Introduction to Aperio
Established in 1996, Aperio is an international management consulting firm working exclusively with organisations private and nonprofit that have a social purpose. Over nearly three decades we have supported 300+ charities, social enterprises, trade associations and public-sector partners, from grassroots community groups to national and international organisations, helping them to strategically grow and turn their toughest challenges into clear, deliverable plans and impact.
We don’t just advise: we work shoulder to shoulder with your Board and team, and stay engaged through implementation rather than handing over a report and moving on. We remain sensitive to the particular needs of the social sector and the realities of mission-driven boards and management teams.
Every assignment is tailored to the client’s specific requirements and budget, and we frequently phase projects so they can progress at a manageable pace while spreading the cost over a longer period. Aperio has always believed in mixing the practical with the strategic pairing hands on support and mentoring with detailed, well-researched, Board-ready consultancy and that philosophy now spans four practice areas: Strategic and Business Planning; Venture Builder, Social Enterprise and Trading; Collaboration and Partnerships; and our newest and most forward-looking line, Aperio Rethink the Future helping organisations build the ongoing capacity to sense, interpret and adapt to change (AI, funding shocks, shifting client need, workforce change) they can’t fully predict, rather than simply reacting once it arrives.
“Working with Aperio-Group Associates has been a fantastic opportunity for us at Lift. John and Ilan skilfully helped us through a process of strategic prioritizing and enabled the organisation to radically re imagine itself and its commercial potential. John’s experience in the not for profit/social enterprise sector and his capacity to understand and support the culture of Lift, whilst at the same time sensitively working with Board and staff through an intense change process, has developed our capacity to communicate our message and business proposition with clarity and confidence.”
Broad Sector Experience
Aperio consultants are Specialists in:
- Managing growth orientated entrepreneurial strategic and business planning
- Creating and running social enterprises
- Enhancing income and profitability from trading activity
- Creating/managing a corporate sponsorship strategy
- Fundraising from trusts and major donors
Aperio partners and consultants have presented at many sessions and conferences, including:
- Co-facilitating a conference on governance1 in Paris
- Co-facilitating a master class on fundraising for European Venture Philanthropy Association (EVPA) members across Europe
- Facilitating a number of master classes in the UK, North America, South East Asia, and South East Europe
Aperio has worked internationally, for example:
- Consulting, training and education activities/master classes in North America in all sectors, with third sector organisations of all sizes focusing on strategic and business planning, revenue generation through social enterprise, and supporting/facilitating collaborative activities among third sector organisations
- In partnership with Euclid and country specific partners, supporting through master classes capacity building and revenue diversification and facilitating conferences for civil society organisations, government and others in the South East Europe (Montenegro, Albania, and Kosovo).
- Working with the British Council and country specific partners, encouraging social entrepreneurs and NGOs in South East Asia (e.g. Indonesia and Thailand) running a series of social entrepreneur/social enterprise awareness raising events and conferences encouraging the corporate sector, business schools and others to get involved in supporting social enterprise development and growth; and presentation of master classes e.g. on how to grow a social enterprise, another on how to be a consultant to support social enterprises, presenting at conferences, media activities, and feasibility testing of developing social enterprise investment funds.
Aperio believes in mixing the practical with the strategic when undertaking client assignments, offering hands on support and mentoring as well as producing detailed, well researched consultancy reports, as appropriate.