> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.takadao.io/takadao-docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.takadao.io/takadao-docs/part-b.-takadao-the-daos/05-tdaos-tokens-aka-membership-credits/make-a-contribution-receive-membership-credits-become-a-member.md). # Make a contribution, receive Membership Credits, become a member To become a member of the tDAO, an individual starts by contributing to the tDAO fund and receiving tDAO Membership Credits in return. At issuance, each Credit is pegged 1:1 to USDC[^1]; in other words, 1 USDC added to the tDAO fund will result in 1 newly minted Credit. The Credit is only issued when new money is added into the tDAO fund; Credits are not pre-mined or issued ahead of time. As the technology provider, Takadao, will receive protocol fees of 22% on all funds contributed to the tDAO fund. For every 100 USDC that is paid by a participant, 22 USDC will be given to Takadao and 78 USDC will be added to the tDAO fund, with 100 Credits issued. Note that Takadao does not share in the underwriting surplus of the tDAO. At entry, each Credit is pegged 1 Credit to 1 USDC. At exit, each Credit is pegged to the value of the surplus held by the tDAO fund (as described in the preceding section). To determine the value of each Credit at exit, take the value of the surplus in the tDAO fund divided by the total number of outstanding Credits. For example, if the DAO fund has 1,000 USDC worth of surplus and there are 500 outstanding Credits, then each Credit = 1,000 USDC / 500 = 2 USDC. The Credit value at entry and the Credit value at exit are different for functional reasons as will become clear subsequently. [^1]: USDC can be substituted with any other collateralized stablecoin, such as USDT. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.takadao.io/takadao-docs/part-b.-takadao-the-daos/05-tdaos-tokens-aka-membership-credits/make-a-contribution-receive-membership-credits-become-a-member.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.