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.
Deron matched with Janelle from Urban Boatbuilders, Inc. for a Tech Systems consultation call!
Sally matched with Rachel from Guadalupe Neighborhood Development Corporation for a Board Structures & Role Definitions project!
Gaines matched with Jackie from Young Strong Mothers Foundation (YSMF) for a Data Collection Plan project!
Leigh matched with Anna from Children's Advocacy Alliance for a Marketing Strategy Consultation project!
John from Kings Highway Beautificationassociation Inc listed a Social Media Audit project.
Rachel matched with Dup from California Wilderness Coalition for a Brochure Graphic Design project!
JIM matched with Jill from Institute for Entrepreneurial Leadership for a Press Release project!
Jody matched with Tom from FamilyMeans for a Marketing Strategy consultation call!
John from Kings Highway Beautificationassociation Inc listed a Website Major Update project.
RAJEEV matched with Simon from ETC Group for an Organizational Strategy consultation call!
Jeramy matched with Gracen from Incremental Development Alliance for a (Short) Animation Creation project!
Sujoy matched with Krista from Wayne Children's Healthcare Access Program for a Social Media Audit project!
Julie from UPSTREAM listed an Online Research project.
Jaleal from ORG Bahamas Foundation listed an Accounting Systems Set Up project.
Tracey from Lynchburg Daily Bread listed a Copywriting project.
Tracey from Lynchburg Daily Bread listed an Individual Donor Letter project.
Yeho matched with Ginny from Central Jersey Diaper Bank for a Website Visual Design project!
Ravikiran matched with Elizabeth from Statewide Education Organizing Committee for a Website consultation call!
JIM matched with Yolanda from Park Heights Renaissance Inc for a Communications consultation call!
Ryan matched with Yolanda from Park Heights Renaissance Inc for a Video Conferencing consultation call!
Jackie from Young Strong Mothers Foundation (YSMF) listed an Impact Report Graphic Design project.
Jackie from Young Strong Mothers Foundation (YSMF) listed an Operating Budget project.
Eileen matched with Kofi from I M HOPE CENTER for a Brochure Graphic Design project!
Diana from Phoenixville Area Time Bank listed an Excel Dashboard Creation project.
Warren County Community Health Coalition received an application from Rutvi for a Logo Design project.
HELP Inc. received an application from Youcef for a Translation project.
Atlanta Rescue Dog Cafe received an application from Jeffrey for a Proposal Cover Letter project.
Bay Area Tutoring Association received an application from Laszlo for a Facebook Ads Set Up project.
Free Yezidi Foundation received an application from EDMOND for a Website Construction (CMS-Based) project.
Nonprofit New York received an application from Scott for a Brochure Graphic Design project.
Five Loaves & Two Fish Unlimited- HERO Inc. received an application from Xuan (Zoe) for a Flexible Data Support project.
HELP Inc. received an application from Samuel J. for a Translation project.
Power for People received an application from Horatiu for a Google Analytics Set Up & Training project.
Laboratoria received an application from Maryi for a Fundraising consultation call.
Tutoring Plus of Cambridge received an application from Joe for an Impact Report Graphic Design project.
Boston Youth Wrestling Inc. received an application from Joe for an Impact Report Graphic Design project.
Community Services for Every1 received an application from Rob for an Organizational Strategy consultation call.
Community Giving Tree received an application from Hemapriya for a Customer Database (CRM) Set Up project.
Family Services of the Merrimack Valley received an application from Tambri for a Compensation Plan project.
WorldBeat Cultural Center received an application from Melanie C. for a Marketing Strategy consultation call.
Friends of Hyalite received an application from Marco for a Mobile App Prototyping project.
Climable received an application from Kyle for a Website Major Update project.
HIAS PA received an application from Melanie C. for a Marketing Strategy consultation call.
D-Rev received an application from John (Jack) for a Brochure Graphic Design project.
EatWell Exchange received an application from Ariel for an Event Concept & Plan project.
Socially Responsible Agricultural Project received an application from Evonne for a Remote Team Strategy project.
Northside Youth And Senior Service Center received an application from Corissa for a Flexible Social Media Support project.
Novato Baylands Stewards received an application from Kristopher for a Logo Design & Visual Brand Identity project.
River Network received an application from Emily for a Social Media consultation call.
La Luz Centro Cultural received an application from Kristopher for a Brochure Graphic Design 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.
__
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
