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.
Tara matched with Delia from Kauai Historical Society for an Email Marketing System Set Up project!
Myrna matched with Gayle from Young Entrepreneurs Academy, Inc. for a Fundraising consultation call!
Luís matched with Graciela from Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse for a Translation project!
juanita from REACH OUT WEST END INC listed a Flexible Graphic Design Support project.
Abby from Faith Community Nurse Network of the Greater Twin Cities listed an Individual Donor Letter project.
Ana Cecilia matched with Rebekah from Food for the Spirit for a Human Resources consultation call!
Kym matched with John from Olivet Medical Ministry, Inc., DBA Lackey Clinic for a Website consultation call!
Carolyn from Paterson Performing Arts Development Council listed a Press Release project.
Austin matched with Tristan from Lake Stewards of Maine - Volunteer Lake Monitoring Program for a Website consultation call!
Jodi from Parkinson Association of the Rockies listed a Logo Design & Visual Brand Identity project.
KC matched with Alex from Border Community Alliance for a Google Ads Set Up project!
Stephanie matched with Fran from Mitzvah Circle Foundation for a Flexible Graphic Design Support project!
Crystal from The Fishing School listed an Accounting Systems Review project.
Wendy from Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program listed a Print Materials Design project.
Bryan matched with James from Centre for Youth and Development for a Mission, Vision & Values project!
Rachel from Solar Austin listed a Communication Materials Audit project.
Takesha from Nonprofit Prince George's County listed a Website consultation call.
Jason matched with Darline from Healing Hands Community Doula Project for a Logo Design project!
James matched with Tamara from Centre for Alternatives for Victimised Women and Children (CAVWOC) for a Fundraising consultation call!
Myles matched with Carmen from Beyond the Sanctuary for a Fundraising consultation call!
Waverly matched with Tara from Compeer West for a Flexible Graphic Design Support project!
Jarrod from Da Vinci Art Alliance listed an Accounting Systems Set Up project.
Erin matched with Cynthia from READ Association of Saginaw County for a Website Audit project!
Darline from Healing Hands Community Doula Project listed a Livestream Set Up & Training project.
Alvan from NAESM, Inc. listed a Website Copywriting project.
Abby matched with John from CAIR-MA, Inc for a Succession Planning Sessions project!
Chatterjee matched with Donna from Southern Tier Health Care System, Inc. for an Organizational One-Pager project!
Alvan from NAESM, Inc. listed a Tech Systems Review project.
Caroline matched with Joseph from The Artist Outreach for a Board Recruitment Plan project!
Jennifer matched with Katie from Truth be Told for a Human Resources consultation call!
Mallory matched with Judy from Gloucester Mathews Care Clinic for an Excel Dashboard Creation project!
Jennifer from Rockbridge Area Community Services listed a Vendor Selection project.
Jennifer matched with Alaine from North Marin Community Services for a Human Resources consultation call!
saurabh matched with Kelly from Parkway Center for a Tech Systems consultation call!
Mercedes matched with Kenneth from Pink Sunday Inc for a Social Media Set Up project!
Laura matched with kathy from NEW JERSEY PARENTS CAUCUS, INC. for a Website Major Update project!
Alyssa matched with Joseph from The Children's Agenda for an Online Research project!
Myles matched with Shelby from PushPush Arts (formerly PushPush Theatre) for a Fundraising consultation call!
Claire from American Public Square listed a Print Materials Design project.
Claire from American Public Square listed a Branded Digital Assets project.
Natalia matched with Adrionna from Class Act Detroit for a Logo Design project!
Jody matched with Annie from James Prendergast Library for an Event Concept & Plan project!
Heather from Linc Housing Corporation listed a Translation project.
Katie matched with Ingrid from Loudoun County Community Services Board for a Visual Branding consultation call!
Andria from Holistic Moms Network listed a Board Structures & Role Definitions project.
Alexis from FamilyWise listed a Brochure Graphic Design project.
Nickoletta matched with Caitlin from Wildlife Habitat Council for a Human Resources consultation call!
Tracey from Beacon of Hope Pregnancy Care Center listed a Logo Design project.
Kara from Red Wiggler Community Farm listed a Logo Design & Visual Brand Identity project.
Emily from Wildlife Habitat Council listed a Facilitated Strategy Session 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
