Coffee date

In my experience, the way networking happens in the nonprofit world, and in particular, the nonprofit policy/advocacy world, is you meet for a coffee date. And I believe there is a certain formula to make this work. First, you do your intro's and lay out why you wanted to get together for the coffee meeting. I think this is where you get a feel for how formal or informal your conversation with this person is going to be. Second, you get your business covered. You learn about what they're doing right now, what their plans are for the future, how you might be able to work together, etc. Last, you might share a little bit of work related rumor or gossip, but only if you got the feel for this in Step one. All the while, you are enjoying a cappuccino or latte or some other special coffee drink, rather than the swill back in the office.