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.
Elisha matched with Juliana from Tanzania Health and Medical Education Foundation (TAHMEF) for a Branded Digital Assets project!
Nalishebo from BMGA Foundation listed a Social Media Audit project.
Michelle from Cambio Labs listed a Website Management Training (CMS-Based) project.
Priscilla matched with Colleen from Institute for Transformational Leadership (African Leadership Institute of Community Transformation) for a Communications consultation call!
impacthumanity received an application from Dave for a Business Plan Review project.
Sante Imanite received an application from HANY for a Finance consultation call.
Wild Montana received an application from Dave for a Fundraising Plan Assessment project.
The Amani Foundation received an application from MASETTE for a Flexible Graphic Design Support project.
GENERATIONAL WEALTH EDUCATORS received an application from Isiaq for a Google Ads Set Up project.
Hip Hop Caucus received an application from Yunxin for a Data Visualization project.
Safe Harbor of Chester County received an application from Isiaq for a Google Ads Set Up project.
OceanHub Africa received an application from Yunxin for a Customer Database (CRM) Set Up project.
iD.A.Y.dream received an application from Leonilyn for a Copywriting project.
impacthumanity received an application from Cole for a Financial Planning project.
Lights Back On Inc. received an application from imane for an Infographic project.
East Harris County Empowerment Council received an application from Andria for a Website Audit project.
Open Doors Outdoors, Inc. received an application from Togu for an Event Management consultation call.
Adorable Babies Jump Start Corporation received an application from Isiaq for a Google Ads Set Up project.
Strong Schools Maryland received an application from MASETTE for a Flexible Graphic Design Support project.
Animal Welfare Society Inc. received an application from Isiaq for a Google Ads Campaign Support project.
Agriculture for Community Restoration for Economic Justice & Sustainability received an application from SOPHIE for a Storytelling project.
Montana Health Professionals for a Healthy Climate received an application from shivam for a Brand Messaging consultation call.
SAGE received an application from Yen for a Pricing Strategy project.
Lights Back On Inc. received an application from MASETTE for a Branded Digital Assets project.
Angels' Arms received an application from Nicole for a Logo Design project.
Ocean Blue Project, Inc received an application from Akinmola for a Website Copywriting project.
CANGRESS dba LA CAN received an application from Yunxin for a Data & Analytics consultation call.
Vitendo4Africa received an application from Akinmola for a Website consultation call.
Kalmar Nyckel Foundation received an application from mr for a Flyer Graphic Design project.
Solar Village Project received an application from imane for an Infographic project.
Armed Services Arts Partnership received an application from Isiaq for a Google Analytics Reporting project.
Lights Back On Inc. received an application from imane for a Branded Digital Assets project.
Akaka Foundation for Tropical Forests received an application from Vicki for a Brochure Graphic Design project.
The Third Place Inc. received an application from Li for a Website Audit project.
Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless received an application from Isiaq for a Google Ads Campaign Support project.
All Our Kids, Inc. received an application from Isiaq for a Google Ads Set Up project.
George from Lights Back On Inc. listed a Partnership Proposal Presentation project.
Kallista from Our Community Reads listed a Data & Analytics consultation call.
George from Lights Back On Inc. listed a Branded Digital Assets project.
Mark matched with Madeline from STL Village for a Video Editing project!
Jen matched with Lindsay from Community HousingWorks for a Website Content Audit project!
Angela from Change Your Story listed a Website consultation call.
Amanda from Pink Space Theory listed a Flexible Data Support project.
Brie from Center For Council listed a Communications consultation call.
Joanie matched with Annette from Wolf Connection for a Talent Recruitment consultation call!
Renee matched with Brandon from Bunny's Flowers for a Website Major Update project!
Araki matched with KAREEN from TRANSFORMING YOUTHS INTO ADULTS for a Logo Design project!
Jayanna from Choose 180 listed a Press Release project.
Ryan from Akaka Foundation for Tropical Forests listed a Brochure Graphic Design project.
Dawn from Overbrook West Neighbors, Inc. listed a Board Assessment 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]