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.
Melissa from YMCA of Southern Arizona listed an Elevator Pitch Coaching project.
James matched with Peggie from Wyoming Wilderness Association for a Logo Design project!
Lee from Out of Hand Theater listed a Logo Design & Visual Brand Identity project.
Joann from Regenerating Our Offspring Through Stories, Inc. listed a Website Visual Design project.
Stephanie from Whistlestop listed a Public Speaking Coach project.
Spencer matched with Sarah from Northern Community Radio for a Social Media Strategy Sessions project!
Spencer matched with Alina from Kings Bay Y and JCC Brooklyn for a Social Media Strategy Sessions project!
Abigail A. matched with Jabeen from Meals on Wheels of Mercer County for a Brochure Writing project!
Kathleen matched with Derrick from The Knowledge House for a Human Resources consultation call!
Albert N. from New Jersey Minority Educational Development (NJ MED) listed a Mobile App Prototyping project.
Maureen from Surrey Services for Seniors listed an Organizational Strategy consultation call.
Angie from St. Jude's Recovery Center, Inc. listed a Thank You Letter project.
Nick matched with Suzanne from Kids Escaping Drugs for a Website consultation call!
Alethea from Louis D. Brown Peace Institute listed a Thank You Letter project.
Jorge matched with Janet from Julia's Grace Foundation for an Infographic project!
George matched with Tammera L from AeroStar Avion Institute for a Market Analysis project!
merlin from Do Good Bus listed a Customer Database (CRM) Setup project.
Jill matched with Susan from American Cancer Society South Region for a Volunteer Recruitment Sessions project!
Heather matched with Aishika from Asian American Chamber of Commerce of Greatere Philadelphia for a Logo Design & Visual Brand Identity project!
Remi from Teatro del Pueblo listed a Logo Design & Visual Brand Identity project.
Joao matched with Debra from Fantastic Friends of WNY, Inc. for a Data & Analytics consultation call!
Kike matched with Tad from VOICE Ireland for a Brochure Graphic Design project!
Christie from Sacred Valley Project listed a Thank You Letter project.
Emery from Maison Shalom listed a Print Materials Design project.
Susan matched with Magreth from Tai Tanzania for an Employee Handbook project!
Andy matched with David from Photo Start Foundation for a Website consultation call!
Gloria matched with AAGA from MATIBABU FOUNDATION for a Thank You Letter project!
Association Mines Sans Pauvrete (AMSP) received an application from Richard for a Social Media Set Up project.
Children First for Oregon received an application from Michelle for an Employee Handbook project.
Adelante Youth Alliance received an application from Mesha for a Salesforce Database Customization project.
Yoga4Change received an application from Rhonda for a Board Structures and Role Definitions project.
Connect for Success received an application from Laurie for a Hiring Strategy project.
Southern Partners Fund received an application from Vijaymohan for an Email Layout & Template (Single) project.
Friends of Pima Animal Care Center received an application from Aqib for a Google Analytics Set Up & Training project.
Friends of Pima Animal Care Center received an application from Aqib for a Google AdWords Set Up project.
Friends of Pima Animal Care Center received an application from John for a Facebook Pixel Set Up project.
Families Empowered received an application from Ruth for an Individual Donor Letter project.
Oakland University received an application from Miikka for a Website Visual Design project.
Stay Grounded Network received an application from Alex for a Visual Branding consultation call.
American Cancer Society West Region received an application from Alex for a Logo Design project.
Rising Sun Center for Opportunity received an application from MyAnh for a Communication Materials Audit project.
Centinela Youth Services Inc received an application from Victoria for an Operating Budget project.
Prince William County Community Foundation, Inc. received an application from JOSEPH for a Partnership Proposal Presentation project.
Dimplez 4 Dayz, Inv”c. received an application from Ruchi for an Operating Budget project.
DC Campaign To Prevent Teen Pregnancy received an application from Paola for a Board Recruitment Plan project.
Connect for Success received an application from Paola for a Hiring Strategy project.
Southeast Alaska Indigenous Transboundary Commission (SEITC) received an application from Richard for a Social Media Set Up project.
Ignite Technology and Innovation received an application from Bruce for a Marketing Strategy Sessions project.
Children's Advocacy Alliance received an application from Bhavana for an Accounting Systems Review project.
Centinela Youth Services Inc received an application from Ruchi for an Operating Budget 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
