News & Articles
News Articles
It’s no secret that capital campaigns are some of the largest undertakings for a nonprofit. To set yourself up for success, start by ensuring you have the right team members to support you—that might mean a capital campaign consultant.In this guide, we’ll discuss the details you need to know to...
Attracting Talent, Building Communities: How Nonprofits are Shaping the Future of Workforce Development
Apr 15 2025Across the country, communities struggle to attract and retain the talent they need to sustain economic growth. For nonprofit organizations — especially those focused on economic development — the moment is clear: talent attraction isn’t just an opportunity. It’s a responsibility.Nonprofits are uniquely positioned to lead bold, collaborative campaigns that...
The state of a community’s available workforce is no longer just a discussion topic at luncheons — it’s become one of the most pressing challenges facing local economies. As businesses struggle to find qualified workers, local stakeholders are increasingly called to help bridge the gap between employer expectations, government initiatives,...
As educational institutions across the country grapple with shrinking budgets and increasing pressure to improve outcomes, securing sustainable funding has become more critical than ever. Whether public or private, schools and universities must look beyond traditional funding sources to overcome enrollment challenges and boost graduation rates. That’s where Convergent Nonprofit...
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Yes, it IS a thing…and YES, you should care.The World Happiness Report, published by the Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford in partnership with Gallup, the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and an independent editorial board, landed on my desk this week, and it did my heart some...
Overcoming Financial Barriers in Education: Strategies for Economic Development Organizations
Apr 2 2025Economic development leaders often speak in terms of business retention, attraction and expansion to foster a dynamic quality of life in their communities. Those initiatives rely heavily on a skilled, educated workforce, drawing a clear correlation between the presence of vibrant secondary and post-secondary educational institutions and regional prosperity.Economic Development...
3 Tips to Budget Efficiently With Limited Resources If you’ve worked in the nonprofit sector for some time, you’ve likely heard the phrase “limited resources” used more times than you can count. Whether you’re trying to launch a new community program or plan an engaging fundraising campaign, it’s probably one of...
If you’ve kept up with recent trends in the nonprofit sector, you know that the current state of charitable giving holds both challenges and opportunities. Giving USA 2024 reported that donations are trending positively in current dollars but not outpacing inflation. Additionally, the nonprofit verticals that have seen the most significant...
Convergent Nonprofit Solutions Expands Education Expertise with Growth & Impact Initiative
Mar 12 2025Convergent Nonprofit Solutions, a national leader in fundraising consulting, has created an Education Growth & Impact Initiative to enhance sustainable education funding. With years of experience supporting education-focused clients, Convergent is expanding its capacity to provide specialized service to Promise Programs, and two-year colleges, reinforcing its commitment to education as...
Spend any time at a community or technical college and you’ll notice that fundraising and workforce development often exist nearby, sometimes even down the hall from each other. Yet for many years, they’ve operated in parallel rather than in partnership. That was certainly my experience during my 30 years in...
Discover how a well-crafted strategic plan transforms great ideas into fundable, actionable initiatives. Learn how strategic planning enhances fundraising, stakeholder engagement, and long-term success.
Building the Funding Base Your Commerce and Development Initiatives Deserve with ConvergentEconomic development organizations (EDOs) and Chambers of Commerce are crucial in fostering local business growth and economic prosperity. Yet, many of these organizations face ongoing fundraising challenges, from reliance on government funding to membership dues and event-based revenue streams...
A Smarter Approach to Nonprofit Fundraising: Introducing Convergent’s Comprehensive Campaign
Feb 19 2025Shifting to Long-Term Financial Stability with a Comprehensive Campaign ApproachMany nonprofits struggle with unpredictable fundraising cycles, relying on short-term grants, annual campaigns, and event-based revenue streams. This reactive approach leaves organizations vulnerable to economic shifts, grant expirations, and donor fatigue.A comprehensive campaign consolidates multiple funding efforts—major gifts, annual appeals, planned...
I received a newsletter this week referencing last week’s federal funding freeze for nonprofits. To say it was a bit hyperbolic is an understatement, but I do understand the author’s concern. Although the freeze was quickly rescinded, it’s a safe bet that the future of funding for many of our...
As a nonprofit professional, you know that responsibly using resources and funds is necessary to keep your organization afloat and your mission alive, especially as individual giving continues to decline.However, you may not be familiar with the ins and outs of managing these resources and making sure your nonprofit has...
As we welcome 2025, a new year offers a perfect opportunity to reevaluate strategies, set ambitious goals, and embrace bold visions for the future. For Economic Development Organizations (EDOs) and Chambers of Commerce, thinking big means expanding their capacity to drive economic resilience and community growth. At Convergent Nonprofit Solutions, we help organizations...
As nonprofits navigate the challenges of 2025, it’s time to think big by embracing multi-year fundraising strategies. Start by imagining where your organization could be in 2027 or 2028, and consider how Convergent Nonprofit Solutions’ comprehensive approach to campaign planning can transform your mission. Instead of focusing on short-term gains,...
On this podcast, Jay Werth speaks with Doug Croft, a member of Convergent Nonprofit Solutions. Doug discusses his involvement with the All-America City Award. Managed by the National Civic League, 10 cities are awarded annually for their community projects and civic engagement. Doug highlights the importance of cross-sector collaboration and...
Every nonprofit owes its success to its relationships, particularly those with donors (or, as we call them at Convergent, investors). However, measuring just how much your investors’ engagement has impacted your nonprofit’s fundraising success is easier said than done. How do you determine if investors are truly engaged in your...
Convergent Nonprofit Solutions Appoints Pam Reid as Senior Funding Strategist for Metro Atlanta
Jan 20 2025ATLANTA, GA – January 20, 2025 – Convergent Nonprofit Solutions, a leading national fundraising consulting firm, is pleased to announce the appointment of Pam Reid as Senior Funding Strategist overseeing the Metro Atlanta area. With over two decades of leadership experience in both the financial services and nonprofit sectors, Ms...
As an independent school representative, you’re already familiar with the process of connecting with potential students and their families to secure your school’s success. However, greater community outreach allows schools like yours to improve fundraising results, apply for grants, and even attract talented potential employees.However, relationship-building requires more than one-off...
Succession planning is not an overnight endeavor. Data from Nonprofit Quarterly reveals that the average tenure of nonprofit CEOs is just six years, indicating organizations face consistent stress from leadership turnover, making proactive planning essential. As nonprofits navigate a landscape marked by economic uncertainties and ongoing debates about federal oversight,...
Maintaining Service with Leadership Changes: Succession Planning for Economic Development Organizations
Dec 16 2024Continuity of service is a priority for economic development organizations (EDOs) with a dedicated mission, but a key component of consistency is often missing. Only 29% of EDOs had a written succession plan in place, according to the 2021 BoardSource Leading with Intent report. Succession planning is crucial for organizations...
Successful downtown revitalization helps rebuild the heart of a community, often restoring buildings and public spaces central to community nostalgia and historical commerce. Revitalization projects offer a unique blend of past and present when executed well, creating unique opportunities for residential and business growth. However, downtowns are a frequently underutilized...