A skilled volunteer from Tax Management Associates supported RunningWorks in improving their data intake processes so that they could be better positioned to fulfill their reporting needs.
RunningWorks is a grassroots nonprofit organization that provides wellness initiatives, life skill development, social support, and case management to promote healthy lifestyle habits. Their goal is to improve the health and well-being of individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty.
As participants in Apparo’s G.A.I.N. program, RunningWorks went through a technology plan refresh process that put emphasis on their need to improve their reporting. Matt Sharp, RunningWorks COO knew where to turn for help: Apparo’s Tech Therapy program. He was matched to volunteer Johann Vaz of Tax Management Associates.
Matt explains, “We thought we could focus on improving reporting, but as we worked with Johann it became clear that we needed to focus on the data coming into those reports first and that meant cleaning up our forms. We weren’t using Apricot 360 as we should have been because of the way we were using forms and spreadsheets. Our processes and programs had changed over the years and we did not have the right form processes in place.”
Working with Johann, Matt identified key areas, such as client intake, that could become more efficient through better use of forms. “Now we are saving significant time for our staff, have the data we need for reporting and deliver an easier intake experience for new clients. We recently launched a new Strides for Health program and were supported by these new processes in our intake of 25 new clients. As we’re still returning to pre-covid levels of service, this is a significant increase in clients for us.”
With these new processes in place, Matt explains, “we’re well positioned to get our reporting on track. We need it for funding, for demonstrating our impact to the community and to see trends that impact our business decision making. I feel very comfortable and confident that we will have all the reporting we need in place next year.
”Working with Apparo and Johann helped us unlock things we weren’t thinking of at all. We would not be in the position that we are now without working with Apparo – it’s the skilled volunteers and staff, enlightening us on things that we don’t know and pushing us to be continually challenged and improve our processes.”
Johann shared, “I enjoyed using my expertise in business processes to help RunningWorks connect the dots between their needs, desired outcomes and tools/processes. The outcomes are very good and will help them serve the community.”
