Reach out to at least three people in your network each week
If you are not deliberately staying in touch with your network, it is quietly shrinking. Not because people dislike you—but because life gets busy and silence does the damage.
That is why a simple discipline matters more than any fancy CRM, LinkedIn post, or conference badge: reach out to at least three people in your network every week. No exceptions.
Why Three? Because It is Achievable—and It Compounds
Three is small enough to be non-negotiable and large enough to matter. Over a year, that is more than 150 meaningful touchpoints. Done properly, it keeps relationships warm, relevant, and human.
This is not about selling. It is about staying present.
The people who consistently succeed—whether in fundraising, leadership, consulting, or business—are not magically better networkers. They are just more disciplined about maintaining contact.
Relationships Decay Without Maintenance
Here is the uncomfortable reality: relationships do not stand still. They either strengthen or weaken.
If you only reach out when:
- you need a favour
- you are looking for a job
- you want an introduction
- you are asking for a donation
then you have already waited too long.
Regular, low-pressure contact keeps relationships earned, not extracted.
What “Reaching Out” Actually Means
This is not about spammy check-ins or LinkedIn platitudes.
A real reach-out is:
- a short email saying you were thinking of them
- a message congratulating them on a milestone
- a quick “how are things going?” with no agenda
- sharing an article that reminded you of a conversation
- a coffee invitation—even if it does not happen immediately
Five minutes. Genuine. Human.
Why This Matters More Than Ever
We are in an era of:
- remote work
- transactional interactions
- inbox overload
- constant change
People remember who shows up without being prompted.
In fundraising especially, trust is built between campaigns—not during them. The same is true for leadership credibility, board relationships, and professional influence.
When a critical moment arrives—a leadership transition, a major gift conversation, a career pivot—it is too late to “reconnect.” You either have a relationship, or you do not.
Make It a Weekly Ritual, Not a Vague Intention
If you leave networking to chance, it will not happen.
Instead:
- Block 20 minutes in your calendar every week
- Keep a simple running list of people you want to stay connected with
- Rotate between past colleagues, current peers, mentors, and emerging leaders
- Track nothing more than the last time you reached out
This is old-school relationship management. It works because it always has.
The Payoff Is Long-Term—and Uneven by Design
Most reach-outs will not lead to anything immediately. That is the point.
The value shows up months or years later as:
- unsolicited opportunities
- trusted advice when you need it
- advocates speaking on your behalf
- doors opening without you knocking
Strong networks are not built in moments of urgency. They are built in quiet weeks like this one.
Reaching out to three people this week will not feel dramatic. It should not.
But done every week, it quietly separates professionals who are constantly scrambling from those who always seem one step ahead.
Pick three names. Send three messages. Do it again next week.
That is how real networks are built—and kept.
