SoCal Collaborative
Uplifting Southern California's nonprofit ecosystem through capacity building
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About 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.
Association for the Advancement of Filipino American Arts and Culture received an application from Elvie Mae for a GIF Animation project.
Young Men of Distinction received an application from Dan for a Data Collection Plan project.
Rich matched with Scott from Teen Health, Inc. for a Customer Database (CRM) Set Up project!
Chatterjee matched with Vince from Black Boarders CT for an Organizational One-Pager project!
Bruce from Book Exchange listed an Online Research project.
Victoria matched with Cheryl from Groundwork San Diego-Chollas Creek for a Translation project!
Anne from The Family Dinner Project listed a Translation project.
Ke from Center of Public Safety for Women (CPSW) listed an Online Research project.
Derek matched with Lisa from Black Women Stitch for an Elevator Pitch Coaching project!
Candiss matched with Stephanie from Neurodiverse Endeavors for a Logo Design project!
Tim from Center for Sustainable Development listed a Google Ads Campaign Support project.
Dawn M. matched with Latricia from PHAR for a Finance consultation call!
Yue from Light in the Well listed a Video Editing project.
Gray from 4th Second listed a Website Audit project.
Jay matched with DULCE from Sourcewise for a Data Collection Plan project!
Eason matched with Debbie from Hilltown Community Health Center for a Fundraising Plan Assessment project!
Jacoby from Young Men of Distinction listed a Data Collection Plan project.
Erin matched with Scott from Teen Health, Inc. for a Salesforce Database Customization project!
Erik matched with Shinee from STORM Center of Hope & Service, Inc for a Website Content Plan project!
Gabriella matched with Molly from Coombs Outdoors for a Salesforce Report Creation project!
Jacoby from Young Men of Distinction listed an Organization Goal Setting project.
Jacoby from Young Men of Distinction listed an Operating Budget project.
Jacoby from Young Men of Distinction listed a Board Responsibilities & Structure project.
Leigh Ann from NH Environmental Educators listed a Short Video Creation Training project.
Henry C. matched with J. Elliott from The Sum for a Website Technical Updates project!
Simon from Open Goal listed a Flexible Graphic Design Support project.
Amin from Mazar - Center for Advancement of Education in the Arab Sector (a.r.) listed a Flexible Web Development Support project.
Andrew from United Way Of Marquette County listed an Event Concept & Plan project.
Nazareth matched with Hamilton from Families Forward for a Translation project!
Thomas from Yorkshire MESMAC listed an Artificial Intelligence (AI) Training project.
Eric matched with Marian from Traditional Congregation of Creve Coeur for a Tech Systems consultation call!
Anna from DC Greens listed a Press Kit project.
JOVITA from Black Girls Love Math listed a Human Resources consultation call.
Linda matched with JOVITA from Black Girls Love Math for a Human Resources consultation call!
Rekha from Hands Across the Water listed a Tech Systems consultation call.
Rekha from Hands Across the Water listed a Tech Systems consultation call.
Raj matched with Rekha from Hands Across the Water for a Tech Systems consultation call!
Laura from Toivoa Coaching listed a GIF Animation project.
Thomas from Yorkshire MESMAC listed a Website consultation call.
Sara from Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District listed a Website Audit project.
Sara from Eastern Rhode Island Conservation District listed a Facilitated Strategy Session project.
Vilson matched with Heather from Valley Pre-School Inc for a Website Technical Updates project!
Kelechi matched with Debbie from Hilltown Community Health Center for an Instagram Set Up & Strategy project!
Rosalin from Africa Dyslexia Organization listed a Website Minor Update project.
Veair matched with Chad from Coosa Riverkeeper for a Storytelling project!
Bronx River Alliance received an application from Serena for a Flyer Graphic Design project.
Center of Public Safety for Women (CPSW) received an application from Joao Luiz for an Online Research project.
Cambio Labs received an application from Suruchi for a Proposal Review project.
Building Community Thru Conversation received an application from Rhonda B. for a Public Speaking Coach project.
Voices Community Outreach Inc received an application from Raquel for an Email Marketing System Set Up project.
How It Works for Nonprofits
On-demand project support
Access expert pro bono consultants to fill every skill and staffing gap
On-site volunteers
Recruit in-person volunteers for your next community event
Technical training
Get technical advice and training on new software
Coaching
One-on-one coaching and professional development
Custom work, at no expense to you
Get specific deliverables done for every need including translation, website creation, donor letters, HR handbook, and more
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]