SoCal Collaborative
Uplifting Southern California's nonprofit ecosystem through capacity building
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About the SoCal Collaborative
The SoCal Collaborative leverages Catchafire’s innovative online platform to match nonprofits with skilled professionals for unlimited, virtual pro bono engagements. There are 150+ pre-scoped projects, ranging from pivoting to remote work and website development, to fundraising and executive coaching, and many more. Nonprofits have unlimited access to Catchafire’s nonprofit advisors and support, along with live and on-demand trainings.
In its first two years, pro bono volunteers have supported hundreds of SoCal nonprofits, completing over 22,000 hours of work, on 1,200 projects, and providing the nonprofits with over $4.6 million in capacity building support. The Collaborative has proved to be a valuable “beyond the grant” resource for nonprofits of all sizes, filling a critical need for flexible, online capacity building support.
If you are interested in participating in the SoCal Collaborative, please reach out directly to Larry Eason, VP of Partnerships, at [email protected] or directly to [email protected].
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How do foundations and Catchafire work together? We partner with grantmakers to design and implement programs that empower nonprofits to connect directly with highly-skilled, mission-driven pro bono professionals to fulfill a range of operational needs.
Each foundation program consists of the following components:
1. Online Platform: Customized page for nonprofits to register and use as a home base for posting projects to support their operational and capacity building needs.
2. Education and Marketing: In-person and digital education campaigns to drive nonprofit adoption and engagement.
3. Unlimited 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.
Adrianne matched with Felicia from Freddie Ford Family Foundation for an Event Management consultation call!
Kelechi matched with Victoria from Guardian House for a Website Major Update project!
Ashley matched with Pascha from Imagine Me Ministries for a New Employee Onboarding project!
Ase Holistic House received an application from samuel for a Website consultation call.
Idaho Rivers United received an application from Steven for an Impact Report Graphic Design project.
Issaquah Food and Clothing Bank received an application from Balakumar for a Flexible Data Support project.
KR Scholars received an application from Utsha for an Illustration project.
Global Choices received an application from Steven for an Illustration project.
Westminster Public Schools Foundation received an application from Utsha for a Flyer Graphic Design project.
Adorable Babies Jump Start Corporation (dba)ABJS - Drone Girlz received an application from Leonard for a Flexible Web Development Support project.
The Opentree Foundation received an application from Utsha for an Impact Report Graphic Design project.
LaKisha matched with Damaris from San Antonio Education Partnership for an Event Concept & Plan project!
Rebecca matched with Felicia from Clean River Partners for a Translation project!
Mazi A. E. from WORDS BEATS & LIFE listed a Board Responsibilities & Structure project.
Mazi A. E. from WORDS BEATS & LIFE listed a Board Assessment project.
Ashley matched with Joseph from B.A.R.E. Truth Inc. for a Marketing Strategy consultation call!
Jim matched with Joseph from B.A.R.E. Truth Inc. for a Marketing Strategy consultation call!
Kristen from KR Scholars listed a Search Engine Optimization Audit project.
Gideon matched with Kishara from Operation Social Equality for a Communications consultation call!
Erik matched with Nellie from Lyme Disease Resource Center Inc. for a Website Usability Audit project!
Sophia matched with David from Leah's Pantry, Inc for a Google Analytics Reporting project!
Damien matched with Jennifer from Spur Impact Association for a Google Workspace Set Up project!
Pam matched with Monika from RE-PEAT for a Website consultation call!
Janine from Flawless Foundation listed a Fundraising Plan Assessment project.
Elena from Sand Creek Regional Greenway Partnership, Inc. listed an Organizational Strategy consultation call.
Courtney matched with Kaitlin from Perpetual for a Website consultation call!
Kenneth matched with Kaitlin from Perpetual for a Website consultation call!
Rick matched with Vanessa from Third Act for a Marketing Strategy consultation call!
Matt matched with Devero from North Dakota Native Vote for a Management consultation call!
Ben matched with Devero from North Dakota Native Vote for a Management consultation call!
Matt matched with Devero from North Dakota Native Vote for a Management consultation call!
Jeffrey matched with Devero from North Dakota Native Vote for a Management consultation call!
Blair matched with Devero from North Dakota Native Vote for a Management consultation call!
Jim matched with Devero from North Dakota Native Vote for a Management consultation call!
Elena from Sand Creek Regional Greenway Partnership, Inc. listed a Management Skills Coaching project.
Rakini matched with Laurel from I Can Make A Difference (ICMAD) for a Website Major Update project!
Sarah from National Association For Continence listed a Social Media Audit project.
Raissa matched with Darnell from Taylor Made Foundation for an Impact Report Graphic Design project!
Franky matched with Sarah from Park County Environmental Council (PCEC) for a Tech Systems consultation call!
Cornelius matched with Bernadette from San Antonio City Wide NSBE Junior Chapter for a Website Content Plan project!
Cornelius matched with Sarah from National Association For Continence for a Website Audit project!
Cornelius matched with Catrina from Menomonee Valley Partners, Inc. for a Translation project!
Matt matched with Angela from THRIVE Peninsula for a Website Audit project!
Jill matched with Diane from Westside Pacific Villages for a Display Materials Design project!
Tristan matched with Bernard from FELLOWS for a Marketing Strategy consultation call!
John from SIL Columbia listed a Flexible Copywriting Support project.
Tim from East Harris County Empowerment Council listed a Branded Digital Assets project.
Tim from East Harris County Empowerment Council listed a Website Audit project.
Kalyani matched with Bekah from Anacostia Watershed Society for a Website consultation call!
Tim from East Harris County Empowerment Council listed a Display Materials Design project.
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 organizations 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.
Yes! We have a great team of nonprofit advisors available to answer technological questions, guide project plans and address any concerns as they arise.
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.
On average, projects are matched within two weeks.
Our first Catchafire collaborative of foundations launched in the Bay Area in 2018 in partnership with The San Francisco Foundation.
The SoCal Collaborative is a think tank of leading foundations based in the Greater Los Angeles area. Catchafire is the convening body.
Participation in the SoCal Collaborative is currently on an invitation-only basis. To request an invitation and more information, please email us at [email protected].
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 [email protected].
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 [email protected]