@bearmans.near [Posted on DevHub](/devgovgigs.near/widget/Post?id=2035) {"title":"How to post proposals on DevHub","subtitle":"A guide on how to ideate, draft, and post a funding proposal on DevHub","description":"","date":"2023-10-04","content":"# Introduction\nThe journey of any project within DevHub and the NEAR ecosystem generally starts with the seed of ideation. Harnessing the power to share, explore, and expand upon your ideas with others is not merely beneficial. It's essential. This process is a starting point that builds on prior discussions, saving you time while concurrently enriching your concept with diverse perspectives. Moreover, it's a robust method to assess support from a spectrum of stakeholders. \n\n### The Ideation Process 💡\nBefore you dive into the funding aspect of your collaboration with DevHub, we strongly recommend familiarizing yourself with this ideation process. If you need help figuring out where to begin, we've covered you with this insightful post: [How to Ideate on DevHub](https://near.org/devgovgigs.near/widget/app?page=blog&id=2029). \n\nIf you have already nurtured and refined your idea, you're ready to draft and post your funding proposal. We understand that this might seem daunting. But remember, this is your chance to transform your idea into reality and showcase its value and potential to the world. This guide is here to help you craft a compelling, convincing, and concise proposal that will capture the interest of potential funders. Let's embark on this journey together, turning your secret into a shared vision that others are enthusiastic about investing in.\n\n### Posting on DevHub 📝\nBefore you start writing your proposal, visit our [forum](https://near.org/devgovgigs.near/widget/app?page=feed). Spend some time exploring existing proposals and ideas. This will help you understand the format and style of successful proposals and ascertain if your idea aligns with the typically funded projects. Once you are ready to post, press the \"Post\" button at the top of the feed.\n\n\n\nNow you should see a form. This is your proposal's primary source of truth, so let’s look so you understand what we expect to see there.\n\n### Understanding Markdown 👨💻\n\nAs you begin crafting your proposal, it's important to note that our forum requires submissions to be formatted using Markdown. Markdown is a lightweight and easy-to-use syntax designed for formatting text on the web. It allows you to control the display of the document by adding simple symbols and characters to your text. \n\nWith Markdown, you can create headings, bold or \"italic\" text, add links, insert images, and more.\n\nFor example, to make a text bold in Markdown, you would wrap the text in two asterisks , and for a link, you would put the text of the link in brackets and the URL in parentheses.\n\nIf you're new to Markdown or need a refresher, don't worry. Many great resources are available online to help you understand and effectively use them. This [comprehensive guide](https://www.markdownguide.org/getting-started/) is a fantastic starting point for beginners. It walks you through the basics and gets progressively more detailed, allowing you to master Markdown at your own pace. \n\nRemember, the goal of using Markdown is to make your proposal clear, readable, and well-presented. Spend a little time familiarizing yourself with Markdown, it will significantly affect how your submission is received.\n\n### Filling out the form ✍️\n##### What do you want to create?\nIf you are looking for funding, first select \"Solution.\" \n\n##### Title:\nCreate an engaging and concise title that encapsulates your proposal. This should grab the attention of potential funders and make them want to know more.\n\n\n##### Description: \nThis is the most crucial part of the proposal because it should contain all the information regarding the proposal, including timelines, milestones, costs, etc. \n\n- Begin your proposal with an introduction briefly overviewing your project. Describe the project's objectives, your team, and why you're passionate about it.\n\n- Now, it's important to add a comprehensive \"Summary of Activities.\" This is where you outline all the activities you intend to carry out during your project's duration. Where appropriate, categorize these activities into distinct sections. Each activity should have an associated timeframe, clearly indicating its estimated duration. This summary isn't merely a formality—it serves a vital purpose in allowing the community to follow the progress of your proposal. Remember to use markdown to create all sections, links, etc.\n\nWhether you're a first-time poster or a regular forum participant, or even if this proposal builds on previous ones, remember to include links to related past proposals. These links provide crucial context and history for your current project.\n\nThis section also serves as a resource hub for your proposal. It's the ideal spot to include any additional material that may strengthen your proposal's case: links to external resources, relevant documentation, explanatory videos, etc. All these materials can enrich your proposal and aid in the review process, making it easier to understand and evaluate your project.\n\n- Specify a timeline so your proposal's start and end dates are precise. This allows funders to understand the timeline for your project and when they can expect to see results.\n\n- Finally, you must specify the particularities of the funding you are requesting and your **justification** (see [factors](https://) to consider). Are you calculating the amount on an hourly basis? If so, how many hours a week, day, or month? What is the hourly or daily rate? Is it milestone based? What part of the funding corresponds to each milestone?\n\n##### Labels:\nThis is an optional field that can be left empty, but we encourage you to include any community labels that fit the nature of the proposal. For more information about DevHub communities, you can look [here](https://near.org/devgovgigs.near/widget/app?page=communities).\n\n\n\n##### Are you seeking funding for your solution? \nIf you are looking for funding, select \"Yes\".\n\n\n\n##### Currency:\n\n\nThis is the nomination of the payment, not necessarily how you will be paid. You have three options here. NEAR, USDC, USDT, but please select a USD based currency for ease of assessing your proposal.\n\n\n\n##### Requested amount:\nHere, ***using numbers only,*** specify the amount you want.\n\n\n\n\n##### Requested sponsor:\n\nIf you specifically request funding from DevHub, you can enter @neardevgov.near. However, you can add any other sponsor, especially if you have already engaged with them.\n\n\n\nNow, you are ready to submit. But before, we suggest you read your proposal before posting to ensure no errors or omissions. Have a team member or mentor review it too. Once you're satisfied with how your proposal looks, hit 'Submit.' and Congratulations! you've posted your funding proposal.\n\n#### What Happens Next? 🙇\nNow that your proposal has been posted, a few things must happen before you get funded.\n\n- **Amplify:** The appropriate team or community may give feedback to support or reject your proposal. The author’s responsible for getting social support or requesting expert validation. Consider reaching out to any relevant community groups or individuals. Also, stay active on the forum and respond to any questions or feedback from potential funders. This engagement will show your commitment and may increase your chances of securing funding. \n\n- **Approval:** If a sponsor such as DevHub decides to approve the proposal, they will reply with a sponsorship post and provide more details about the next steps, such as the KYC process and how to proceed with the payment.\n\n#### What if my proposal is rejected? 😯\nEven with the best preparation and utmost clarity, there may be instances when a proposal gets rejected. If you find yourself in this situation, we urge you not to be discouraged. Remember, each rejection is an opportunity for learning and improvement. Take the time to understand the feedback provided, evaluate your proposal, and identify areas that can be strengthened.\n\nUse this setback as fuel to refine your proposal and make it more compelling. Engage with the community, ask questions, seek advice, and don't hesitate to iterate on your ideas. A proposal rejection is not a judgment on your idea's worth or potential but rather an invitation to look at it from a different perspective and make it even more robust.\n\nSo if your proposal doesn't get approved on the first try, take a deep breath and prepare to dive back in. Remember, every successful innovator has faced rejection, and your determination and resilience will ultimately turn your vision into a reality. We look forward to your revised proposal and applaud your courage and persistence in bringing your idea to life.\n\n#### Decentralizing success 🌟\nPosting your funding proposal on our DevHub forum is a systematic process that, when carefully followed, can significantly increase your chances of gaining the support and backing you need. Clarity, completeness, and enthusiasm are integral to a successful proposal, so this guide has provided a detailed roadmap from drafting and submitting your proposal and navigating the review and approval process. \n\n\n\nFinally, remember that a rejected proposal is not the end of the road. Instead, it's an opportunity for growth and refinement. Don't retreat in the face of failure—welcome it, learn from it, and leverage it as your catalyst to bounce back stronger. \n\n\n\nYour tenacity and resilience will ultimately be the driving force behind your vision turning into reality. Let these components radiate through your write-up. Now, step forward and give voice to your idea, and remember, the DevHub community is rooting for you, and here's wishing you the best of luck! 🚀","author":"Developer DAO","category":"guide"}