Aprio in Action: 2023 Community Impact Report

At a glance: Corporate Social Responsibility at Aprio | Our Commitment to Creating Thriving Communities

At Aprio, we strive to make the communities in which we live and work a better place, bringing to life one of the 31 fundamentals that guide how we treat each other and the clients we proudly serve. One of these fundamentals, Make a Difference, emphasizes Aprio’s belief that it is important to be an active part of our community – responding to the needs of the communities in which we live and work. This difference is made possible not only by our committed team members, but also through the firms charitable arm, The Aprio Foundation. Founded in 2017, the Aprio Foundation empowers team members to support their communities in ways that are meaningful to them, providing funding to nonprofits that align with the firm’s social mission and fall within the Foundations areas of focus. 

Read on to learn more about how Aprio made a difference in 2023. 

The full story: 

Impact Week:

Aprio held its third annual Community IMPACT Week this past fall. The initiative, spanning November 6 to 11, involved 561 Aprio volunteers globally, contributing a total of 1,410 hours to support 43 non-profit organizations across 15 cities, including locations in the United States and the Philippines. The week marked a significant expansion of Aprio’s volunteer efforts into new regions, reflecting the company’s dedication to making a positive impact on a global scale. Aprio volunteers engaged in diverse projects addressing causes such as food scarcity, early development and education, outdoor rehabilitation and housing support, benefitting organizations like the Bobby Dodd Institute (Georgia), Community Food Bank of Central Alabama, Red Hook Initiative (New York), Families Forward Charlotte (North Carolina) and Duyan Ni Maria Children’s Home (Philippines). The impact was felt deeply, as Aprio’s dedication to corporate philanthropy and community achieved positive change through strategic and impactful CSR initiatives.

“As a non-profit organization, Chattahoochee Nature Center relies on corporate partners like Aprio to support our mission to connect people with nature,” said Natasha B. Rice, President & CEO of Chattahoochee Nature Center. “We are grateful for the Aprio volunteers who worked to restore a critical trail so our 45,000 visiting school children can explore and interpret a new section of woodlands in the Chattahoochee River ecosystem. Thank you for your shared commitment to the environment and education. Together, we can preserve and protect the environment for future generations.”

The Chattahoochee Nature Center’s (CNC) mission is to connect people with nature. Their campus features 127-acres of safe, accessible spaces to connect with nature and learn about Georgia’s ecosystem. Additionally, CNC offers educational programming relating to rehabilitated native wildlife, horticulture, photography, art and more – aligning with their goals of encouraging life-long learning and emphasizing the important role nature plays in our lives. 

Demonstrating a strong commitment to philanthropy, Aprio’s charitable arm, The Aprio Foundation, has awarded a total of $258,500 to 37 nonprofit organizations through its 2023 Community Impact Grants. The Aprio Foundation exists to fund and support employee-driven initiatives and nonprofits with a vision to provide opportunities for Aprio team members to positively impact their local community, through values that include diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and positive social change. Since its inception in 2016, the Foundation has supported local and national nonprofit organizations through financial contributions, community impact grants and in-kind donations. The community impact grants aim to propel each of the nonprofits’ annual programs, new strategic initiatives and overall mission.

Nonprofit organizations nominated by Aprio team members can apply for a Community Impact Grant. For additional information visit The Aprio Foundation.

“As the Aprio Foundation celebrates its seventh year, it is exciting to look back and celebrate all we’ve been able to achieve as a firm. Following a tremendous 2022, we built upon our momentum and grew our collective impact by over sixty percent, awarding 37 Community Impact Grants to nonprofit organizations across 2023. We are excited to further amplify our impact in the year ahead, and look forward to creating thriving communities and instigating positive change on a broader canvas in 2024 and beyond.” – Michele Blondheim, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility

Community Partnerships:

In the heart of every community, there exists a network of passionate individuals and organizations committed to making a positive impact. These community partners work tirelessly toward causes that matter – whether it is supporting vulnerable populations, championing environmental conservation, promoting education and healthcare, or providing resources to those in need. Their unwavering dedication and selflessness illuminate the path toward a better world, empowering us to look forward and work toward a shared goal of creating thriving communities.

Discover more about a few of our Community Partners and our collective impact. 

The HOPE Program (Brooklyn, New York)

The HOPE Program empowers New Yorkers facing systemic barriers to build sustainable futures and financial literacy through comprehensive training, jobs, advancement and lifelong career support. Aprio’s grant supports their classroom-based HOPEWorks Program, which prepares participants for a variety of general industry fields, focusing on essential skills, digital literacy, introductory math, financial planning, communications and conflict management, as well as resume building and interview support.

“Aprio Foundation’s Community Impact Grant connects New Yorkers from low-income backgrounds to job training and promising career opportunities. Their support is making a difference in the lives of the individual people HOPE serves, but also in the potential for economic mobility within our city at large. As a corporate partner, Aprio goes above and beyond by volunteering, fundraising and spreading the word about our work.” Melanie Barrett, Director of Development, The Hope Program

Bobby Dodd Institute(Atlanta, GA)

Bobby Dodd Institute’s (BDI) mission is to empower people with differing abilities to maximize their potential through economic self-sufficiency, independence and inclusion within their communities. BDI offers support for all ages, stages and levels of need for individuals with disabilities and their families, as well as equipping them with skills and connecting them with job opportunities. 

“The Aprio Foundation’s Impact Grant has been instrumental for Bobby Dodd Institute. This grant has not only enabled us to expand the recently launched BDI Bridge Academy, but has also empowered us to provide top-tier IT training to a significantly broader audience. This support has allowed us to truly build a vital bridge toward new career opportunities for people living with disabilities.” Bobbie Dimitrova, Manager of Marketing and Communications, Bobby Dodd Institute

Families Forward Charlotte (Charlotte, NC)

Families Forward Charlotte partners with families experiencing poverty to help them achieve lasting economic stability through educational opportunities, essential support and individual mentorship. Aprio’s grant supports the organization’s Family Success Program, which aids families and children by connecting them with the opportunities, knowledge and resources they need to succeed and thrive.

“Families Forward Charlotte is so grateful for Aprio’s partnership and grant support of our Family Success Program. Thanks to this funding, we welcomed new families and Family Liaison mentors into our Family Success Program, getting us closer to our goal of partnering with 75 families for the year. We were thrilled to deepen our partnership with Aprio through their Impact Week, which provided volunteer support to our Weekend Food Packs Program, helping food-insecure children in the local community.” Caroline Cox, Director of Operations, Families Forward Charlotte

The Aprio Foundation and Team Aprio worked diligently to create positive change in 2023, leaving an indelible mark on the lives and communities we proudly serve. From supporting local food banks, providing resources for early-development and education, to championing environmental conservation – our commitment to social responsibility has been unwavering.

As we look back on what we were able to accomplish as a firm in 2023, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our team members, community partners, and the nonprofit organizations who came together to help build positive, lasting impacts in our local communities. 

Thank you for #Making a Difference. Together we are creating thriving communities! 

Photo Gallery of Aprio Team Members