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.
Kenda from Birth In Color RVA listed a Search Engine Keyword Research project.
Adam from TOM (Tikkun Olam Makers) listed a Social Media consultation call.
Grounded Strategies received an application from Mark for a Leadership Coaching project.
Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance received an application from Irina for a Print Materials Design project.
Ifetayo Cultural Arts Academy received an application from Ashutosh for a Data Collection Plan project.
Asian Pacific Community Fund received an application from Irina for a Print Materials Design project.
Rockbridge Area Community Services received an application from Irina for a Print Materials Design project.
Rutgers University, Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology received an application from Irina for a Brochure Graphic Design project.
Neighborhood North: Museum of Play received an application from Irina for an Infographic project.
Ben's Bells received an application from Mercy for a Social Media Audit project.
Rising Sun Center for Opportunity received an application from Irina for an Infographic project.
McClendon Center received an application from Irina for a Brochure Graphic Design project.
CommunityShare (fiscally sponsored initiative of CITY Center for Collaborative Learning) received an application from Mercy for a Branded Digital Assets project.
Naima from Ifetayo Cultural Arts Academy listed a Data Collection Plan project.
Paula matched with Amanda from Lionheart Foundation, Inc. for a Learning Management System Set-Up project!
Jonathan from Alliance of Local Service Organizations listed a Marketing Strategy Consultation project.
Shane matched with Emma from Hawaii Conservation Alliance Foundation for a Video Conferencing consultation call!
Lukman matched with Omar from Rural Economic Assistance League (REAL) for a Brochure Graphic Design project!
Josh (Donald) matched with Michelle from Trenton Health Team for a Flyer Graphic Design project!
Anne from Community Music Center listed a Marketing Strategy Consultation project.
Edward from Tuskegee Airmen Scholarship Foundation listed a Board Assessment project.
Jamie from Pony Box Dance Theatre listed an Accounting Systems Review project.
Cody from Transition Habitat Conservancy listed a Tech Systems consultation call.
Tiffany matched with Antoinette from Gentle Force Wellness Treatment Facility for a Social Media Set Up project!
Cody from Transition Habitat Conservancy listed a Visual Branding consultation call.
Sophie matched with Sher from All Students Matter - CA for a Storytelling project!
Meghana matched with Lisa from The Homesteadista for a Social Media Strategy Sessions project!
Adam from TOM (Tikkun Olam Makers) listed an Online Research project.
Colin from Friends of Blackwater listed a Google AdWords Set Up project.
Jeanette from All Students Matter - CA listed a Human Resources consultation call.
Timothy matched with Taryn from Any Baby Can for a Video Editing project!
Xavier matched with Nancy from Friends of Pima Animal Care Center for a Google AdWords Set Up project!
Omar from Rural Economic Assistance League (REAL) listed a Display Materials Design project.
Ida matched with Yesenia from DeLiver Care Van, UCSF for a Presentation Creation project!
Kerilyn from Asian Pacific Community Fund listed a Print Materials Design project.
mark from The Theater Project listed a Brochure Graphic Design project.
Cassie from AAC Institute Clinic listed an Organizational Strategy consultation call.
Alick matched with Nicole from International Children's Media Center for a Data Collection Plan project!
Patrice from FONDAPS listed a Finance consultation call.
Shequaya from Grounded Strategies listed a Leadership Coaching project.
Jim matched with Shirley from Society Of Extraordinary Women, Inc. for a Data & Analytics consultation call!
Raman matched with Amanda from Lionheart Foundation, Inc. for a Website Major Update project!
Rehanna matched with Carol from Advocates for Children and Youth for an Audio Editing project!
Kenda from Birth In Color RVA listed a Video Conferencing consultation call.
Devan from WomenRising listed a Brand Messaging consultation call.
Mary from Operation Freedom Paws listed a Short Video Creation Training project.
Mary-Jane from Hartford Interval House, Inc. listed a Human Resources consultation call.
Lori matched with Victoire from African American Board Leadership Institute (AABLI) for a Communications consultation call!
Jacqueline from Dentists Who Care, Inc listed a Social Media Set Up project.
Faysal matched with Adam from TOM (Tikkun Olam Makers) for an Online Research 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
