactive rather than proactive approach to sustaining the platform.
Without diversification, the risk grows. A single missed grant or delay could leave us unable to implement crucial changes or even meet ongoing operational needs.
- Usability and User Engagement
Currently, our platform successfully attracts new donors, but the user flow, especially within the GIVeconomy, is overly complex. New users often fail to fully understand how to engage with features like staking, locking, and boosting. As a result, many users don’t take full advantage of the GIVeconomy, and we lose the opportunity to turn one-time donors into long-term supporters.
A poor user experience leads to:
• Higher drop-off rates from first-time users.
• Lower retention of donors who could become long-term contributors.
• A missed chance to showcase the rewards and empowerment that come with participating in the GIVeconomy.
- Branding and Visual Identity
A platform’s branding is its first impression. While Giveth has a strong mission, our visual identity does not adequately reflect our potential. Brands and projects interested in supporting public goods expect a polished, professional look. Without a strong and cohesive brand identity, we struggle to inspire confidence and trust, which are critical for onboarding high-profile partnerships.
Our Solution: Incremental, Impactful Improvements
We’re not proposing a massive overhaul. Instead, we’ll focus on a series of incremental, measurable improvements that address our challenges and unlock growth potential.
1. Quick Wins
We’ll start with smaller, impactful adjustments that improve usability and visuals. These include:
• Streamlining key user flows in the GIVeconomy, such as simplifying the staking and boosting interfaces.
• Refining visual elements like typography, colors, and icons to make the platform feel more polished and cohesive.
• Adding onboarding elements like tooltips and explainer banners to guide new users through their first interactions with the platform.
These quick wins create immediate value without requiring significant time or resources.
2. Mid-Term Projects
Once we’ve established a stronger foundation, we’ll focus on improving the GIVeconomy and user onboarding. This includes:
• Redesigning the GIVeconomy section to make it more engaging and user-friendly, encouraging participation in staking, locking, and boosting.
• Building a dedicated onboarding flow to help new donors easily understand how Giveth works and how they can get involved in the GIVeconomy.
These changes will encourage deeper user engagement and retention, ensuring that new donors become long-term supporters.
3. Long-Term Goals
Finally, we’ll focus on strategic improvements that position Giveth for sustainable growth:
• Refreshing Giveth’s branding with a cohesive and engaging visual identity to increase trust and appeal for donors and sponsors.
• Optimizing the process for hosting quadratic funding rounds to attract web3 brands and projects interested in advertising while supporting public goods.
The Benefits of Taking Action
Here’s why these improvements are worth pursuing, supported by industry data and real-world examples:
1. Usability Enhancements
• Simplifying the user flow can increase donor retention by up to 34%. (Source: Qgiv)
• Improved usability can boost conversion rates by up to 400%. (Source: Forrester Research)
2. Stronger Branding
• Nonprofits with a cohesive brand identity see up to 74% more recurring donations. (Source: Fifty and Fifty)
• 93% of nonprofits believe branding improves donor engagement. (Source: Fifty and Fifty)
3. Quadratic Funding Opportunities
• Platforms like Gitcoin have successfully raised over $1,000,000 in a single round, with 10% fees generating $100,000 for their platform. (Source: Gitcoin)
What Happens If We Don’t Act?
Relying solely on grants and maintaining the status quo leaves us vulnerable to the following risks:
- Missed Opportunities with Donors
Without improved usability, new donors are likely to make one-time contributions and leave. This limits our ability to grow a community of recurring supporters who can sustain Giveth long-term.
- Loss of Potential Partnerships
Brands and projects looking to support public goods expect a polished, trustworthy platform. Without a strong brand identity, we risk losing out on sponsorships and partnerships that could bring both funding and visibility to Giveth.
- Reduced Competitiveness
Other platforms are actively improving their user experience and branding, making it harder for Giveth to stand out. If we don’t evolve, we risk falling behind in a rapidly growing and competitive space.
- Financial Instability
Relying on grants alone means being at the mercy of external factors. A missed grant could leave us unable to implement necessary improvements or even maintain current operations. Diversifying income streams is essential to securing Giveth’s future.
The Ask
We’re not rebuilding Giveth from scratch. Instead, we propose:
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Small, quick improvements to usability and branding.
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Mid-term adjustments to the GIVeconomy and onboarding process.
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Strategic branding refreshes and a robust approach to hosting quadratic funding rounds.
These incremental changes will ensure that Giveth continues to grow, attract recurring donors, and secure partnerships with brands and projects eager to support public goods.
For those who need a shorter version!
TL;DR: Strengthening Giveth in a Nutshell
• The Problem: Giveth relies heavily on unpredictable grants. Our user experience is complex, making it hard to retain donors, and our branding lacks the polish to attract high-profile sponsors.
• The Solution: Incremental improvements in three phases:
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Quick Wins: Streamline the GIVeconomy and improve visual elements.
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Mid-Term Projects: Redesign the GIVeconomy for better engagement and create an onboarding flow for new users.
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Long-Term Goals: Refresh branding and optimize quadratic funding rounds to attract sponsors and grow income.
• Why It Matters:
• Simplified usability could boost donor retention by 34%. (Source: Qgiv)
• Stronger branding might increase recurring donations by 74%. (Source: Fifty and Fifty)
• Hosting funding rounds could generate $50K+ per round via a 10% fee. (Source: Gitcoin)
• The Risk of Inaction: Without improvements, we risk losing donors, missing partnerships, and falling behind competitors. Grant reliance alone won’t sustain us.
• The Ask: Let’s start with small, low-cost improvements to build momentum and position Giveth for long-term success.
