DAO Members' Commitments, Scope of Work & Termination Policy

 

DEP 3 - Participation Expectations (Read Before Applying)

This page sets out the responsibilities and behavioural expectations for DAO Members in the DAO Experimentation Program (DEP), Cohort 3.

By applying to the program, all applicants confirm that they have read, understood, and agreed to these commitments.

 

1. Why Commitments Matter

A DAO only works when the people in it show up for each other. Each DAO in the cohort runs on consistent participation — lanes moving week to week, deliverables checked and paid, decisions made together.

In earlier cohorts, inactivity and unclear expectations created bottlenecks and needed heavy intervention. DEP 3 reduces that by stating clearly, up front:

• Participation commitments
• Scope of work
• Communication expectations
• The termination policy

Participation is flexible in style and level — you contribute at a level that fits your capacity — but it is not optional in presence or responsibility.

 

2. Participation Commitments (For All DAO Members)

All DAO Members agree to the following.

2.1 Take part in the weekly check-in

• Take part in your DAO's weekly check-in, unless you give prior notice.
• Let your DAO Lead or one of your DAO Facilitators know when you can't take part.
• Catch up on the notes if you miss one.
• Join the All-DAOs Sync when it is scheduled.

2.2 Hold a place in the DAO’s work through a lane

Work in a DAO is organised into lanes — streams of work each held by a pair. Every member holds a place in that work, in one of two ways:

• Co-owning a lane in a pair, running it through the cohort, or
• Floating as a contributor across lanes you don't own, on specific pieces of work.

You contribute work that fits your lane or the pieces you pick up, and give updates at the weekly check-in. Where you start is not where you're fixed — members move between the two as capacity and fit become clear.

2.3 Deliver the work you take on

• Complete the tasks you take on to the best of your ability.
• Communicate early if something gets in the way.
• Avoid silent non-delivery — if a task stalls, say so.

Paid tasks are checked before they are paid: each deliverable is confirmed against its Definition of Done by three people — the lane owner, the DAO Lead, and a DAO Facilitator — before payment is owed.

2.4 Keep communication active

• Be reachable in Discord.
• Reply within about 48 hours when tagged or assigned.
• Take part in your DAO's alignment discussions.

2.5 Follow documentation standards

Documentation is what makes work verifiable, payable, learnable, and governable — and it is what the DAO's end-of-cohort report is built from. Each member:

• Submits evidence (links, files, screenshots) for the work they do, so it can be verified.
• Helps keep the DAO's lane records and Workbook current.
• Contributes to the monthly DAO summary when relevant.

2.6 Support the DAO’s mission and plan

Each DAO commits to a mission and a set of goals in its Master Plan. Members are expected to:

• Understand what the DAO is trying to achieve.
• Contribute toward those goals through their lane and their tasks.
• Respect that goals and targets are set per DAO, in its own context.

 

3. Scope of Work (What DAO Members Actually Do)

The exact tasks vary by DAO and by lane, but contributions fall into the categories below.

3.1 Execution

• Delivering the core work the DAO exists to do — running its service, platform, or events, serving its users, and producing its content, creative work, or product.
• Producing the specific deliverables the DAO commits to in its Master Plan.

3.2 Community & Outreach

• Reaching and growing the DAO's audience and community.
• Running campaigns and outreach for the DAO's work.
• Supporting relationships with partners and collaborators.

3.3 Documentation

• Keeping trackers, records, and the DAO Workbook current.
• Preparing evidence for deliverables so they can be verified.
• Helping summarise the DAO's progress each month and for the final report.

3.4 Coordination & Governance

• Scheduling and helping run the weekly check-in.
• Helping shape lane proposals and the DAO's Master Plan.
• Keeping lanes aligned with each other.
• Working with the DAO Lead and DAO Facilitators.
• Taking part in the DAO's decisions and votes (through XDAO).

 

4. Behavioural Expectations

4.1 Respect & Collaboration

• Treat everyone with respect.
• Welcome diverse backgrounds and viewpoints.
• Listen actively and communicate constructively.
• Help keep the space safe and inclusive.

4.2 Integrity & Transparency

• Be honest about your capacity and timelines.
• Raise challenges early.
• Take accountability for your tasks.
• Follow the DAO's governance processes.

4.3 Commitment to Learning

• Bring a growth mindset.
• Be open to feedback.
• Share what you learn.
• Help improve the tools and the process.

 

5. Termination Policy (Important)

This is DEP 3's member termination policy — the reference other pages and each DAO's own rules point back to. It keeps removal fair, transparent, and consistent across the program. A DAO Member may be removed if one or more of the following occur.

5.1 Inactivity without communication

• Missing two consecutive weekly check-ins without notice.
• No communication in Discord for 14 days.
• No delivery of agreed tasks for a prolonged period.
• Repeated failure to respond to a pair, the DAO Lead, or a DAO Facilitator.

Genuine reasons given in advance — health, exams, work, family — are not counted against a member. The expectation is notice, not constant availability.

5.2 Passive or minimal participation

Even when present in Discord, a member may be removed if they:

• Regularly join the check-in but never take on work.
• Consistently avoid contributing to lane work.
• Hold up the DAO's progress through repeated non-action.

5.3 Misconduct or violations

Immediate removal may occur for:

• Disrespectful or harmful behaviour.
• Harassment or discrimination.
• Misrepresentation, dishonesty, or manipulation.
• Plagiarism or misuse of creative works.
• Breaking confidentiality.
• Manipulating governance outcomes.
• Misuse of partner relationships.
• Actions that disrupt the DAO's workflow or trust.
• Violating DEP's community principles.

5.4 Termination process

The process is fair, transparent, and documented.

Step 1 · Identification. A pair, the DAO Lead, or a DAO Facilitator flags the inactivity or issue.

Step 2 · Private check-in. The member is contacted privately to talk it through.

Step 3 · One-week adjustment period. The member has one week to re-engage or adjust their workload.

Step 4 · DAO decision. If there is no improvement, the DAO votes on removal (through XDAO); the DAO Facilitators make sure the process was followed correctly; a removed member loses DAO membership status.

Step 5 · Status update. A removed member:

• Will not receive a DEP certificate.
• Will not be eligible for leadership roles in future cohorts.
• May reapply for future cohorts (not guaranteed). Members removed for serious misconduct may be barred from future cohorts.

What's already been earned stays earned. Payment for any deliverable that was verified and confirmed while they were a member remains owed and is paid, even after they leave — and the KAT already recognised for their past contributions is kept, since KAT records contribution history. Termination stops future participation and any further KAT; it does not undo pay or recognition already earned.

5.5 Each DAO’s own rules

Within this policy, each DAO may set its own specific thresholds, exceptions, and escalation steps in its Master Plan — for example, how many missed check-ins count as inactivity, what evidence a misconduct case needs, or what exceptions apply. Kambria supports clarity and fairness but does not override a DAO's decision unless program integrity requires it. Cases are tracked in the DAO Workbook's Inactivity & Misconduct tab.

 

6. Consent for Application (Included in the Application Form)

All applicants confirm:

✔ I have read and understood the DEP 3 participation commitments.

✔ I understand the weekly check-in is a core commitment, and I will take part or give notice.

✔ I will hold a place in my DAO's work through a lane — as a lane owner in a pair, or as a floating contributor.

✔ I understand the documentation and communication expectations, including submitting evidence so my work can be verified.

✔ I understand that paid work is defined by my DAO's pay-per-task scheme (in its Master Plan) and is paid only after verification.

✔ I meet the two practical conditions: I have reliable internet access, and cryptocurrency is not banned where I am.

✔ I have read and agree to the termination policy and its conditions.

✔ I consent to Kambria processing my application and participation data as described in the Privacy Notice.

✔ I understand that DEP is a collaborative, learning-by-doing program that requires active participation.