YOU KNOW THE STORY

We’re more connected than ever, yet lonelier than we’ve ever been. We don't need more Followers--We need more friends IRL.

Social Connectory is here to change that!

WE DID IT!

Social Connectory is Live! Now Help Us Scale Up

Thanks to your incredible support, Social Connectory RVA is now live at www.socialconnectory.com with nearly 500 social clubs, volunteer opportunities, and community events across Richmond!

LET'S SCALE UP FROM SCRAPPY TO SUSTAINABLE

But here’s the thing about much needed essential infrastructure: once you build it then people actually use it. And when they use it, you need to scale up.

We’re at a crossroads: Keep Social Connectory as a scrappy grassroots project… or invest in growth to truly combat the loneliness epidemic.

We’re choosing growth and your help is needed. #showup

The Reality of Scale

What’s Happening Since Launch:

• Growing traffic – People are discovering us through Google, social media, and word-of-mouth

• User submissions flooding in – Community members want their organizations listed

• Organizations reaching out – “How do we get featured?” “Can you add our event?”

• Maintenance demands – Keeping 450+ listings current takes serious time

The good news: People need this. It’s working.

The challenge:

We built v1.0 on a shoestring budget but to serve Richmond properly, we need to scale up.

Why Ongoing Support is Needed:

When we first launched this campaign, we asked for funds to BUILD Social Connectory. Now we’re asking for funds to SUSTAIN and GROW it.

Additional support is needed to progress from “scrappy project” to “essential community infrastructure.”

What we’re funding:

> Part-time community coordinator – Someone to verify submissions, update listings, respond to organizations, post social media activity.

> A marketing budget - Ads costs money, printing costs money.

> A newsletter – Featured opportunities, new additions, success stories - Blog content – “How to Find Your Community in RVA”, “Community Spotlights” - Social media management – Consistent, engaging content that drives traffic.

A directory is only as good as its accuracy and engagement. We need dedicated capacity.

We’re at a tipping point.

Even free platforms have real costs. This ensures we don’t disappear in Year 2. If we scale up now then momentum builds, organic growth accelerates and Richmond gets essential infrastructure. Then other cities adopt our model.

If we wait then momentum stalls, the user experience degrades as data becomes stale, the public will lose faith and the opportunity window closes.

The loneliness epidemic isn’t waiting and neither should we.

The Bigger Picture-- A National Movement

Social Connectory RVA is just the beginning. We’re building the template which is the proof of concept so other cities have the replicable model.

Imagine: Social Connectory Charlottesville | Social Connectory Durham | Social Connectory Portland | Social Connectory Atlanta

Every city has hidden community and every city needs a discovery tool.

Richmond leads the way but only if we scale up NOW.

How You Can Help (Beyond Donating)

Donate → Obvious, but critical

Share → Tell 3 friends about Social Connectory

Use it → Visit www.socialconnectory.com, find an organization #showup

Submit → Know a of something that we’re missing? Send word via our Submission Form

Partner with us→ Run an organization? Let’s collaborate

Hire us → Need banner ad space? Email me at socialconnectory at gmail

Advocate → Tell your city councilor Richmond needs this as public infrastructure

Remember, donations are tax deductible through Gary Levine’s “Non-Profit Connection” , our fiscal agent for Social Connectory.

A Note from Risa

When I started Social Connectory, I thought I was building a website. I was wrong, I was building community infrastructure--An essential civic service-- A tool to combat one of today's most urgent crises, lack of connection.

The response thus far has been amazing. People NEED this. Richmond NEEDS this.

But need isn’t enough. We have to invest in what we need.

That’s why I’m asking you again, to support this project. Not because I want your money but because Richmond deserves excellent community infrastructure, not just scrappy passion projects.

Help Social Connectory scale up. Help us become the model other cities follow.

Let’s build the Richmond we want to live in—together.

With gratitude,

Risa

Founder, Social Connectory

FAQs

Q) How does Social Connectory work and what makes it different?

A) Social Connectory is a central "dashboard" of; social clubs (from potluck groups to knitting circles to sports groups of all kinds), orgs that need volunteers (food banks to neighborhood groups), event calendars linked from local publications (Style Weekly, Culture Works, Richmond Times Dispatch, and more), links to local makers, and more.

Nothing like Social Connectory currently exists. Sure there are lists of social clubs that some news outlets put out there but as soon as that list is published it can become outdated. Social Connectory lists will be actively managed-- The directory will be checked on a frequent basis for anything that is no longer active or has been closed down. In addition, users may submit suggestions of groups or orgs to add to the list through a submission form. We have done our best to compile the most comprehensive list to connect you to others with shared interests and hobbies and a place to highlight great organizations for you to get involved with. The directory will be an ongoing work in progress and will grow over time.

Social Connectory will be easy to search. All things listed will be categorized and easy to find. Some of these groups are hard to find on social media. Some are good at using hashtags and some are not. Some folks find the internet easy to search and some do not.

Q) Doesn't MeetUp.com do what Social Connectory is trying to accomplish?

A) No. While MeetUp is a good platform when social groups post their events and want to manage membership, but not all social clubs bother with posting on MeetUp. There is cost associated with using that platform and group leaders have to manage the activity-- event sign ups, wait lists, calendars, etc. Many social clubs don't have the time or the inclination for all that. Sometimes the club just wants to post on social media to increase awareness and let folks know what they're about and when they meet. Many of these small social clubs don't even host their own website.

Q) How much does it cost to be listed or to search the directory?

A) Social Connectory is FREE! We are striving to make a difference, not a profit. It is absolutely free to have your group or org listed and it's free to search the directory.

Q) Which sort of clubs or organizations can be listed on Social Connectory?

A) Any club or organization that fosters positive connection can be listed.

Q) Who is Social Connectory for?

A) Social Connectory is for ANYONE and EVERYONE (any age group) who are looking for a social group to join, looking to make new friends, looking to learn something new (from martial arts to glass blowing), looking to get more involved in the community, looking for events to attend, or looking for volunteer opportunities.