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Joe April, Convergent Senior Partner, and Dr. John Rainone, President of Virginia’s Mountain Gateway Community College, and a Convergent Senior Counsel join the host of the Develop This! podcast, Dennis Fraise, in this special episode, to discuss leveraging community colleges to address workforce needs.

Joe shares his transformation, which was made possible through community college support, and John highlights the importance of entrepreneurial approaches, citing his college's $7.3 million renovation, which was funded by public-private partnerships.

Both emphasize the need for flexible, short-term training programs to meet industry demands—both note trends like apprenticeships and regional collaborations.

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In this thought-provoking episode, Host Jay Werth sits down with Greg Warner, CEO and founder of MarketSmart, to explore the paradigm shift reshaping nonprofit fundraising. With nearly two decades of experience in philanthropy and tech innovation, Warner critiques outdated, organization-centric models and champions a more human-centered, donor-driven approach rooted in empathy, data, and value exchange.

Together, they unpack why traditional fundraising methods are falling short with modern donors—and how nonprofits must evolve. Warner explains how meaningful engagement, donor readiness, and intentional experience design are becoming core to successful major and legacy gift strategies.

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After three years of declining donations, 2024 delivered a reversal that has nonprofit leaders everywhere asking: "Is this rebound for real?"

In this insightful analysis linked to the 2025 Giving USA Report, Convergent Principal Tom Ralser and General Manager, Brian Abernathy, join Jay Werth to reveal the drivers behind donor behavior, not just economic indicators.

This is a strategic deep-dive connecting the dots between market psychology, donor motivation, and practical fundraising success. Understanding these insights could be the difference between riding the wave of renewed giving or watching it roll on by.