Float is using Polis to collect community input and take a real-time pulse of the ecosystem. Polis is an open-source, participatory survey tool where individuals can anonymously add their own statements and respond to others. It strikes a balance we realized we couldn’t hit with traditional surveys, offering enough anonymity for honest contributions, while still surfacing collective insight transparently.
We’re using Polis to:
Identify shared and divergent priorities across the ecosystem
Surface underrepresented perspectives that might otherwise be missed
Inform our funding direction and support strategy
Create a visible, evolving map of ecosystem needs
Behind the scenes, Polis uses some interesting math to group participants with similar sentiments based on voting patterns. This helps us understand not just what people think, but how different groups are thinking, which we see as essential for building shared infrastructure that reflects diverse needs.
Inspired by examples like Taiwan’s use of Polis for public policy debates, we see it as a way to move from black-boxed surveys to open, real-time dialogue that evolves with the community.
Hylo is a community-led, open-source coordination tool for purpose-driven groups and whose values align with many of Float’s values.
Float will utilize Hylo as a community space for exchanging ideas, informal conversation, feedback, sharing, and posting updates. Announcements about events and opportunities will all be viewable in this group. All individuals interested in Float’s work, regardless of their level of active participation, are welcome to join the group, provided they consent to the group’s agreements. We will also continue to communicate via email.
Open Collective
Open Collective is a unique, open-source, values-aligned and radically-transparent financial management platform that packs crowdfunding, money management, and expense management features.
The financial activity - income, admin costs, funding distributions - of Float is always available for review, by the public, at any time on Float’s profile.