YWCA fundraising team automates processes to save time and bolster ability to increase revenue, helping fulfill their mission to eliminate racism, empower women and promote peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all

We met with Megan Blackburn, Philanthropy Manager at YWCA Central Carolinas to learn about her recent Apparo Tech Therapy experience, including work with skilled volunteer Heather DeAcosta.

She explains, “We work with Raiser’s Edge and had many manual processes related to stewarding individual donors. I heard about Microsoft Power Automate and tried to teach it to myself, but I was devoting too much time and not making progress. Before coming to Apparo, I had spent hours and hours trying to learn it and had nothing to show for it.

“I was excited about working with Apparo’s Tech Therapy program because I wanted hands-on learning. I didn’t want someone to create a few flows for us, I wanted to be matched to a volunteer who could teach me how to do it myself and that’s what Heather did. She was a great volunteer and so knowledgeable. Every hour with her was so valuable.

“Jerri [Grant, Apparo Tech Therapist] was so helpful keeping us on track, following up and managing our work. When you’re learning something new, it can be easy to put off the work you need to do, but Tech Therapy kept me accountable.”

Megan explains that she anticipates saving approximately 200 hours annually with the flows that they have already put in place and is optimistic that, given the knowledge she gained, she will be able to save even more time by eliminating even more manual processes. She is currently:

• Saving nearly an hour a day in acknowledgment letters
• Saving another 30 minutes in weekly reporting

“Now I feel confident. It doesn’t feel overwhelming anymore. Apparo’s Tech Therapy has done so much to help me achieve my goals.”