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.
Chris from LakeHub Academy listed a Data & Analytics consultation call.
Meredith Masin from NAMI NJ listed a Time Management Coaching project.
Irbaaz from Sense International India listed a Presentation Creation project.
Mitchell matched with Rachelle from Executive Service Corps (ESC) for a Brochure Graphic Design project!
JerseySTEM from JerseySTEM listed an Accounting Systems Set Up project.
Sarah matched with Jin from OASIS Companies International for a Brochure Graphic Design project!
Performing Stars of Marin received an application from Kenny for an Event Budget Creation project.
American Cancer Society North Central Region received an application from Russell for an Individual Donor Letter project.
Olde Towne Medical & Dental Center received an application from Russell for an Individual Donor Letter project.
American Cancer Society South Region received an application from Gunja for an Illustration project.
Oakland Literacy Coalition received an application from Amanda for a Thank You Letter project.
Hope Family Village received an application from Amanda for an Email Marketing System Set Up project.
Exchange Family Center received an application from Amanda for an Email Layout & Template (Series) project.
Lauren's House 4 Positive Change received an application from Joy Marie for a Logo Design & Visual Brand Identity project.
Everybody Solar received an application from Khushpreet for a Storytelling project.
New Jersey Minority Educational Development (NJ MED) received an application from August for a Branded Digital Assets project.
Dream Catchers received an application from Cecilia for a Translation project.
Potrero Hill Neighborhood House received an application from Brandon Lincoln for a Google AdWords Set Up project.
Children First for Oregon received an application from Jareé for an Employee Handbook project.
Raymond from Hi-ARTS listed a Website Audit project.
Breeani from Hawai'i Rise Foundation listed an Impact Report Graphic Design project.
John from Archangel Raphael's Mission listed a Storytelling project.
Jessica from Lynn Canal Conservation listed an Infographic project.
Isabel matched with Job K from POTTER'S GATE CHARITIES INC for a Short Video Creation Training project!
Lucia from Las Fotos Project listed a Branded Digital Assets project.
Earl matched with Anne from Accessible Academics USA, Inc. for a Human Resources consultation call!
Lin matched with Jackie from Young Strong Mothers Foundation (YSMF) for a Thank You Letter project!
Austin matched with Gail from ForWords Literacy Lab for a Website consultation call!
Jennifer from Institute of Music for Children listed a Prospect Research project.
Jennifer from Institute of Music for Children listed a Marketing Channel Plan project.
David matched with Greg from Coastal Watershed Council for a Tech Systems consultation call!
Austin matched with Trevor from All Parks Alliance for Change for a Website consultation call!
Sokhna from Soutoura Foundation listed a Marketing Strategy consultation call.
Giusy matched with Veronica from HOPE through HOUSING FOUNDATION for a Data & Analytics consultation call!
Agnes matched with Whitney from American Cancer Society North Central Region for a Logo Design & Visual Brand Identity project!
Sokhna from Soutoura Foundation listed an Organizational Strategy consultation call.
Larry matched with Cathie from Children's Assistive Technology Services for a Marketing Strategy consultation call!
AMANDA from No Peeking Theatre listed a Fee-For-Service Strategy Sessions project.
Larry matched with Sarah from Truancy Intervention Project for a Marketing Strategy consultation call!
Bonnie from Bridge the Gap College Prep listed a Website consultation call.
Francheska matched with Heather from The Community's Foundation for a Brochure Graphic Design project!
Gary matched with Sat Bir Kaur from Culture of Peace Alliance (COPA) for an Organizational Strategy consultation call!
Rene from Community Friendship, Inc. listed an Impact Report Graphic Design project.
Kristy from AeroStar Avion Institute listed an Employee Handbook project.
Autumn matched with Anna from Mississippi Park Connection for a Video Editing project!
Lori from Arizona's Children Association listed a Flyer Graphic Design project.
Mary from Team IMPACT listed a Presentation Creation project.
Ashley from National Infusion Center Association listed a Time Management Coaching project.
Sia from Oakland Literacy Coalition listed a Thank You Letter project.
Deborah matched with Frank from Southern California Association of NonProfit Housing (SCANPH) for a Time Management Coaching 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
