Local fintech startup Amicus.io has put its own spin on Giving Tuesday in an effort to shine a spotlight on nonprofits, starting with Charlotte-based Apparo.
Each Tuesday in December, Amicus will highlight the work of a different nonprofit in an effort to give that organization's mission a stronger voice. The initiative was started and is led by Katie Gervase, marketing specialist at Amicus. The nonprofits are chosen by company staffers in reflection of their individual values.
Giving Tuesday was created in 2012 as a day that encouraged people to do good. Since then, it's grown into a global movement that has inspired millions around the world to give back in any way they can.
"I wanted to take Giving Tuesday beyond a single day of action. Each Tuesday of December, we are highlighting the organizations and causes that we as employees feel strong connections to and have personally worked or volunteered with," Gervase said. "The digital campaign shares information about how others can join in donating or volunteering."
"Though we are united by a common mission, each of us brings generosity into our personal lives in different ways. This campaign is a way to highlight the diverse passions and interests of Amicus employees," she added.
Amicus.io was founded by Cor Hoekstra and Walt Ruloff in 2017 to help put banking at the heart of charitable philanthropy and give the average person greater opportunity to give to causes they support. The startup closed last month on an $.8.7 million Series B round. It's raised a total of $17.5 million.
Gervase said employees have chosen nonprofits across the country that focus on a number of issues, from homelessness to cancer research and environmental justice. On Tuesday, Amicus kicked off the campaign by highlighting Apparo, a Charlotte nonprofit that provides other area nonprofits pro bono access to education, tech services and other resources.
Amicus Chief Technology Officer Raja Musunuru chose Apparo because it's an organization he's worked with for many years, and its mission remains close to his heart.
"The Apparo businesses model is one-of-a-kind. Their sole mission is to help other nonprofits with technology, and the way they do that is very innovative and creative," he said. "They essentially serve as a matchmaker between the skillsets from the corporations that have tech teams and IT skills and the nonprofits that don't have those things, then bring them together to make a difference."
With philanthropy at the center of Amicus.io's mission, Gervase said it only makes sense to implement an initiative that puts that mission to work.
"This campaign is a way to keep that mission at the forefront of our minds. It was a bottom-up effort and we’ve had significant employee participation," she said. "Giving Tuesday sparks an important international dialogue that centers on generosity, and I wanted to carry the conversation beyond a single day."
