A complete guide to Golden Connects' gamification system — how credits are earned and lost, what Karma Coins represent, and how to progress through tiers.
Golden Connects uses a points and tier system not to make networking feel like a game, but to make it visible. The most valuable thing in a giving network is consistent, genuine contribution. Credits and tiers make that contribution measurable — so that generous members are recognised, and the chapter can see at a glance who its strongest contributors are.
The system is designed to be fair: you earn credits only for actions that genuinely add value to the chapter ecosystem, and you lose credits when you remove value.
Give Score credits accumulate through four main actions:
Posting a Give — 10 credits Every time you post a new active Give, you earn 10 credits. This rewards the act of contributing a connection to the chapter. Credits are deducted if you archive the Give.
Getting an Introduction Approved — 15 credits This is the highest single-action credit reward. When you approve an introduction request, you earn 15 credits. This reflects the fact that an approved introduction is the most tangible value you can create — you have directly connected two people who wanted to meet.
Introduction Outcome Confirmed — 20 credits (deal closure) When an introduction leads to a confirmed business outcome or deal closure, additional credits are awarded. This reward recognises the full lifecycle of a great give: from posting, to introduction, to real business value created.
Consistent Activity Bonuses Members who remain consistently active may receive additional credits through streak bonuses and milestone rewards. These are awarded automatically by the system.
Credits are deducted in two situations:
Archiving a Give — deducts credits When you archive a Give, the credits you earned for posting it are partially reversed. This reflects that the give is no longer available to the chapter. It is not a punishment for archiving — archiving is the right thing to do when a Give becomes outdated — but it ensures that credit totals reflect your current active contribution, not just historical activity.
Karma Coin debit — when requesting introductions Each introduction request you make reduces your Karma Coins (separate from Give Score credits). See the Karma Coins section below for details.
Karma Coins are a separate balance that tracks the ratio between giving and seeking in your activity on the platform.
You earn Karma Coins by: Posting Gives (+10 per give), getting introductions approved (+15 per approval)
You spend Karma Coins by: Requesting introductions (−10 per request)
The floor: Your Karma Coin balance cannot fall below −30. If you are at the floor, you can still request introductions, but your balance is a visible indicator to the chapter of your current give/seek ratio.
Karma Coins are displayed on your dashboard next to your Give Score. A positive balance (green) means you are contributing more than you are taking. A negative balance (red) means you have been seeking more introductions than you have been facilitating.
This is not punitive — it is informational. Chapter members can see your balance when they review your introduction requests. A positive karma balance makes it significantly easier for others to approve your requests. A deeply negative balance may prompt members to pause before doing so.
The healthiest approach: post Gives and approve introduction requests consistently, and your karma balance will naturally remain positive even as you request introductions.
Your Give Score determines your tier. There are four tiers, each requiring progressively more credits:
🌱 Seedling (0–99 credits) Your starting tier. Every new member begins here. You are planting the seeds of your giving network.
*To progress:* Post your first 2–3 Gives and get a couple of introduction requests approved. You will advance to Connector quickly.
🔗 Connector (100–299 credits) You have demonstrated that you give consistently. Other members recognise your name and associate it with useful introductions. You are building real chapter relationships.
*To progress:* Keep approving introductions and posting quality Gives. At this tier, consistency matters more than volume.
⚡ Catalyst (300–599 credits) You are a core contributor to the chapter ecosystem. Members actively look for your Gives first because they know your endorsements carry weight. Your introductions have likely generated real business value.
*To progress:* Continue at pace. At this stage, each new Give and introduction you facilitate moves you closer to the top tier.
👑 Keystone (600+ credits) The highest tier. Keystones are the pillars of the chapter. They give freely, make excellent introductions, and are the members others most want to connect with. Being a Keystone is not just a badge — it is a reputation that the chapter respects and reciprocates.
In addition to tiers, Golden Connects awards badges for specific milestones:
Badges are displayed on your profile and serve as social proof of your giving history within the chapter.