Hai Gitcoin,
Continuing on with our ‘passing the torch’ tradition, sharing updates to the leadership role and what it means for Gitcoin.
The TL:DR: After 2+ years as Chief of Staff then Interim Executive Director, I’m stepping away from the role and passing the torch back to the OG Founder - @owocki . I’ll stay on the Foundation Board to handle admin operations alongside the current board team.
Gitcoin’s Path to Decentralization
We’re on the path to real decentralization. The soft power that’s been concentrated in executive roles needs to be distributed across stewards, and community.
- @owocki will lead vision and values for Gitcoin 3.x. Check out his vision here.
- @MathildaDV continues owning the Grants program.
- The community drives decisions through governance.
What We Built Together
These two years have been challenging and rewarding for me. I’ve met so many wonderful people at Gitcoin and in the community and am so grateful for every opportunity you’ve given me.
- We built processes to improve coordination across workstreams and teams. We bridged communications between the DAO’s Core Stewards, the governance forum, and the Foundation so Gitcoin could operate as a unified network. It still needs work, and I’d invite the community to take further ownership of GTC utility opportunities and onboarding new stewards.
- The Grants program has scaled to new heights. We ran successive rounds that funded more public goods than ever, securing record matching funds and reaching more communities. We improved user experience and program integrity, laying groundwork for continued growth.
- We streamlined budgets and org structure (including dissolving the old Ecosystem Collective & Grants Lab workstream). We reduced bureaucracy, focused on what works, and tightened cross-team coordination PLUS spun out our Passport product.
- Most importantly, we built a stronger working relationship between the Foundation and DAO. The Foundation truly became an enabler of the DAO’s mission – executing community decisions, handling legal/financial necessities, then getting out of the way. We established real trust and alignment that will serve Gitcoin going forward.
These changes weren’t always easy. We faced challenges and growing pains, but each tough conversation ultimately made the org stronger. None of these achievements were mine alone – they were team efforts. Thanks to everyone who poured energy into this progress: workstream leads, core contributors, stewards, and community members. I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve done.
Looking Ahead
This transition comes at an exciting time. We’re approaching GG24, and I expect it will showcase how far we’ve come in scaling our impact.
Beyond GG24, I’m so pumped for Gitcoin 3.x and beyond – a new era for the organization. This means continuing to decentralize and mature. The pieces we’ve been working on are coming together. Gitcoin is poised to scale its impact even further in funding public goods. I’m excited to watch this next chapter unfold from a new vantage point.
Thanks for the opportunity to serve this community as a leader. It’s been an honor working alongside so many sharp, passionate people in pursuit of Gitcoin’s mission. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together, and even more excited for what’s coming under community stewardship.
The torch is yours now. Take good care of it.
Vote
- Yes: Ratify @owocki as Leader of Gitcoin
- No: Hire a new Executive Director (or other title)
- Abstain
