Transforming Charlotte Communities through Tech: Microsoft Dives into Apparo’s Nonprofit Network
Apparo has recently been selected to represent the state of North Carolina for Microsoft’s TechSpark Community Engagement Fellowship. Microsoft TechSpark partnered with 41 nonprofit organizations that play a pivotal role in driving change by harnessing unique strengths and addressing the specific needs of their communities to join the Fellows program. The program is based on insights gained from TechSpark’s six years of deep community engagement work and was launched to accelerate economic opportunity across the U.S. and Mexico, focusing on digital access, computer science education, digital skills, and digital transformation. Apparo was selected for their demonstrated success in fostering inclusive economic opportunity and innovation through technology and business process advice, education, and solutions to nonprofits. Read more about Microsoft’s selection of Apparo for the TechSpark fellowship on Apparo’s blog and in the Charlotte Business Journal.
Microsoft is focused on providing a community-driven approach. As part of this initiative, spearheaded for Apparo by Chief Technology Thought Partner, Stephanie McKee, Stephanie will be working alongside Microsoft representative, JJ Townsend, who will provide thought partnership and mentorship over the course of a year. Microsoft understands that change happens locally. As part of their mission to work closely with communities to understand specific needs, challenges, and strengths, in November 2023, JJ came to Charlotte from Mississippi to visit nonprofits significantly impacted by Apparo’s work. Stephanie shares, “I was excited for my coach to visit Charlotte and meet several of our nonprofit partners that have gone through digital transformation with the help of Apparo. The Tech Therapy team visited three nonprofits to hear stories of their digital transformation journeys. These impactful stories of how technology has helped their staff and constituents were inspiring and motivating. I have been with Apparo for over ten years and hearing the stories of our impact in the community never gets old.”
Joined by her Microsoft coach and her Apparo teammates, Stephanie provided a tour of Apparo nonprofit partners to showcase the importance and outcomes of Apparo’s mission to amplify nonprofits’ capacity to serve. Nonprofits shared with JJ common themes of bridging the digital divide in our communities, the impact of COVID on the sector, and their roles in providing wrap-around support to their communities. Reflecting on his visit, JJ shares “I had the pleasure to meet with our Microsoft TechSpark Fellow, Stephanie, and her entire team. They are a force of nature that has developed long-lasting relationships, making Apparo a trusted tech advisor.” JJ, Stephanie, and her team visited OMITT Innovative Solutions, Dress for Success Charlotte, and Veteran’s Bridge Home.
In Microsoft’s TechSpark Fellows Three-Month Update, Stephanie shares, “I use the word support to describe my TechSpark coach. He is always available for questions, and he is wonderful to work with and get to know. Also leveraging all the resources and tools that Microsoft has created to share with our nonprofit clients and the connections that JJ is making for us. For example, he invited Chemere Davis, an Analytical Strategist at Microsoft Charlotte, to attend our nonprofit meeting so she could see the impact firsthand. She will connect us with her contacts for volunteering in Charlotte, Raleigh, and Atlanta.”
During the visit with OMITT Innovative Solutions, Stephanie and Rose Jones-Edwards, Executive Director of the organization, reminisce on their decade-long partnership through Apparo and all it has encompassed. Rose highlighted the pivotal role Apparo played in OMITT’s digital transformation, meeting the team where they were and guiding them from outdated file systems to streamlined online processes. Stephanie and Apparo’s Jennifer Ray, Director of Technology Engagements, demonstrated the true partnership that exists between OMITT and Apparo by delving into their shared commitment to a “people-first” service approach and the impact this has created through OMITT’s journey. JJ commended Apparo’s use of the Maturity Model as a valuable tool in identifying nonprofits’ positions and evolutions in their technology journey. Reflecting on the Microsoft visit, Rose shares, “I thoroughly enjoyed meeting JJ. He was quite pleasant and approachable. JJ seemed to not only understand the blight of small nonprofits as it relates to technology but could see firsthand the positive impact Microsoft is having in the nonprofit community. I like to say that he brought the human side of big business to the end user, and that experience was most welcomed.”
Further aligning with Microsoft’s community-first approach, Stephanie shares “Digital transformation is not just about technology, but about people. I love that Apparo emphasizes creating long-lasting relationships and trust in the nonprofit community. I am grateful for the Microsoft TechSpark program and team for giving us the opportunity to represent NC and continue helping nonprofits reach their technology goals.”
In addition to the nonprofit visits, JJ attended Apparo’s 20th-anniversary event, meeting Apparo staff, Board, and community of nonprofit and corporate partners. JJ shares, “It was truly inspiring to hear directly from the nonprofit partners about their digital maturity journeys. Apparo’s work in digitally transforming nonprofits in the region over the past 20+ years is commendable.”
