Apparo and Bank of America Completed a Cybersecurity Foundations Cohort to Help Nonprofits Identify and Address Cybersecurity Risks
Sponsored by Bank of America
Apparo partnered with Bank of America in a Cybersecurity Foundation cohort program that featured an educational workshop, a cybersecurity assessment, and a strategic roadmap to help nonprofit teams identify and address their cybersecurity risks. As part of the program, nonprofits were matched with a skilled technology mentor who provided ongoing support and guidance throughout the engagement.
This program offered nonprofit professionals a concise introduction to essential cybersecurity principles. Participants will gain foundational knowledge and practical skills to help safeguard their organizations from threats, protect sensitive data, and maintain donor trust in an increasingly digital world.
The Cybersecurity Foundations Nonprofit Participants:
- Barre Belle
- Carolina Women + In Tech
- Hope Renovations
- Lifeycle Building Center
- OMITT Innovative Solutions
- Reflections of Trinity
- Reintegration Support Network
- Triangle Area Parenting Support
- Women’s Impact Fund
Apparo and Bank of America wrap up a Cybersecurity Foundations Cohort!
Tech Mentors from Bank of America Drove Impact:
- Jodee Spring
- Sandy McCary
- Ulfat Ashraf
- Donavan Mathis
- Gerry Kingsley
- Stephen Miller
- Daisy Hoang
- Carrie Harris
- Emelda Lawrence
- Maame Yaa Osei
- Tina Martinez
- Thabs Molepo
The cohort took place from June 4 to July 9, 2026, bringing together volunteers and nonprofit participants to address critical cybersecurity needs and build practical plans to strengthen cybersecurity in their organizations going forward. The nonprofit participants reflected on how the experience supported their missions, and volunteers reflected on their experience:
“Through this program, we completely revitalized how we use our CRM database, tightened access for users across our chapters, and felt more prepared to respond when a phishing scenario came up. I learned so much in such a short amount of time, and I’m very grateful to Sandy, Kent, Bank of America, Apparo, and everyone involved,” Cassidy Sheehan of Carolina Women+ In Tech shared.
“We identified a website issue that was sharing more information than we realized and were able to fix it within a week, making our organization feel safer right away. Framing cybersecurity as mission protection, not just a tech issue, has also helped us think about how to build board buy-in and make this work a higher priority. We’re really grateful to Apparo and Bank of America,” Shannan Younger of Women’s Impact Fund shared.
“Working with Cassidy and Carolina Women+ In Tech was a true pleasure. Our sessions were thoughtful and engaging, and Cassidy was like a sponge, asking great questions and bringing real-world challenges to the conversation. It was inspiring to use my skills to support a mission-driven nonprofit and meaningful to know I could provide insight that helped them feel more prepared and confident. I really enjoyed the whole experience,” Sandy McCary, a Bank of America Volunteer Mentor said.
“I thought it was a great experience using my cybersecurity skills to help others, and I would love to do it again. Bernadette and the Reflections of Trinity team came in brand new to cybersecurity, running things based on their own knowledge, so it was rewarding to help them focus on the specific areas where they needed support. It was meaningful to know my expertise could give them a stronger starting point and help them feel more confident moving forward,” Carrie Farris, a Bank of America Volunteer Mentor, said.
