SoCal Collaborative
Uplifting Southern California's nonprofit ecosystem through capacity building
Updates & Events
How can foundations address the targeted capacity building needs of nonprofits, at scale, throughout Southern California? The Annenberg Foundation and Catchafire, working with other Southern California funders and Southern California Grantmakers, is building a regional collaborative that will focus on nonprofit sustainability in an innovative new way. The collaborative aims to democratize capacity building support and make it available to every nonprofit in the region. Come learn more about their vision and how your foundation might get involved.
SoCal Collaborative Launch Partner
The Annenberg Foundation’s program page went live on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, granting their nonprofits with access to Catchafire’s online platform and offline support.
Rebecca from The DC Special Education Cooperative listed a Marketing Materials consultation call.
Jessica from Carter Burden Network listed a Board Recruitment Plan project.
Spencer matched with Seye from Teens Step Up, Inc. for a Visual Brand Guide project!
Kimberly matched with Seye from Teens Step Up, Inc. for an Email Marketing System Set Up project!
Larry matched with Gary from AmpleHarvest.org, Inc. for a Communications consultation call!
Marian matched with Rene from Community Friendship, Inc. for a Data & Analytics consultation call!
Amy matched with Candace from Habitat for Humanity of Bucks for a Brochure Writing project!
Jessica from Carter Burden Network listed a Volunteer Recruitment Sessions project.
Sanjeedha matched with Ruth from Pastoral Women's Council for an Email Template Design project!
Zazil from Massachusetts General Hospital for Children listed a Brochure Graphic Design project.
Isaac from There is Hope listed an Annual Report Design (Digital & Print) project.
Benjamin matched with David from Photo Start Foundation for a Tech Systems consultation call!
Jennifer from Sensational Fun, Inc listed an Event Slideshow Creation project.
Tyler matched with Dawn from San Jose Public Library Foundation for an Infographic project!
Inclusive Development International received an application from CLETUS for a Human Resources consultation call.
Africa Center For Strategic Progress received an application from CLETUS for an Individual Donor Letter project.
Massachusetts Community & Banking Council received an application from Rinita for a Board Recruitment Plan project.
Project ECHO received an application from Lesego Kealeboga for a Logo Design project.
New Vision Foundation received an application from Wayne O for a Website Visual Update project.
Movement for Justice in El Barrio received an application from Wayne O for a Website Construction (CMS-Based) project.
Sonoran Institute received an application from Li for an Online Research project.
Tai Tanzania received an application from Edwin for a Project Management Plan project.
Covenant House New Jersey received an application from Gabriel for a Tech Systems consultation call.
National Institute for Early Education Research received an application from Leigh Alvarado for a Data & Analytics consultation call.
Sonoran Institute received an application from Neil for an Online Research project.
/dev/color received an application from Gary for a Human Resources consultation call.
Independent Media Artists of Georgia Etc., Inc dba Atlanta Film Society received an application from Gary for a Membership Strategy project.
Massachusetts General Hospital for Children received an application from Anthony for a Brochure Graphic Design project.
Sonoran Institute received an application from Neil for a Storytelling project.
Rwanda Girls Initiative received an application from Anna for a Logo Design & Visual Brand Identity project.
River Network received an application from steven for a Logo Design & Visual Brand Identity project.
Dee from Lend A Hand Foundation listed an Impact Report Graphic Design project.
Yoske matched with Jonathan from Pacific Battleship Center for a Logo Design & Visual Brand Identity project!
Ryssa matched with Jeannin from Kamehameha Schools for a Print Materials Design project!
Jack matched with Leslie from Mediation Services of Maui, Inc for an Excel Training project!
Connie matched with Ryan from American Cancer Society West Region for a Brochure Graphic Design project!
Brooke matched with Sahar from PICO California for a Storytelling project!
Declan matched with Julie from ShareCare of Leelanau, Inc. for an Instagram Set Up & Strategy project!
Shaghayegh from Aggregate Space Gallery listed a Marketing Strategy consultation call.
Shaghayegh from Aggregate Space Gallery listed a Marketing Materials consultation call.
Craig from Ecology North listed a Leadership Coaching project.
Jerry matched with Vicente from Puente de la Costa Sur for an Excel Dashboard Creation project!
Senri matched with Sahar from PICO California for an Illustration project!
Senri matched with Patricia from All Survivors Project for a Display Materials Design project!
Emily J. matched with Meagan from The Elaine Clark Center Inc. for a Public Relations consultation call!
Jean from /dev/color listed a Human Resources consultation call.
Nabijah from Covenant House New Jersey listed a Tech Systems consultation call.
Jacqueline from Robert F. Kennedy Children's Action Corps listed a Website consultation call.
Deborah matched with Johnny from St Paul Urban Tennis Program for a Management Skills Coaching project!
Davina from Oakland Citizens Committee for Urban Renewal listed an Employee Handbook project.
About the SoCal Collaborative
The Southern California Capacity Building Collaborative (SoCal Collaborative) aims to strengthen the region's entire nonprofit ecosystem by democratizing capacity building resources.
Alongside our founding partners, we’re working to thoughtfully establish a more sustainable and just future through innovation.
If you are interested in participating in the SoCal Collaborative, please email partnerships@catchafire.org.
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How do foundations and Catchafire work together? We develop and implement programs that allow nonprofits to connect directly with highly skilled, mission driven pro bono professionals in order to fulfill a range of operational needs.
Each foundation program consists of the following components in order to make capacity building support more scalable, agile, cost-effective, quality intensive and measurable:
1. Online Platform: Customized page for nonprofits to register and post operational and capacity building needs.
2. Education and Marketing: In-person and digital education campaigns to drive nonprofit adoption and engagement.
3. Offline Support: Team of nonprofit advisors and customer success experts to provide organizations with a guided experience.
4. Impact Tracking & Reporting: Organizational and program level impact tracking to help funders better understand grantee needs.
How It Works for Nonprofits
1. Explore Available Projects
Nonprofits can browse through over 100 pre-scoped projects and consultation topics.2. Nonprofits can find a Pro Bono Professional
Nonprofits can review applications from interested professionals and choose the right match.3. Get Things Done
When they're ready, nonprofits then kick off the project and start making progress.Two ways to connect!
Consultation Calls
Projects
Frequently Asked Questions
New around here? Start with the basics.
Catchafire is an online platform for virtual, skills-based volunteering. Through Catchafire, professionals are able to directly support causes they care about by helping nonprofits with projects that match their skill sets. And because projects can be completed from anywhere, Catchafire makes it possible for nonprofits and skilled volunteers to connect for good, from all around the world!
Skills-based volunteering is a high impact form of volunteering that allows an individual to donate his or her professional skills and expertise, which in turn allows a nonprofit to build its capacity and focus more efficiently on its mission.
Skilled volunteers help nonprofits fill critical knowledge and staffing gaps, they work as thought partners on strategic projects, and they complete specific projects that require specialized skills, training, or experience. Very often, the relationships between volunteers and nonprofits extend far beyond the scope of the initial project that brought them together.
A specific example of skills-based volunteering is a marketing professional who volunteers to help a nonprofit create a marketing strategy.
The SoCal Collaborative was launched in 2019 with The Annenberg Foundation as our presenting partner. We are in active conversation with other leading foundations in the Greater L.A. area. Interested in learning more? Request an invite by emailing partnerships@catchafire.org.
Participation in the SoCal Collaborative is currently on an invitation-only basis. To request an invitation and more information, please email us at partnerships@catchafire.org.
The SoCal Collaborative is a think tank of leading foundations based in the Greater Los Angeles area. Catchafire is the convening body.
Our first Catchafire collaborative of foundations launched in the Bay Area in 2018 in partnership with The San Francisco Foundation.
On average, projects are matched within two weeks.
Once Catchafire and a foundation agree to partner, our foundation accounts team works with the foundation to create a customized communications plan. All program-affiliated nonprofits will receive both an email and an invitation to connect in-person for an informative launch event that showcases the platform and helps to answer questions.
Yes! We have a great team of nonprofit advisors available to answer technological questions, guide project plans and address any concerns as they arise.
Skilled pro-bono volunteers find Catchafire through our partnership with LinkedIn, corporate engagement programs with leading Fortune 500 companies, and through a good old-fashioned online search. They’re talented and passionate about helping others.
Foundation Feedback
ABOUT THE VOLUNTEERS
A Powerful Network of Talented Professionals
Volunteers will be encouraged to apply to a project if they match the prerequisite skills and experience and core deliverables of a project a nonprofit posts. Each post also includes a project timeline and time estimates so volunteers know exactly what they’re signing up for.
The rigorous application process, which includes work experience, portfolios, and statements of interest, limits applicants to those who are serious about working with nonprofits. It's not a one-click application, and it shouldn't be.
Nonprofits can review up to three applications at a time, and interview candidates before deciding. The decision is theirs.
About Catchafire
Catchafire is a full service, on-demand solution designed to address the wide-ranging and complex needs of nonprofits by connecting them with talented pro bono professionals. Through Catchafire’s innovative web-based platform and network of more than 10 million professionals, nonprofits have access to people with expert skills who can help them with operational needs such as developing a website, building a strategic plan, designing a brochure, professional development, and other areas of critical work. Catchafire’s scalable and cost-effective model makes it possible for grantmakers to provide a full suite of capacity building services to any nonprofit that the foundation seeks to serve. Catchafire and its foundation partners are not only helping nonprofits improve their capacity, sustainability, and effectiveness, but also leveling the playing field by making capacity building available to any nonprofit or changemaker.
Learn More
Interested in joining the SoCal Collaborative? Email the Catchafire team at partnerships@catchafire.org
