Referral partners are an important source for potential student enrollments, especially when you are focused on serving individuals from underserved communities with barriers to employment. Develop working partnerships with community organizations who may be serving clients who are strong Prospects for your training program. You will notify your referral partners about classes offered, enrollment periods, class session time frames and more. Enrollment partners may include local nonprofit organizations, One Stop Career Centers, Community Centers, Libraries, and more.
The following helpful activities can be used in developing a thriving and beneficial community partner list:
- Start with organizations you are familiar with and begin building your contact list. Focus on organizations that you believe are serving individuals who fit the demographics and geography you identified in the PLANNING phase of your project.
- For new organizations, provide an introductory packet of information describing your program and offer to meet to discuss the programs in person.
- Schedule 1-on-1 meetings with providers to discuss the program(s) in detail.
- Set up a referral/scholarship offer if appropriate.
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