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These two projects will help you build up one of your most valuable fundraising assets, your network
<aside> 🗓️ Supporter Mapping
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| # | Task | Description | Resources / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Download contacts from LinkedIn | How To: https://app.tango.us/app/workflow/2ce6590b-f461-49c8-b338-ff217cf1bb98 | |
| 2 | Add the LI contacts to the Supporter Mapping Tab | Line up the names and company to fit the spreadsheet you create for Supporter Mapping | Check out the Database Guides |
| 3 | Download contacts from Facebook | How to: https://app.tango.us/app/workflow/5a05ad41-893f-43e9-b8ea-4bef969e59e8 | Different networks are different for each person. Facebook is not as valuable for me b/c all the people that matter are represented on LinkedIn so I skipped it |
| 4 | Add FB contacts to the Supporter Mapping Tab | Line up the names and to fit that spreadsheet. | Check out the Database Guides |
| 5 | Scrape names/emails from your email inbox and add to Supporter Mapping Tab | Go through your old emails over the last year and add names and emails one by one. It won't take as long as it sounds | If you use gmail, two shortcuts to go to are 1) https://contacts.google.com/frequent?hl=en |
This is only a short list of your frequently contacted people so don’t stop there but it’s a good place to start!
this is the list of email addresses gmail has remembered that you’ve contacted. You can select all there and export that list to review | | 6 | Review Supporter Mapping Tab to indicate who is a Supporter | Use the 2 sec rule. If you hesitate and consider for even 2 sec, the answer is yes! | This step can take some time even when going quickly if you have thousands of contacts. Trust me it's worth it |
<aside> 🗓️ Networking Dinner
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| # | Task | Description | Resources / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Define a unifying theme for a dinner | Example: LA-based eCommerce Founders | |
| 2 | Find a location | Best is a place that has a separate area that can seat 10-20 so that people can hang out beforehand standing before getting seated. |
Also somewhere that allows a pre-fixe and drinks beforehand included | | | 3 | Research guests to invite | Use LinkedIn and mostly search for geographically available founders. Think about the highest profile guest you think you can get to confirm first. That will help provide momentum and credibility to push the rest of your guest list to accept the invite.
also, do your best to curate a diverse guest list…’nuff said | | | 4 | Find possible intros to guests | Use LinkedIn to find contacts | | | 5 | Find possible sponsors | These are usually service providers (lawyers, accountants, bankers) that like to do business with the invited companies | | | 6 | Write Email to send to sponsors | This can be done cold fairly easily although would be more effective via an intro | Email Template for email to sponsors here | | 7 | Write Intro to guests request | | Email Template for intro to guests here | | 8 | Write Forwardable Email to send to potential guests | | Email Template for Forwardable email here | | 9 | Write Cold Email to send to Guests | If you can’t find an intro, you should try a cold outreach. Since you’ll be providing value this isn’t as difficult of an ask.
This also tends to work really well over social media DMs - especially Twitter and Linkedin. Founders who are good on Twitter welcome outreach and can be friendly in these situations. | Email Template for cold outreach to guests | | 10 | Ask confirmed guests to recommend other invites (founders & VCs) | Use guests’ networks to add in VCs and high quality founders they know (that you don't) | | | 11 | Build hype, add more valuable guests | As the dinner gets to a good full number, post a social media message (or better yet, have someone in the community post a message) describing the dinner and the fact that there are 2 openings left. | | | 12 | Plan on seating | Provide directions on where people sit. This is one of the most awkward times for a dinner usually. 2 options: assign seating (better) or “look at who you’re talking to now or closest to now. do not sit next to them” | | | 13 | Prep your role as emcee | Part of the value you collect will come from your being the person in charge. Make sure you direct people with how /when to get seated ready with 2-3 small speeches:
Even better - you can hire a photographer for 100-200 to attend. The sponsor will likely cover this so they can have more media come from the event. | |