What to do when someone requests an introduction through your Give — how to review, approve, decline, and facilitate the connection.
When someone requests an introduction through one of your Gives, the decision is entirely yours. Golden Connects does not connect the parties automatically — you review the request, assess whether the introduction is appropriate, and then decide to approve or decline.
This is not bureaucracy. It is reputation management. Every introduction you make carries your name. The quality of your introductions determines how your chapter regards your judgment, and by extension, how seriously they take your Gives.
When a member requests an introduction through your Give, you receive an in-app notification. You can also access all incoming requests at any time:
1. Click "Introductions" in the left navigation 2. The default view shows received requests — introduction requests made through your Gives 3. Each request shows the requester's name, their business, and the note they wrote explaining why they want the introduction
Pending requests are highlighted. Respond to them promptly — a member who has requested an introduction is actively looking for a connection. Delays reduce the value of the introduction even if you eventually approve it.
Before approving an introduction request, consider three things:
1. Is this a genuine fit? Read the requester's note carefully. Do they have a real reason to meet your contact? Is there a plausible business connection — complementary industries, a shared need, a credible use case? Introductions that lack a clear purpose rarely go anywhere and can waste your contact's time.
2. Do you know enough about the requester? If the requester is a chapter member you know well, your judgment is easier. If they are newer to the chapter or less familiar to you, review their profile. Look at their business name, designation, and any Gives they have posted. This gives you a sense of who they are.
3. Would your contact welcome this? Think about your contact specifically. Are they currently accepting new business or new introductions? Is the requester's business type one they actively serve or want to serve? If you are unsure, it is perfectly appropriate to reach out to your contact before approving — a quick message confirming they are open to the introduction takes 30 seconds and protects everyone.
To approve an introduction request: 1. Open the Introductions section 2. Find the pending request 3. Click "Approve"
Once approved, the introduction is marked as approved in the system and your Give Score is credited. You will then need to make the actual introduction — Golden Connects records the approval but does not send the introduction on your behalf.
Making the introduction: The most effective introductions are made via a group email or WhatsApp message that includes both parties. A good introduction message does three things: - Briefly describes who each person is and what they do - States the specific reason you believe this connection is valuable - Invites them to connect directly and steps back
Example: "Hi Priya, I'd like to introduce you to Rajan Mehta, founder of Mehta & Associates — a 40-person accounting firm in Pune. Rajan is looking for reliable IT infrastructure support, and based on the work you did for us last year, I think you'd be a great fit. I'll leave you both to connect from here. Rajan, Priya's contact is below."
Declining a request is completely acceptable. You are under no obligation to approve every introduction requested through your Gives.
Appropriate reasons to decline: - The fit genuinely does not make sense (wrong industry, wrong stage, wrong geography) - You are not confident the introduction would benefit your contact - You have lost touch with your contact and cannot vouch for the introduction's quality - You have concerns about the requester based on what you know of them
To decline: 1. Open the request 2. Click "Decline"
The requester will receive a notification that the request was declined. Consider the option to add a brief, respectful note if the decline might need context — though this is not required.
If you find yourself declining requests frequently for a particular Give, consider whether the Give's description is attracting the wrong kind of requests. Revising the description to be more specific about ideal introductions can improve the quality of future requests.
Every introduction you approve earns 15 Give Score credits. This is the highest credit-earning action on the platform — more than posting a Give — because a completed introduction represents the highest form of value in a giving ecosystem.
Your Give Score reflects your total contribution to the chapter. Members who approve introductions consistently tend to reach the higher tiers (Connector, Catalyst, Keystone) faster than those who only post Gives without following through on introduction requests.
Track your approved introductions in the Introductions section under the "Received" view. Approved introductions are marked green.