Collaborative Strategies for Housing Development: Fostering Community Prosperity

Hands putting puzzle in form house and family. Family and comfort concept.

The importance of available, acceptable, and affordable housing options cannot be overstated in the realm of economic development. Housing is a cornerstone of thriving communities, providing residents stability, a sense of belonging, and quality of life. Achieving a diverse range of housing options that meet the needs of all users is a complex challenge. In […]

Don’t Let Commercial Real Estate Pressures Impact Your Economic Development Goals

Image of notebook with goals written at the top and numbers 1, 2 and 3.

The economic landscapes of communities nationwide are as unsettled as ever. One facet of this reality is the state of commercial real estate. Beginning with government-imposed shutdowns and social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, businesses and individuals have changed their habits, incorporating remote or hybrid work practices into daily life. As a result, the need […]

3 Tips for Evaluating Your YMCA’s Recreation Program

As your YMCA grows, you’ll begin serving more groups in your broader community, including youths, adults, and senior citizens. One of the most popular ways to do this is to provide well-designed recreation programs that make a positive impact on your community. However, you also want to be sure that your programs provide value to […]

Maximizing Fundraising in a Difficult Economy

image of hand touching a piggy bank

While U.S. economic growth proved to be higher than most expectations in 2023, fears of a recession persist in 2024. Nonprofit organizations are understandably concerned with their ability to raise money in potentially turbulent times. Fortunately, Convergent Nonprofit Solutions knows how to raise money amidst economic uncertainty, proving it during the Great Recession and the […]

Sustainable Growth: 4 Considerations for Associations

This guide explores ways to sustainably grow your association.

After a few volatile years, membership rates are on the rise for associations. In 2022, 43% of associations reported new member growth, a hefty increase from 2021’s metrics of 29%. In the wake of this new trend, associations must work to secure more members and drive growth.  Some of the keys to reaching and recruiting […]

Tom’s Takeaways in 2023: A Year of New OVP’s

Graphic illustrating that large investments are both an emotional and rational act

It’s been quite a year for Convergent and we are rolling into 2024 with a full head of steam.  As some of you know, for all of our more traditional campaigns, we develop what we call an Organizational Value Proposition®, or OVP.  For clients engaged in economic development activities, we move to a more straight […]