https://opencivics.substack.com/p/2024-retrospective As we close the chapter on 2024 and set our sights on the daunting road ahead, it’s essential to take a deep breath and reflect. OpenCivics is a living system, evolving as we experiment, build, and adapt to a changing landscape of open civic innovation. This year was no exception. We grew the network, developed new governance models, and explored new mechanisms for decentralized coordination in the network. At the same time, we encountered friction points, struggled to gain traction in some areas, and had to pivot away from activities that didn’t unfold as expected. This retrospective captures the wins, the gaps, the hard-earned lessons, and the many hands that shaped this year’s journey. You will find within: - **Key Highlights** - **Celebrating our Achievements** - **Gaps & Unfulfilled Objectives** - **Key Lessons Learned** - **Reflections & The Road Ahead**  Photo by [Artem Sapegin](https://unsplash.com/@sapegin?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/photos/green-and-black-abstract-painting-OW7qNfU61fY?utm_content=creditCopyText&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=unsplash) --- # **Key Highlights** - **78 new members added** – Significant organic growth from web3, regenerative, and civic innovation communities. - **$122,000+ USD distributed in grants** – Became a leading partner in Gitcoin’s Community Rounds program, filling a key grant-making niche in the ecosystem for civic projects. Many of the learnings from our grants program can be found in Spencer’s [Survey on Methodology for Onchain Ecosystem Funding and Impact Assessment.](https://www.clinamenic.com/writing/Survey-on-Methodology-for-Onchain-Ecosystem-Funding-and-Impact-Assessment) - **Published key foundational documents** – [OpenCivics Thesis](http://opencivics.co/thesis), [Open Civic Innovation Framework](https://wiki.opencivics.co/Open+Civic+Innovation+Framework/Full+Framework), [progressive protocolizational plan](https://wiki.opencivics.co/OpenCivics+Concepts/Progressive+Protocolization), and an updated [Wiki](https://www.notion.so/11a06d2570f2807e9a45e01e3d34e4ab?pvs=21). - **Website upgraded** – A major update to [OpenCivics](http://www.opencivics.co/) web and digital presence with a new, cohesive visual brand language, wiki, and expanded utility for members and the public. - **Network Activity Index launched** – Priming increased visibility and coordination of network-wide activities. - **Incorporated OpenCivics Labs DAO LLC** - Our newly formed cooperative R&D DAO launched three Labs projects with partners. --- ### Support us by making a donation > Our full-time work on OpenCivics this year was almost entirely volunteer based. > > If you appreciate the contributions we made this year to the commons and the broader field of open civic innovation, please consider us for a donation. > > You can view our full on-chain [financial history](https://www.notion.so/2024-On-Chain-Financial-Audit-11a06d2570f280d58d4ffe547fc3cf7d?pvs=21), and we have >$5,000 USD of personally contributed off-chain expenses we hope to reimburse for 2023 and 2024. > > Donations can be made via [Substack](https://substack.com/@opencivics), [Stripe](https://buy.stripe.com/7sI15Ccrk3dfdBS8ww), [NFT](https://go.opencivics.co/web3patron) or directly to our [wallet](https://app.safe.global/home?safe=eth:0x04f45dB8b906838787405d8B47336153b95F95F1). > > **Thank you for supporting our work.** --- # Celebrating Our Achievements ### **Transitioning to OpenCivics Phase 02** As 2024 ended, we were starting our transition into **OpenCivics Phase 02**, introducing foundational mechanisms to enable the network to better self-organize. You can read more about our strategy for [progressive protocolization](https://wiki.opencivics.co/OpenCivics+Concepts/Progressive+Protocolization). The introduction of the **[Activity Index](https://www.opencivics.co/activities)** provided a structured way for members to make their autonomous activities more visible and accessible. The **Governance Program** was modeled, conceptualizing our initial mechanisms for structured participation pathways, including elected roles and treasury allocations, to enhance decision-making. Another major milestone in the launch of Phase 02 was the **[website relaunch](http://www.opencivics.co/)**, which consolidated OpenCivics’ digital presence into a single, more navigable hub. The publication of the **[Open Civics Thesis](https://www.opencivics.co/thesis)** & **[Open Civic Innovation Framework](https://wiki.opencivics.co/Open+Civic+Innovation+Framework/Full+Framework)** marked our most significant milestone. These documents outline the network’s philosophy, theory of change, and practice frameworks in a new [markdown-based wiki](http://wiki.opencivics.co/). Publishing these works is intended to be among our final foundation-building work as Network Stewards, expanding accessibility to our operational vision and creating the conditions for greater co-development of contributions from across the network. Complementing these efforts, membership roles were expanded to match the further developed architecture of the network, expanding participation pathways through new Consortium Delegate and Partner roles. These mechanisms, taken together, provided a more structured and open foundation for the network to deepen its self-organizing capacity. ### **Strengthening Organizational Foundations** A major focus of 2024 was solidifying OpenCivics' operational strategy. This included: - Drafting an **operational strategy** and [Theory of Change](https://wiki.opencivics.co/Open+Civic+Innovation+Framework/Full+Framework) outlining the functions of the [OpenCivics Network](https://wiki.opencivics.co/OpenCivics+Network/Network/About+Network), [Foundation](https://wiki.opencivics.co/OpenCivics+Network/Foundation/About+Foundation), [Labs](https://wiki.opencivics.co/OpenCivics+Network/Labs/About+Labs), and [Consortium](https://wiki.opencivics.co/OpenCivics+Network/Consortium/About+Consortium). - Expanding OpenCivics **brand identity** to weave all aspects of the OpenCivics Network into a cohesive visual language that represents each organizational structure in the network. - **Incorporating OpenCivics Labs** as a DAO LLC in the state of Wyoming. - Nurturing a **fiscal sponsorship** relationship with the Buckminster Fuller Institute. - Developing a detailed **financial forecast** to support our upcoming fundraising efforts. These steps have helped clarify our internal architecture, making it easier for members to understand how different pieces fit together and where they can plug in to participate. ### **Expanding Our Community & Strengthening Partnerships** In 2024 we onboarded **78 new members**—individuals drawn to OpenCivics’ vision for open collaboration, decentralized governance, and regenerative civic engagement. View a [list of members](https://airtable.com/appvUZjgsVqLh0jJ1/pag213HWWfSR3N3Xy?p3Vw3=recrgQDV3YArkNmYu) that joined in 2024. More than just increasing numbers, this growth was about cultivating meaningful engagement and relationships—people stepping forward to contribute, experiment, and take ownership of distinct but connected pieces of the puzzle. At the same time, we grappled with the perennial challenge of balancing open participation with effective coordination. How do we create enough structure to support meaningful action while maintaining the openness that makes our network dynamic? This tension was a recurring theme throughout the year. Recognizing the need for more structured governance rhythms, we re-launched **General Assemblies** in April, shifting from ad-hoc calls to a bi-weekly cadence. This commitment created a more predictable and accountable forum for network members to engage in open-space dialogue and trust building. While participation varied throughout the year, the consistency of these assemblies helped strengthen the network’s ability to self-organize and deepened our sense of solidarity. As we grew, we realized that new engagement pathways and role types would be necessary to activate and expand the functions of the network. Towards those ends, we formally engaged **Network Advisors** and **Partners** as two critical new role types. Our advisors are among the most well respected leaders in the civic, regenerative and web3 movements, providing critical insights and support to **Network Stewards** as we grow. We also added a **Consortium Delegate** role which we hope will expand leadership within the Network to include engaged members who want to take on tasks and provide input on the strategic direction of the Consortium and Network. Lastly, we designed and launched a whole set of roles for [OpenCivics Labs](https://www.opencivics.co/opencivics-labs), a research and development cooperative of systems thinkers, facilitators, designers, and researchers. While our internal Governance Program won't be fully established until early 2025, OpenCivics Steward, Clinamenic, won a prize in the HATS protocol hackathon for the innovative design of future OpenCivics Network onchain governance structures. As the network continues to grow and evolve, we're well positioned to deploy new tools and governance mechanisms throughout the year. Our **[Activity Indices](http://opencivics.co/activities)** offer a web2 mechanism for indexing the many autonomous activities happening within and around the network. After several months of development late in 2024, these indices were carefully crafted to help the network self-organize around activities of mutual interest like grants, gatherings, initiatives, alliances, courses, and maps. ### **Hosting Key Convenings & Engaging the Public** One of the most dynamic aspects of our year were the **in-person convenings** that brought people together to imagine and connect over new civic possibilities. Some of the most notable include: #### **Planetary Regeneration Alliance (PRA) - Costa Rica** In January, we (OpenCivics Stewards) facilitated sessions for the **Planetary Regeneration Alliance** in the Diamante Valley in Costa Rica. This gathering was a turning point in refining our theory of change, as we found ourselves being sought out by impact networks looking for guidance in participatory impact network governance design. Initially invited to support with facilitation, it became clear that our deeper contribution was in modeling new ways of structuring collective agency. However, this experience also surfaced critical lessons about the importance of relationship-building before structure-building, which we’ll return to later in this retrospective. #### **"Imaginal Futures" - Civic Imagination Activation - Salt Spring Island** In June, we hosted [Imaginal Futures](https://lu.ma/93y70a80) on Salt Spring Island in Canada, a civic imagination event featuring powerful women leaders from across local, bioregional, and global networks. This gathering created space for **visionary thinking**—exploring what regenerative futures could look like and how OpenCivics might support those futures coming into being. The format of this gathering would evolve to become a model currently being prototyped for organizing local “Community Commons” as place-based spaces to self-organize and coordinate around shared visions for civic stewardship and innovation. **Imaginal Futures** invited participants to envision their version of a more beautiful world and “find the others” who shared similar visions to collaborate. Salt Spring Commons and Boulder Commons have both emerged since then as ongoing spaces for these types of inquiries. #### **"Golden Seed" - Regenerative Imagination Activation - Mexico City** In Mexico City, we hosted **Golden Seed**, an intimate gathering focused on life-centric imagination activism. This event brought together visionaries, creatives, and builders to explore new paradigms of civic engagement and regenerative futures. The format emphasized storytelling, inspiration, and kinship, creating a space where participants could weave together diverse perspectives on a thriving, life-affirming world. This event laid the groundwork for further bioregional collaborations and deeper engagements with local stewards. ### **Speaking Engagements: Expanding Public Discourse** Throughout the year, we amplified OpenCivics’ work through **public talks** and **convenings**. Key engagements included: - **[Earth Commons](https://youtu.be/BOLCgtp2f94)** – Proposing interoperable commons architectures and civic utilities as a central strategy for planetary regeneration and federations of bioregional organizers. - **DWeb** – Exploring open protocols as a mechanism for community-led civic engagement. - **[Onchain Giving Summit](https://youtu.be/hkXOYlLwiDs)** - Discussing on-chain public goods funding and the role of network-driven grant-making models. - **Transformative Impact Summit** – Sharing insights on scaling regenerative civic ecosystems through participatory governance. ### **Advancing OpenCivics’ Grants Program in 2024** Throughout the year, OpenCivics ran two grant rounds aimed at supporting emerging open civic innovation and community-driven governance activities, distributing **$122,00 USD** in grants. In June, OpenCivics facilitated **[Consortium Grant Round](https://opencivics.substack.com/p/grants-round-02-insights-and-learning)**, which provided **grant funding to OpenCivics Consortium members** experimenting with new forms civic utilities as public goods. This round focused on tangible, implementable projects aimed at expanding participatory governance frameworks, creating new economic models for civic collaboration, and improving access to digital infrastructure for decentralized coordination. The **[Collaborative Research Round](https://open.substack.com/pub/opencivics/p/collaborative-research-round-03-insights?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web)**, held in August, focused on funding **open-source research on key civic innovation areas**. This initiative supported independent researchers and working groups exploring governance models, community resilience strategies, and open collaboration protocols. The findings from this round will provide rich foundations for the OpenCivics knowledge commons and Open Protocol Library. In 2024, we submitted a grant proposal to the **Arbitrum Grants Accelerator** in collaboration with **Flow State** (formerly GeoWeb). This proposal sought to explore pluralistic grant-making mechanisms, including streaming quadratic grants and UBI-like matching pools. The vision was to drip funding to consortium members, with allocations based on ranked-choice quadratic voting. Though we did not receive the grant, this process clarified our commitment to decentralized, participatory funding models—an area we continue to refine in our network design efforts. Beyond OpenCivics' own grant-making activities, we also supported a third funding round for our partner, The BioFi Project. **[The BioFi Pathfinders](https://gov.gitcoin.co/t/gg22-retrospective-biofi-pathfinders-round/19691)** [](https://gov.gitcoin.co/t/gg22-retrospective-biofi-pathfinders-round/19691)**[Grant Round](https://gov.gitcoin.co/t/gg22-retrospective-biofi-pathfinders-round/19691)** brought together bioregional organizing teams from around the world, equipping them with resources to develop new infrastructures for regenerative economies, grant funding mechanisms, and impact-tracking tools. By supporting this initiative, we were able to empower a whole new demographic of change makers with participatory grantmaking tools and web3 knowledge. The round successfully onboarded cutting edge regenerative organizations into the Celo, Glo Dollar and Allo Protocol ecosystems. The success of these grant rounds demonstrated the power of **community-led funding** in supporting decentralized civic innovation. Moving into 2025, OpenCivics will build upon these efforts by refining and publishing its existing grant-making processes in the form of a "community grant-making playbook" and by integrating these funding rounds into the broader governance framework of the network. ### **Advancing our Knowledge Commons & Open Protocol Library** 2024 saw the early scaffolding of what could become one of OpenCivics’ most valuable contributions: an **open protocol library** documenting the best practices and methodologies for collaborative governance and community self-organization. This effort was driven by the recognition that many groups in the web3 space have powerful tools or frameworks to offer local organizers but education and onboarding is universally lacking across initiatives. Many local groups across the civic and cooperative landscape are experimenting with similar challenges—how to distribute decision-making, manage shared resources, and sustain collective action, and many web3 groups have tools that can serve those ends but their frameworks and tools are scattered across many different knowledge bases. By putting out the call to create a shared knowledge commons, we’ve begun weaving with organizations like ReFi DAO, Super Benefit DAO, Bloom Network, Token Engineering Commons, Metagov to contribute to a shared knowledge commons that extends beyond our own networks. Though this initiative is still in its early stages, the groundwork has been laid, and we anticipate it becoming a more central focus in the coming year. Lastly, we published the **[OpenCivics Thesis](https://www.notion.so/2025-02-08-2024-Retrospective-PP-x-BL-v3-19706d2570f280518202d73be8e7d3e7?pvs=21)**, **[Open Civic Innovation Framework](https://wiki.opencivics.co/Open+Civic+Innovation+Framework/Full+Framework)** and **[Theory of Change](https://wiki.opencivics.co/OpenCivics+Concepts/Theory+of+Change)** on our own customized **[Obsidian Wiki](http://wiki.opencivics.co/)**. Using custom interface design, we were able to present all of OpenCivics' founding and essential documents in an engaging and interconnected structure. We hope this wiki provides a source of truth within the emerging and pluralistic field of open civic innovation. ### **Evolving Our Infrastructure: Refining Coordination Tooling** The way we communicate and collaborate shapes our work just as much as our ideas do. Early in the year, we recognized the need for a shift in our **coordination spaces**, transitioning from Discord to [Telegram](https://t.me/+F1yggbWe3HA2M2Yx) while also exploring [Hylo](https://www.hylo.com/groups/opencivics-network) as a more effective collaboration tool. This shift was about **reducing friction**—many of our members found Discord overwhelming or disjointed, while Telegram offered a more streamlined and accessible way to stay connected. However, as we experimented with new tools, we realized that technology alone couldn’t solve the deeper challenges of coordination. Tools provide the scaffolding, but culture and shared rhythms are what create coherence. For example, a Consortium initiative planning [A General Forum On Ethereum Localism](http://www.blocklive.io/gfelboulder) in Boulder utilized our Notion dashboard interface to store relevant collaborative documents, notes, and roles. We look forward to continuing this trend by providing coordination infrastructure via dashboards, Google Groups, shared calendars, Telegram bots and collaborative workspaces. ### **Engaging within the Emerging Global Bioregional Movement** In 2024, we explored how bioregionalism could support global coordination efforts through direct engagement with the United Nations **Ambassador from the Bahamas**, discussing bioregional frameworks for climate resilience. We were hosted by our friend and advisor, Susanna Choe, alongside Representatives from **GloCha**, an NGO working at the intersection of local and global civic action. This experience at the United Nations HQ reinforced the need for **multi-scale governance partnerships** across international, national, bioregional, and technological organizations —bridging **l**ocal innovation with global frameworks and coordination mechanisms. Our collaboration with **[Regenerate Cascadia](https://regeneratecascadia.org/)** became a foundational aspect of our bioregional development strategy. This partnership focused on aligning regenerative governance models with localized civic infrastructure. Through this work, we gained deeper insight into the interplay between bioregional identity, network governance, and regenerative economies, informing our broader strategic direction. ### Establishing a DAO LLC as a primary legal structure Incorporating [OpenCivics Labs](http://opencivics.co/opencivics-labs) as a **Wyoming DAO LLC** was a significant milestone in our legal and governance strategy. Through this process, we: - Developed a custom DAO governance and project management framework. - Established OpenCivics Labs as a non-traditional consultancy, forming dynamic partnerships with mission-aligned partners. - Created financial and legal infrastructure capable of providing critical intermediary functions to the OpenCivics Network and Consortium. By formalizing the OpenCivics Labs DAO LLC, we were simultaneously creating a DAO for research and development partnerships while also creating critical intermediary infrastructure that will allow us to receive tax deductible funding via our fiscal host. The funds we raise this year through our fiscal host will empower us to conduct the legal research necessary to incorporate legal entities for the OpenCivics Foundation and OpenCivics Consortium late 2025 or early 2026. ### **Formalizing the OpenCivics Theory of Change** A key internal effort in 2024 was the development of OpenCivics’ **[Theory of Change](https://wiki.opencivics.co/OpenCivics+Concepts/Theory+of+Change#The+Model)**. This process involved: - A deep mapping exercise with a strategic consultant. - The creation of a structured framework outlining OpenCivics’ governance and impact model. - Refining our Network structure, including the Foundation, Labs, and Consortium. This work laid the foundation for future governance iterations, creating the conditions that support our efforts remaining aligned with long-term systemic transformation. --- # Gaps & Unfulfilled Objectives While we're content with and celebratory of all we accomplished in 2024, upon reflecting on our original 2024 vision and strategy, it's not hard to see that our ambitions were bigger than our capacities. We're integrating the learnings from these shortfalls in a redesign of our annual strategy setting and a more realistic set of goals. Moving forward, we'll be publishing a broad vision for the year with trends and themes and quarterly strategy reports with more granular, specific, and achievable milestones. ### **Collaborative Protocols & Initiatives Stalled** 2024 began with a strong intention to focus on the development of **collaborative protocols** for the network. And although we had early-stage conversations on this topic, this work didn’t fully solidify into a distinct initiative. Much of this came down to capacity and competing priorities, but also the intention behind the effort transmuted into other forms, primarily, the OpenCivics Thesis, Open Civic Innovation Framework, OpenCivics Wiki, and progressive protcolization plan. One of the intended collaborative initiatives that didn’t gain traction as expected was a prospective collaboration with a number of key governance organizations in the civic innovation ecosystem. The vision was compelling—a structured yet dynamic space for testing and evolving governance models. However, we lacked a clear champion to steward the initiative's inter-organizational coordination. This underscored a larger pattern we observed: when projects lack a clear holding structure and well-resourced primary champion, they struggle to sustain momentum. ### **The Civic Innovation Summit Didn’t Happen** Another major initiative that was planned but never materialized was the **Civic Innovation Summit**. This was partly a question of **strategic focus and alignment**—as the convening’s planning unfolded, we realized we weren’t in as close of alignment with our developmental partners as we would have liked and that our network likely wasn’t quite ready for a large-scale convening of this kind. Instead, we chose to focus on smaller, more organic gatherings where relationships could deepen before moving into bigger public-facing initiatives. ### **Delayed Implementation of On-Chain Governance** One of the more ambitious goals in our 2024 strategy was to test and roll out **on-chain governance mechanisms**, including the use of [Snapshot](https://snapshot.box/#/) for member voting and treasury allocations. While governance experimentation did progress with the structuring of the **Governance Program** and **role expansion**, the implementation of on-chain tools for decision-making was delayed due to capacity and technical hurdles. While Snapshot was technically deployed, it was not yet tested in an official proposal process, meaning that fully decentralized governance structures are still in development. ### **Network Fundraising Campaign Did Not Commence** While OpenCivics successfully conducted two grant rounds in 2024 (Collaborative Research Round & Consortium Round Two), and supported one other (BioFi Pathfinders Round), the more operationally fundamental **fundraising campaign** planned for 2024 did not commence. Patron outreach has not yet begun, meaning that the network stewards continue to be reliant on consulting income while working on OpenCivics _pro bono_, delaying development significantly. Looking ahead, we are finally prepared to set up fundamental financial infrastructure to begin scaling our donation campaigns. This new focus on fundraising will correlate to an increase in dedicated time per week to update our public financial records to remain as transparent and accountable as possible. --- # Key Lessons Learned Every experiment, whether successful or not, surfaces valuable lessons. As we reflect on 2024, several key learnings stand out—lessons that will shape how we move forward in the coming year. ### **Holding Structures Are Essential for Initiative Sustainability** One of the biggest takeaways from this year was that good ideas alone are not enough—for an consortium initiative to succeed, it needs a clear holding structure and accountability framework that extends beyond network stewardship. We saw this play out in multiple initiatives, which had strong initial enthusiasm but lacked a clearly defined stewards or working groups to carry it forward. Without a designated person or team responsible for moving things along, the efforts fizzled. Similarly, in conversations about collaborative protocols, we recognized that this kind of deep research and development work requires a more structured commitment than just loose, exploratory discussions – and adequate financial resourcing to support these commitments forming. Going forward, we need to ensure that new consortium initiatives have: - A clear steward or working group responsible for continuity - Defined milestones and a lightweight accountability system - The right mix of structure and flexibility to keep momentum alive ### **Trust & Relationships Must Precede Systems & Structures** At OpenCivics, we often talk about protocols and governance models, but 2024 reinforced the idea that no system or framework can succeed without strong relational foundations. Our experience in Costa Rica with the Planetary Regeneration Alliance (PRA) was a prime example. While we had hoped that our governance modeling would help cohere the group, we underestimated the role of pre-existing social dynamics and unspoken histories present. A critical lesson emerged: before trying to develop coherence around a governance model, we need to first cultivate coherence in relationships and shared agency. This means prioritizing trust-building, deep listening, and shared sense-making—especially in collaborations where we are entering an existing ecosystem rather than creating something from scratch. ### **Strategic Adaptation is Key** Not everything we planned at the start of the year unfolded as expected. Some efforts, like the development of a network white paper, evolved into a broader set of knowledge artifacts instead of a single publication – and took many months longer to develop than originally anticipated. Initially, this shift felt like a deviation from our original goal. But in hindsight, it was a natural evolution—allowing the work to take the shape it needed rather than forcing it into a predefined structure. This highlighted an important lesson: it’s okay to pivot when new insights emerge, as long as the core intention remains intact. Rather than seeing deviation from an initial plan as a failure, we should embrace emergent strategy—continuously sensing, adapting, and refining based on real-world conditions. This embrace of emergence also corresponds to tighter feedback loops in quarterly strategic planning, ensuring we balance dynamic evolution with forward progress and integrity. ### **Resilience is Built Through Localized, Direct Civic Action** 2024 was a year of deepening bioregional awareness, reinforcing that regenerative civic innovation must be rooted in tangible, place-based work. While we engage in broad, networked conversations about governance and collaboration, we also need to ensure that our work is led by real-world, on-the-ground insights and needs. One of our ongoing challenges is ensuring that OpenCivics remains grounded in lived realities, not just theoretical discourse. Looking ahead, we aim to strengthen our support for local initiatives and bioregional collaborations, ensuring that our frameworks are informed by practical, place-based experimentation. ### **Socialization & Adoption Barriers** One of the biggest challenges of 2024 was the underutilization of key tools and governance mechanisms. While the Activity Index, Open Protocol Library, and Governance Program were all introduced, many members did not integrate these systems into their workflows. This lack of adoption suggests that launching a tool is only half the battle—the other half is ensuring that members understand its purpose, see its value, and make it part of their regular engagement. Moving forward, OpenCivics must prioritize stronger onboarding, clearer documentation, and incentives for participation to bridge this gap. ### **Balancing Vision with Execution** Ambition has always been a defining trait of OpenCivics, but 2024 revealed the importance of aligning vision with available capacity. The Open Civic Innovation Summit, while an exciting idea, ultimately proved too ambitious given the network’s current infrastructure and engagement levels. The postponement of this event underscores the need to focus on strengthening foundational mechanisms first before taking on large-scale convening. By ensuring that governance processes, funding models, and participation pathways are solidified, OpenCivics will be better prepared to execute high-impact events and initiatives in the future. ### **Ensuring Financial Sustainability** Sustained financial health is critical for any decentralized network, and 2024 demonstrated both successes and shortcomings in this area. While the Grants Program successfully funded multiple rounds of projects, our broader fundraising campaign did not transpire into reality. A key takeaway from this experience is that relying solely on small grants is not enough. Moving into 2025, OpenCivics must build a more diversified financial model that includes donor engagement, sponsorships, and cooperative funding mechanisms to ensure long-term sustainability. ### **Iterating on Governance & Decision-Making** The shift to progressive [protocolization](https://wiki.opencivics.co/OpenCivics+Concepts/Progressive+Protocolization) required refining governance structures in real-time, and 2024 reminded us the extent to which governance is an iterative process. While the Governance Program and Delegate engagement structures were introduced in a soft way in the last month of the year, many members remain unclear about their roles or unsure about how to engage. Strengthening governance in 2025 will require more than just refining processes—it will require ongoing education, facilitated engagement, responsive adaptation, and resourcing incentives to ensure that self-organization thrives across the network. ### **Scaling Participation & Member Engagement** Membership engagement was another area where 2024 provided valuable lessons. While OpenCivics saw an increase in new members, many did not become deeply engaged in governance or knowledge-sharing activities. This suggests that simply onboarding members is not enough; they need structured pathways to actively participate. Strengthening participation in 2025 will require a mix of structured opportunities, recognition mechanisms, and community-driven initiatives that allow members to see the impact of their contributions. We also did not nurture further growth of membership (and even have stalled member applications since October), pending an upcoming rollout of updates to the network’s constitution. By integrating these lessons, OpenCivics is poised to take the next step in its evolution. As we move into 2025, these insights will shape a more resilient, participatory, and adaptable network that can effectively steward an emboldening of the open civic innovation ecosystem. --- # **Reflections & The Road Ahead** 2024 was a year of experimentation, adaptation, and learning in motion: stabilizing our core. Looking back, we see a year filled with bold convenings, deep strategic refinement, and the evolution of our knowledge ecosystem. We also see the friction points and gaps that emerged—places where structure was lacking, where energy dispersed, and where pivots were needed. As we move into 2025, we carry forward these learnings with clarity and intention: - Ensuring that **new initiatives** have strong holding structures from the start. - Prioritizing **trust-building** as a prerequisite for governance innovation. - Embracing **emergent strategy**, allowing activities to evolve naturally while honouring the core intentions established. - Grounding our work in **local civic action**, ensuring real-world impact. This retrospective is us looking back before we continue onward—harvesting the **insights** that will shape how we navigate the road ahead. In Us We Trust, OpenCivic Stewards