*Photo by De’Oren Robinson
This year, Apparo CEO Kim Lanphear celebrates 15 years of amplifying nonprofit missions through technology and business improvements as the organization reaches its 20th year of service.
Many nonprofits are under-resourced lacking the time, technology, staff, funding, and other tools necessary to fulfill their missions. To address this, Apparo amplifies the missions of hundreds of nonprofits through technology and business process improvements. Apparo is a 501(c)(3) organization that creates powerful corporate-community partnerships through skilled volunteering and intentional tech networking engagements. By leveraging the support and skills of dedicated volunteers, Apparo has improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of individuals and is making tangible improvements in the way nonprofits serve with 92% of the work being sustained 1+ years after being completed. Kim and her team triple the impact of each dollar donated, by leveraging the skills of the community; an ROI of 300+%.
Kim recently took some time to reflect on the past 15 years with Apparo. When asked what she is most proud of in that time, Kim shares,
“ Pivoting Apparo’s mission from fee-based services to partnerships through skilled volunteering. This allowed us to vastly increase the breadth and depth of our impact on nonprofits, meeting them where they are on their efforts toward increasing efficiencies. The partnerships that Apparo has fostered due to this shift in business model and delivery are amazing. To be a true partner, to walk alongside all of the missions in this community and to help them do more of what they want and need to do, is incredibly rewarding.”
*Photo by De’Oren Robinson
She describes some of her most fond memories in this time including: wrapping up Apparo’s first
G.A.I.N. Cohort in partnership with Lowe’s, hearing nonprofits describe their program work as transformative and game-changing , expanding Apparo’s Mission Possible Program to Raleigh, honoring Kevin O’Rourke in Apparo’s Hall of Fame , celebrating Stephanie McKee’s tenth year with Apparo, watching Apparo staff grow through promoting Lavonne McLean to COO and Elizabeth Maddrey joining the Apparo team making Kim’s work much more doable, and finally launching a cybersecurity cohort, “ after 8 years of wishing to make it a reality . ”
When asked about pivotal decisions fundamental to Apparo’s success, Kim responds that some of the most influential factors were,
“Deciding to serve nonprofits at no cost it shifted us to a partnership role, instead of a vendor relationship, engaging volunteers to be the subject matter experts this keeps our costs lower and creates an incredibly rich network of service between our corporations and nonprofits, and ensuring that the ConnectivIT Series of events is an outstanding experience for all top notch networking, food, space, entertainment, and messages.”
Kim emphasizes the importance of her people-first approach in Apparo’s success, sharing,
“ It is ALL about the team it is the people, lifting them, serving them, leaning into their needs. The Apparo team is amazing, talented, hardworking, dedicated, and kind. This is how we stay ahead of the curve and remain nimble. We encourage our teammates to try new ideas and give them space to fail and learn so that the next iteration can be improved. I have an amazing leadership team and a Board who have been the driving force behind Apparo’s growth. Our Board enthusiastically champions our mission, opens new doors, and creates vital partnerships through their advocacy.
From the Board and staff to fellow nonprofit leaders, I am surrounded by the best and brightest-- individuals who want to make things better for others. That is a remarkable space to work and remarkable people to work alongside. It is all about the people they are the single greatest asset!”
Apparo has worked with most nonprofits in the Charlotte region, serving 900+ nonprofits across 26 states, and partnering with 300+ corporations, providing powerful talent retention, acquisition, and professional development. Kim and her team have created a reciprocal, diverse, ecosystem of community service that uplifts and serves the needs not only of our nonprofit community, but our corporate partners as well, an all-around win for our community .
Get involved with Apparo today.
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