SoCal Collaborative
Uplifting Southern California's nonprofit ecosystem through capacity building
GET STARTEDAbout 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.
Friends of Blackwater received an application from Julia for a Board Prospecting project.
Surfers Against Sewage received an application from Ruiying for a Print Materials Design project.
East West Players received an application from Steven for an Impact Report Graphic Design project.
EYC Academy (Empowering Youth and Communities inc) received an application from Yiyang for a Website Major Update project.
Rabbit Valley Farmers Market received an application from Yiyang for a Website Minor Update project.
The Legacy of HOPE Foundation received an application from Julia for an Online Research project.
The Third Place Inc. received an application from Chinwendu for a Website consultation call.
Great Basin Resource Watch received an application from Steven for a Logo Design & Visual Brand Identity project.
Midland Community Orchestra received an application from Anastasiia for a Website consultation call.
Playground of Empathy received an application from Anastasiia for a Website User Experience project.
InAdvance received an application from Yiyang for a Website Minor Update project.
Jaeson (JT) matched with Kristin from Noah's Animal House Foundation for a Marketing Strategy Consultation project!
Lavontte from Court Watch Montgomery listed a Presentation Template Creation project.
Lavontte from Court Watch Montgomery listed a Merchandising project.
Diane matched with Joe from Solar Village Project for a Website Major Update project!
Lavontte from Court Watch Montgomery listed a Display Materials Design project.
Sharon from The Social Blueprint Inc listed a Press Kit project.
Deb from Social Venture Partners San Antonio listed a Marketing Strategy consultation call.
Linda matched with Michael from NJ Together Inc. for an Employee Handbook project!
Majeda matched with Meredith from FIRE - Flagstaff International Relief Effort for an Infographic project!
Aaron from East West Players listed an Impact Report Graphic Design project.
Zoe matched with Christopher from Institute for Local Self-Reliance for an Audio Editing project!
Zoe from Alter Theater listed a Website Major Update project.
Brenda matched with Emily from FoodRecovery.org for a Flexible Human Resources Support project!
Jeffrey from Natural Circles of Support, Inc. listed a Brochure Graphic Design project.
Mary from St Paul Conservatory of Music listed a Storytelling project.
Haotian matched with Ogo from EAGLE COLLEGIATE ACADEMY FOUNDATION for a Flexible Web Development Support project!
RACHEL from Midland Community Orchestra listed a Website consultation call.
Peter & Kelley from Forgotten Not Gone DBA Trike Life listed a Brochure Writing project.
Raquel from Atabey Outdoors listed an Event Budget Creation project.
Craig matched with Sara from Twin Villages Foodbank Farm for a Communications consultation call!
Daniel matched with Kristine from California Climate and Agriculture Network for an Email Marketing System Set Up project!
Teresa from The Legacy of HOPE Foundation listed an Online Research project.
Christopher from Pottstown Area Health & Wellness Foundation listed an Infographic project.
Chatterjee matched with Josh from Community Rising Africa Network (CRANE) for a Proposal Review project!
Melanie from Mass Audubon listed a Translation project.
Carrie from employU listed a Flexible Data Support project.
Paul from Team GUTS, Inc. listed an Online Research project.
Joe matched with Kendra from Generate Health StL for a Finance Process Assessment project!
David from UpRoot Colorado listed a Human Resources consultation call.
Jessica from Special Olympics Arizona listed a Translation project.
Tibby from Breast Cancer Action listed a Video Editing project.
Carissa from Multicultural Refugee Coalition listed a Social Media Content Calendar project.
Grizelda matched with Kristin from Noah's Animal House Foundation for an Event Management consultation call!
Laura matched with Abigail from Fort Worth Museum of Science and History for a Translation project!
Barbara from The Child and Family Network Centers listed a Tech Systems Review project.
Emily matched with Eileen from Operation Blankets of Love (OBOL) for an Email Marketing Copywriting project!
Steve from Interfaith Sustainable Food Collaborative listed a Website consultation call.
SHahab matched with Ashley from Central Virginia Community Justice for a Translation project!
Megan from Peninsula Open Space Trust listed an Illustration 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]