Apparo names 2026 Mission Possible award winners

Apparo has selected two North Carolina nonprofits to receive 2026 Mission Possible awards, pairing $10,000 grants with up to $50,000 in pro bono consulting to support technology projects aimed at economic mobility. The winners, Champion House of Care and Gabi's Workforce, will use the support to streamline operations, strengthen services and expand opportunity in Charlotte and the Triangle.

Why it matters: - Apparo is channeling grant money and pro bono consulting into nonprofit technology projects designed to improve economic mobility in North Carolina. - The awards give two organizations funding and implementation support to upgrade systems that affect service delivery, staffing and community reach. - The program ties technology adoption to longer-term nonprofit capacity, not just short-term efficiency.

What happened: - Apparo announced the 2026 recipients of its Mission Possible Award Program on August 24, 2026. - One nonprofit from Charlotte and one from the Triangle region were selected from this year’s Mission Possible cohort. - Each winner will receive a $10,000 grant and up to $50,000 in additional pro bono consulting support. - The program is run in collaboration with Accenture.

The details: - Mission Possible is a nonprofit technology and process improvement grant program focused on helping nonprofits use technology to advance economic mobility across North Carolina. - Apparo created the initiative in response to economic mobility challenges identified in research by economist Raj Chetty. - Since expanding to the Triangle region in 2023, Mission Possible has worked with nonprofits in both regions on solutions that improve organizational effectiveness and efficiency. - Participating nonprofits work with Accenture volunteers through an ideation and proposal development process. - All participating organizations receive strategic support and a completed technology proposal they can use to pursue future funding. - Champion House of Care won the Charlotte award for a plan to implement its first centralized pantry operations and household engagement system. - The Champion House of Care system will replace paper forms, disconnected spreadsheets and manual reporting. - The platform will unify household intake, service tracking, inventory management and reporting in one system. - The organization expects the new setup to improve visibility into pantry usage and distribution trends, strengthen grant reporting, build community partnerships and connect families with additional support services. - Gabi's Workforce won the Triangle Area award for its Gabi's Connect initiative. - Gabi's Connect will expand Zoho One into an integrated Relationship and Workforce Growth System. - The platform will connect employer engagement, workforce coordination, donor and volunteer management, communications, scheduling, surveys and reporting. - Gabi's Workforce will use the system to scale its mission of creating meaningful employment opportunities for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. - The project is also intended to reduce administrative burdens on staff.

Between the lines: - The award structure suggests Apparo is prioritizing solutions that can be implemented, documented and reused beyond the grant period. - Both winners are using technology to turn fragmented manual processes into centralized systems, which can make it easier to measure impact and secure future funding. - The program’s emphasis on volunteer consulting shows Apparo is pairing money with operational expertise, not just cash. - The focus on economic mobility reflects a broader shift toward nonprofit tech investments that are linked to outcomes for households, workers and community stability. - Lavonne McLean said strong missions need strong systems behind them, and that this year’s winners identified thoughtful ways to deepen their impact. - Wes Slocum said technology can be a powerful force for social impact and that the partnership can help communities thrive.

What's next: - Champion House of Care and Gabi's Workforce will move into implementation with grant funding and consulting support. - Participating nonprofits will continue to use the completed technology proposals to pursue future funding opportunities. - Apparo says Mission Possible will keep supporting nonprofit capacity, resiliency and sustainability through technology and skilled volunteer partnerships.

The bottom line: - Apparo’s 2026 awards are designed to help two North Carolina nonprofits turn technology upgrades into stronger operations and more economic opportunity for the communities they serve. - More information is available on Apparo’s website.