Hylaine volunteers assessed and documented IT processes with The Ada Jenkins Center, strengthening their ability to break cycles of poverty
G.A.I.N. – Powered by Lowe’s
The Ada Jenkins Center is a home of hope and opportunity in North Carolina. They provide integrated services and programs including adult and youth education, food pantry, case management, and emergency financial support. The organization lives in Mrs. Ada Jenkins’ legacy daily, committed to education and community empowering people to break cycles of poverty.
Apparo’s G.A.I.N. (Growth, Agility, and Innovation for Nonprofits) Grant Program provides nonprofit participants with the tools, training, and other support they need to implement and sustain their technology and process improvements. G.A.I.N. delivers a one-year journey of technology and process improvement to a cohort of nonprofits to help them overcome their technology challenges and amplify their nonprofit impact. The G.A.I.N. program is generously powered by Lowe’s.
Through Apparo’s G.A.I.N. program, the organization was matched with a mentor, Brad Richmond, and volunteer team from Hylaine: Jon Quillin, Joe Bonansinga, Stephanie Smith. They worked with the nonprofit to document their current technology framework, risks, and areas for improvement.
At the beginning of the project, the volunteer team assessed the nonprofit’s pain points and determined they were in good shape. One of the pain points mentioned by Prentice Grier, the nonprofit participant, was the desire to have processes in place should anything happen with their managed service provider. The Center did not have any documented technological processes, leaving them at risk should a staff member leave the organization. This also made onboarding of new employees much more difficult.
The mentor and the volunteer team reviewed the current state IT processes, documented the state and provided recommendations, and a roadmap for the nonprofit to implement the recommendations.
“Prentice really came in there to get the work done. Because he showed up and was eager, ready and willing to learn, the whole process went smoothly and efficiently. I loved working with Ada Jenkins Center,” Brad Richmond shared.
Prentice Grier said he anticipated the following impact from the implementation of the technology plan:
- Consistent processes across the organization
- Reduced redundancy by eliminating software overlap
- Streamlining access and management
- Saving 3-4 hours per month in staff time by creating a technology guide.
- Consolidated information for improved management of risks
- Implementation of tighter security policies
- Moving to a digital database creates trustworthiness amongst stakeholders
- Will increase opportunities for technology-related grants
- Streamlined processes for new hires will help facilitate organizational growth.
Grier shared that having the technology plan will increase the sense of collaboration amongst the nonprofit’s employees. They will also have a succession plan in place should anything happen with their managed service provider, putting them in a much better position than before they had IT policies in place. “I think Apparo is great, and I loved working with the volunteer team. I was appreciative of the time they took to work with us. The G.A.I.N. program is amazing.”
The skilled volunteers and the mentor who participated in the project felt a sense of giving back to their community.
“Before this experience, I didn’t even know the Ada Jenkins Center existed. It was so great working with Prentice and the group on this project. I also loved looking at the nonprofit’s website and seeing all the programs they offer that are making such a difference in our community. It’s so impressive,” Joe Bonansinga of Hylaine shared.
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