The Golden Gate Business Association

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What is the GGBA?
2. Who is eligible to join the GGBA?
3. What are the advantages of membership in the GGBA?
4. What are the monthly “Make Contact” events?
5. What is the Pride Business Expo?
6. What are BEN groups?
7. How do I find a GGBA member business?
8. How do I search for a member on the Directory page?
9. What member information is available through the directory?
10. What are “Coupons”?

1. What is the GGBA?
The Golden Gate Business Association, or GGBA, is an alternative Chamber of Commerce whose primary goal is to improve its member businesses and the overall business climate in the San Francisco Bay Area LBGT community through professional networking, educational workshops, advocacy, business development and tourism programs.

2. Who is eligible to join the GGBA?
Although membership is open to anyone, it is advantageous for individuals whose businesses are within the Bay Area or have ties to the Bay Area. Membership is available on several different levels, click here for more information.

3. What are the advantages of membership in the GGBA?
Membership in the GGBA will provide you with several different networking outlets that allow you to meet and interact with other GGBA members both within your own field and in other fields. The main networking events of the GGBA are the monthly Make Contact events, the annual Pride Business Expo, and the BEN groups.

4. What are the monthly “Make Contact” events?
Make Contact events are GGBA’s signature monthly networking mixers hosted by one or more GGBA sponsors. Held on the first Tuesday of the month for a couple of hours after work, they feature an open bar, hors d’oeuvres and one or more raffles. Click here to find out more about our next Make Contact and to see images from the previous one.

5. What is the Pride Business Expo?
The premier networking event of the GGBA, it is an opportunity to not only meet other members but also put your business on display for all to learn about. It is usually held in June just before the SF Gay Pride Weekend. Click here for more information.

6. What are BEN groups?
Business Exchange Networking (BEN) groups are small, diverse groups of GGBA members whose function through networking and business presentations is the exchange of business referrals. The groups usually meet twice a month and are ongoing. Click here for more information.

7. How do I find a GGBA member business?
There are two ways to find GGBA members. First, you can find GGBA members in the Pride Pages business directory, an annual publication of the GGBA that features member listings and advertisements. In addition to the printed directory, the GGBA also features a searchable online directory that has the most current information about GGBA members and their businesses.

8. How do I search for a member on the Directory page?
There are several ways to search for a member, a business, or a category of businesses. To search for a member or a business, the easiest way is to check the button next to “Search be Keyword” and then check the button next to “All”. Then simply enter in the “Search for” box what you would like to find, then click “Search”. You can enter a person’s name or part of a person’s name, or the name of a business or part of the name of a business, or just the city, state, zip code or address. For example, entering 1800 would produce any member with 1800 in their address. You can also enter something in the “Search for” box and search only within business categories or business names by clicking the “Search in Business Categories” or “Search for a Business Name” buttons, respectively. You can also see a list of all our business categories and display all of the businesses within a category. Simply choose the category from the drop down menu under “Display a Business Category” and click the “Search” button.

9. What member information is available through the directory?
There are links below a member’s listing which will usually include phone and fax numbers, a description of their business, a map to their location, as well as website and email links.

10. What are “Coupons”?
Occasionally members will offer discounts on their goods or services to other GGBA members. If a member does offer such a discount, there will be a “Coupon” link next to their other links. Click the coupon link to learn more about the member’s discount.