Episode 217

Why Economic Development Fundraising Matters More Than Ever with Brian Abernathy and Clint Nessmith

May 4th, 2026

26 mins 17 secs

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workforce development investor relations feasibility studies public-private partnerships chambers of commerce capital campaigns resource development group convergent rdg economic development fundraising economic development econdev eco devo

About this Episode

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show Podcast, Dane Carlson talks with Brian Abernathy of Convergent and Clint Nessmith of Resource Development Group, now RDG, a Convergent Company, about the merger of two major economic development fundraising firms and what it means for chambers, EDOs, and community organizations.

They discuss why economic development fundraising is becoming more critical, how campaigns are evolving beyond traditional jobs and investment metrics, and why organizations must make a clearer case for their value. Brian and Clint also explain how data, disciplined campaign execution, feasibility studies, and strong public-private partnerships can help communities fund the work required to compete.

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10 Actionable Takeaways for Economic Developers

  1. Make the value case clearer. Investors need to understand what your organization does, why it matters, and what outcomes their funding supports.
  2. Do not rely only on past success. A good track record helps, but each new campaign needs a fresh, specific, forward-looking reason to invest.
  3. Use data to strengthen your story. Fundraising works better when your case combines vision with evidence, benchmarks, campaign history, and measurable outcomes.
  4. Treat fundraising as strategy, not just revenue. A campaign should clarify priorities, align leadership, and sharpen the organization's role in the community.
  5. Run a feasibility study before a major campaign. Confidential investor feedback can reveal whether your campaign is ready, credible, and properly sized.
  6. Connect economic development to broader community needs. Workforce, housing, infrastructure, quality of life, and nonprofit capacity all affect competitiveness.
  7. Keep trusted relationships front and center. Funders support people and organizations they trust, especially when the work requires multi-year commitments.
  8. Show investors where their money goes. Be specific about programs, staff capacity, outcomes, timelines, and the practical work their support makes possible.
  9. Position your organization as a convener. EDOs and chambers often create value by bringing public, private, nonprofit, and education partners together around shared priorities.
  10. Prepare for more sophisticated funders. Investors are asking better questions. Be ready with a stronger narrative, better data, and a disciplined plan for execution.

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