Announcing Apparo’s Bank of America Cybersecurity Resilience Cohort
North Carolina nonprofits will work to ensure their ability to serve by improving their organization’s cybersecurity.
Introducing our inaugural cohort class and their cybersecurity expert volunteers:
Group 1
- Nonprofit: Andrew Gravens, A Place at the Table
- Volunteer: Steve Sharer, RipRap Security
Group 2
- Nonprofit: Leon Colclough, Charlotte Rescue Mission
- Volunteer: Kevin Harris, AAA Carolinas
Group 3
- Nonprofit: Lara Ingram, FeedNC
- Volunteer: Vinicius Da Costa, Bank of America
Group 4
- Nonprofit: Sagan Cichocki, Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region
- Volunteers: Sherri Leach (Ingersoll Rand), Dianelys Soto-Cruz (Bank of America)
Group 5
- Nonprofit: Melissa Lefko, Heart Math Tutoring
- Volunteer: Emma Van Horn, Bank of America
Group 6
- Nonprofit: Yasaman Sarmadi, Hospitality House of Charlotte
- Volunteers: Brian Hinkle (TIFIN Wealth), Sara Eldabaa (Bank of America)
Group 7
- Nonprofit: Fontella McKyer, Dress for Success Charlotte
- Volunteers: Katie Cipkala (LPL Financial), Naomi Verma (Bank of America)
Group 8
- Nonprofit: Sarah White, Project Scientist
- Volunteer: Dylan Goodman, Bank of America
Group 9
- Nonprofit: Catena Bergevin, Reconsidered Goods
- Volunteer: Tina Martinez
Nonprofit participants will learn how to recognize cybersecurity risks, take measures that can protect personal and sensitive business information, encourage a culture of cybersecurity awareness and improve overall cybersecurity practices. Cohort members will receive guided assistance to complete a cybersecurity questionnaire, a scorecard with suggested improvements, and resources to address areas of vulnerability.
This virtual cohort program runs from March 5th through the end of May 2024. It has three main components:
Cybersecurity Training
The program kicks off on March 5th with a cybersecurity training session (via 90 minute webinar) in which nonprofits will gain a deeper understanding of risk and opportunities for protecting personal and other sensitive business information. During this session, the cybersecurity assessment phase will also be introduced.
Organizational Cybersecurity Assessment
With the support of a volunteer technology mentor, each participant will work through a security assessment questionnaire. Nonprofits and their mentors will meet and complete the assessment by April 1st.
Cybersecurity Resilience Planning
Apparo will review each nonprofit’s assessment questionnaire and provide them with a cybersecurity scorecard that outlines areas of risk and opportunities for improvement. Each nonprofit will meet with Apparo and their mentor to review the scorecard and to discuss priorities and free/affordable resources to address needed improvements.
Key 2024 Dates
- February 8 -Nonprofit applications due by 5pm and upload of Form 990 and IRS notice of tax exempt 501(c)(3) status due by 8pm
- February 23 – Nonprofit cohort announced
- February 27 – 11:30am – 30 minute virtual Volunteer and Nonprofit meet & greet (optional)
- March 5 – 11AM – 30 minute virtual Cohort Kick-off meeting (mandatory) – Cybersecurity Awareness Webinar
- April 1 – Cybersecurity Assessment due
- May 6-24 – Cybersecurity Scorecard & Recommendation meetings
- May 28 Cohort Wrap Meeting