Attracting Talent, Building Communities: How Nonprofits are Shaping the Future of Workforce Development

Across 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 reimagine what it means to live and work in their regions. But to succeed, they need a strategy that speaks to both sides of the equation — the people considering a move and the investors who can help make it happen.

At Convergent Nonprofit Solutions, we help nonprofits fund talent-focused campaigns that are measurable, multi-year, and mission-aligned. Whether you’re engaging boomerangs, recruiting remote professionals, or strengthening retention, it starts with thinking bigger.

Understanding the New Workforce Landscape

Talent is more mobile than ever, and decisions about where to live are influenced by more than just jobs. Remote work, affordability, outdoor amenities, and quality of life all factor in, opening new doors for communities that know how to tell their story.

• Targeting “boomerangs” — former residents who may not know how much the region has changed — offers a cost-effective and high-trust strategy for population growth.
• Segmenting audiences based on lifestyle, career stage, or industry helps nonprofits tailor messaging that resonates.
• Use Convergent’s Organizational Value Proposition™ to clearly communicate how your organization’s work on talent attraction drives broader economic and community outcomes.

Building a Campaign Around Retention and Return

Attracting talent is one thing; giving them reasons to stay is another. Nonprofits play a crucial role in aligning workforce partners, community amenities, and employer needs in a way that supports long-term retention.

• Engage local employers early in the planning process to understand what it takes to recruit and retain skilled workers.
• Partner with higher education, housing agencies, and cultural organizations to create an ecosystem that supports belonging, not just employment.
• Tie fundraising efforts to clear, outcome-based goals — such as talent integration, community engagement programs, or remote work infrastructure — using Convergent’s Investment-Driven Model™ to appeal to investors.

Turning Strategy Into Investor-Backed Action

The best ideas in workforce development often stall due to fragmented funding. A comprehensive campaign brings alignment, structure, and sustainability — three aspects investors value deeply.

• Combine multiple needs — talent attraction, regional marketing, workforce housing — into one cohesive campaign.
• Use feasibility studies to gain stakeholder alignment, test messaging, and identify local champions. This groundwork builds both credibility and momentum.
• Position funders as investors in long-term regional health, not just donors to short-term fixes.

Campaign Snapshots: Talent Attraction and Retention in Action

Convergent has helped community organizations nationwide structure and fund campaigns that move the needle on talent. Here are a few examples:

• Roanoke Regional Partnership (VA)
  Convergent helped evolve the region’s economic strategy to include outdoor placemaking, talent marketing, and remote worker readiness. Today, two nonprofits manage these efforts — one focused on lifestyle, the other on workforce — both funded through multi-year campaigns grounded in stakeholder engagement and investor outcomes.
• Henderson Economic Development (KY)
  Facing a housing shortage that limited workforce growth, Henderson’s EDC raised $2.1 million across three campaigns to align housing initiatives with regional talent needs. Convergent supported strategic planning and messaging that positioned housing as a workforce solution — not just a real estate issue.
• Rowan EDC (NC)
  The Rowan EDC raised $1.75 million to launch a community-wide talent marketing initiative, including the Choose Rowan campaign. The campaign featured a new talent attraction website, coordinated digital outreach, direct employer engagement, and a national marketing push — all supported by a “talent task force” developed in collaboration with local businesses. An executive from Novant Health, one of the region’s largest employers, commended the campaign for helping companies find and recruit skilled workers.

Lead the Talent Conversation — and the Campaign

Nonprofits don’t have to wait for someone else to lead on talent. You have the relationships, credibility, and knowledge to build strategies that attract, retain, and uplift the people who will power your region’s future.

You can turn that vision into an investor-supported campaign with the right partner. At Convergent, we’ve helped nonprofits across the country fund bold initiatives at the intersection of people, place, and potential.

Explore how we can support your next workforce campaign → Convergent Nonprofit Solutions.