Convergent 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 a driver of economic growth and community impact.

Convergent expands it expert team of fundraising consultants adding Katie Davenport, Joe April, and Dr. John Rainone. The trio brings extensive experience in fundraising in the two-year college and scholarship domains. Their expertise, combined with Convergent’s Investment-Driven Model™, will enhance the firm’s offerings in the education market, guiding clients in securing increased funding to strengthen their role in transforming communities and meeting critical workforce needs.

A former Convergent Client, Katie Davenport served as Executive Director of Greenwood Promise, where she witnessed first-hand the impact value of aligning education and workforce priorities to drive transformational outcomes. As a Funding Strategist at Convergent, Katie will apply her deep knowledge of Promise Programs nationwide to help scholarship funds reframe their value to varied community stakeholders to expand funding avenues.

Joe April has been an integral part of Convergent’s work in the education sector for years. As a former college vice president, and seasoned consultant he has led capital campaigns and guided colleges in strengthening workforce alignment through education-industry collaboration. As a Senior Partner with Convergent, Joe will bring valued leadership to growing the firm’s portfolio of 2-year higher education clients.

Dr. John Rainone, Ed.D., CFRE, also a former Convergent client, currently serves as the President of Mountain Gateway Community College, where he has successfully driven workforce training expansion and economic development partnerships. John will serve as Senior Counsel for Convergent’s team, providing expertise and guidance for the firm’s services to community and technical colleges.

“This is a natural evolution for Convergent,” said Brian Abernathy, General Manager at Convergent. “We’ve been investing in our education focused services for several years. These new roles for Katie, Joe, and John bring extensive experience to our team. Workforce is a critical need across the country, we believe community colleges and promise programs are invaluable assets to meeting the steadily increasing demand.”

Convergent’s Education Growth & Impact Initiative will collaborate with educational institutions and economic development organizations to develop sustainable funding models that improve accessibility and workforce readiness. As this initiative expands, Convergent remains committed to driving real change in communities nationwide.

For more information, visit www.ConvergentNonprofit.com or contact Kaziah Howard at [email protected].