The Apparo Effect

Navigating Rapid Nonprofit Growth

Mastering Nonprofit Growth: Success Factors for Navigating Rapid Expansion

Apparo's CEO Kim Lanphear chats with Aaron Randolph, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Carolina Youth Coalition (CYC), a rapidly growing Charlotte area nonprofit whose mission is to nurture and propel high-achieving, under-resourced students to and through college. In this episode they focus on success factors for a quickly growing nonprofit like CYC that has grown to serve 10 times more students over the past few years.

They cover topics such as:

• Technology's role in sustainable nonprofit growth
• The importance of long-term focus on change management
• Remaining mission-oriented
• How Apparo supported CYC's growth

Learn more about Apparo's partnership with CYC here.

The Impact of Skilled Volunteering - A Triple Win with Apparo

Charlotte Skilled Volunteer Week– Volunteering as a "Triple Win"

In honor of Charlotte Skilled Volunteer Week, host of "The Apparo Effect" and Apparo Director of Marketing Bleema Bershad sits down with Apparo Skilled Volunteer John Pressley and Apparo's Sponsorship Manager, Vickie Wixon. John Pressley, of Duke Energy discusses his evolution from excel coaching as a Skilled Volunteer to becoming an Apparo Sponsorship Committee and Board member.

In this episode, Bleema, Vickie, and John delve into:

• The contrast between direct service to Apparo nonprofit partners and service directly to Apparo
• Benefits of volunteering with Apparo- how finding opportunities to match a volunteer's skills and availability makes a difference
• What motivates John to support Apparo as a skilled volunteer
• The "win-win-win" effect: Nonprofits, volunteers, and sponsors
• How listeners can get involved as skilled volunteers and/or as corporate sponsors

Inspired to volunteer or sponsor with Apparo? Learn more or reach out to Vickie Wixon.

Benefits of Skilled Volunteering with Apparo

In honor of Charlotte Skilled Volunteer Week, Bleema Bershad hosts Apparo Skilled Volunteer Dr. Bridget Jones to discuss her experience volunteering with Apparo and the significant impact it made on her career journey.

In this episode, Bleema and Dr. Bridget Jones chat about:

• Unexpected benefits and ease of skilled volunteering with Apparo
• Bridget's career journey from education to tech and back to education
• How Apparo holistically applies volunteers' experiences and skillsets when pairing them with nonprofits in need

Read more about her volunteer work and community impact here.

Ensuring Expansion Success – Nonprofit Lessons from Corporate America

CEO of Hylaine and Apparo Board President Adam Boitnott joins Apparo CEO and host of this episode of "The Apparo Effect", Kim Lanphear to provide nonprofits with lessons for ensuring success during times of expansion from corporate America. This podcast marks the third in Apparo's series focused on taking traditional business fundamentals and applying them to fulfill nonprofit goals. 

Kim and Adam discuss key elements of successful growth relevant to both corporate and nonprofit organizations. They cover key topics such as:

• Fostering a robust corporate culture and maintaining it while growing–  emphasizing trust, transparency, and mission-alignment 
• The critical role of hiring during expansion
• Promoting candid communication and the ability to share difficult realities across the organization

Technology Mentorship with Nonprofit Leaders

Apparo's Director of Marketing, Bleema Bershad, sits down with Apparo's Stephanie McKee and Executive Assistant of Hospitality House Charlotte, Yasaman Sarmadi, to discuss Yasaman's technology journey with Apparo. In this episode, Stephanie shares how her passion for mentorship and technology influenced Yasaman's career and technology journey.

Through Apparo's Tech Therapy program, Stephanie worked with Yasaman and Hospitality House to provide technology training, mentorship, and a valuable network of resources. The group gives special mention to Apparo's Expert Link Program, which connected Hospitality House to a service provider to address the challenges they were facing. Join us to hear more about how support they received through this engagement has already saved Yasaman and the organization time, energy, and has supported growth of the organization's mission to provide affordable lodging to families with a loved one undergoing medical care.

 

Yasaman opens up about the confidence that comes with having the technology tools and knowledge necessary to maintain a peace of mind about the wellbeing of a nonprofit. Additionally, Bleema, Yasaman, and Stephanie dig in about the importance of cybersecurity in the nonprofit world, and how Apparo can help nonprofits stay secure

Change Management for Nonprofits

Apparo's Program Manager Allison Grant joins Director of Marketing, Bleema Bershad to discuss all things change management in the nonprofit world. This episode is the second of Apparo's podcast series focused on taking traditional business fundamentals and applying them to fulfill nonprofit goals.

Tune in to hear Bleema and Allison delve into:

• Benefits experienced from investing in change management efforts
• The importance of addressing the who, what, and why of change with your team
• Change ambassadors and the important role they play
• How investing both time and money in managing change is necessary for a nonprofit
• Potential risks of ignoring strategies for change

Managing Your Nonprofit Career Journey

Apparo's CEO Kim Lanphear is joined by Dr. Patton McDowell, speaker, consultant, coach, and author of Your Path to Nonprofit Leadership. Kim and Patton discuss strategies for emerging leaders, staff mid-way through their nonprofit career, and senior executives. Hear about Kim's "jungle gym" career path, Patton's perspective on the "aspirational peer" model of mentorship, and their thoughts on the most fundamental leadership skills. 

Dual Perspectives on Nonprofit Fundraising and Advocacy

Guest host Adrienne Craighead, Apparo's Director of Financial Development, is joined by Aly Brooke, Hylaine's VP of Client Engagement. Aly shares her dual perspective on Apparo, shifting from Apparo's Director of Development to a donor, volunteer and advocate. 

Aly and Adrienne discuss:

• Aly's "people first" career journey, her history with and current passion for Apparo
• The importance of "understanding the why" and other advice for fundraisers
• Advice for aspiring philanthropists

Ways to Run your Nonprofit like a Business - Focus on Social Media Marketing

In 'The Apparo Effect' we talk about all things related to increasing the capacity of nonprofits. In this episode, host Bleema Bershad, Apparo's Director of Marketing is joined by Lauren Greene, Apparo's Events and Marketing Coordinator to talk about social media marketing. This conversation kicks off a series of podcasts focused on taking traditional business fundamentals and applying them to fulfill nonprofit goals. Listen and learn as Bleema and Lauren discuss: 

• Segmentation - Considering your difference audiences and how to communicate differently to them via social media 
• Analytics - Dedicating time to studying the results of your social media posts  
• Investment - Experimenting with paid social media advertising 

Board Member Spotlight - Michelle Coviello

Michelle Coviello, VP and DualBoot Partners, joins Kim Lanphear, Apparo's CEO on this episode of The Apparo Effect, where we talk about all things related to increasing nonprofit impact through technology and process improvement. 

Michelle and Kim discuss:

• Technology career journeys
• Passion for Apparo's mission of nonprofit impact through technology
• The power of Apparo's corporate sponsorships and the committee that Michelle runs as a volunteer (learn more at apparo.org/connectivit-sponsorship-opportunities/)
• The transformative power of technology for nonprofits
• The unique role of skilled volunteering

And Kim breaks the exciting news that Apparo is expanding our support of nonprofits beyond Charlotte, NC! Learn more about our services at apparo.org/nonprofits.