Welcome to the post-conference lunch at a five star hotel that probably costs more than your organisation’s monthly budget. To survive, you’ll need a few tips that signal you’re in the right place. Use freely.
1. Who to talk to:
You’ll spot 2 or 3 people with a polite hoard of listeners around them. These are funders. Join the group, wait your turn. Ignore anyone who looks like they can’t pronounce French wines.
2. How to introduce yourself:
Skip the long story, nobody is listening in a room which has three types of chicken gravy and a dessert counter. Start with your job title, the name of your nonprofit, and who you’re funded by. Watch the person try to place you on a hierarchy of importance as they refill their coffee.
3. What to say:
Never utter the word money. Say resources. Or financing models. And always keep to safe, familiar words like resilience, pathways, innovation, or synergies. You can always talk about the number of people your organisation impacts, multiply it to your heart’s content, and then deliver a rousing speech about your reach. Observe people nod and realise you belong in this room.
4. How to exit conversations:
When the conversation has run its course (or the person has started monologuing), say something along the lines of wanting to explore cross-learning and connecting over email. Send them a Linkedin request right there so they feel pressured to accept. Never reach out to them again.
Find the next person, repeat steps.
