South Fulton Today

Convergent Nonprofit Solutions, a firm specializing in fundraising consulting, has launched an Education Growth & Impact Initiative. This effort aims to improve sustainable funding for education by focusing on Promise Programs and two-year colleges. The initiative underscores the company's dedication to using education as a means of fostering economic growth and community development.

To bolster its team, Convergent has brought on Katie Davenport, Joe April, and Dr. John Rainone. These individuals bring significant experience in fundraising within the realms of two-year colleges and scholarships. Their expertise will be integrated with Convergent’s Investment-Driven Model to enhance service offerings in the education sector, assisting clients in securing more funding to support community transformation and address workforce needs.

Katie Davenport previously served as Executive Director of Greenwood Promise. She will now work as a Funding Strategist at Convergent, leveraging her knowledge of Promise Programs to help scholarship funds communicate their value to various stakeholders and explore new funding opportunities.

Joe April has been involved with Convergent's educational efforts for several years. With his background as a college vice president and consultant, he has led capital campaigns aimed at aligning educational programs with industry needs. As a Senior Partner at Convergent, he will focus on expanding the firm's engagement with two-year higher education institutions.

Dr. John Rainone is currently President of Mountain Gateway Community College and brings his experience in workforce training expansion to his new role as Senior Counsel at Convergent. He will provide guidance on services offered 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.”

The Education Growth & Impact Initiative aims to partner with educational institutions and economic development organizations to create sustainable funding models that enhance accessibility and workforce readiness nationwide.

For further details about this initiative or other inquiries, visit www.ConvergentNonprofit.com or contact Kaziah Howard via email.