Empowering organizations to meet their capacity needs.

Leverage talented volunteers to drive your mission

SUPPORTED BY:

Connect With Talented and Engaged Professionals

Skills-based volunteering is a powerful resource for driving operational growth, which ultimately helps you achieve your mission.

This program connects you with talented professionals looking to give back, allowing you to access expertise in areas such as marketing, web development, operations, strategy, and more.

Catchafire's menu of 150+ pre-scoped projects, each with specific deliverables and project steps, makes it easy to find what you need and match with a volunteer with the right skills for the job. And if you aren't sure where to begin, start by talking to a volunteer to get advice and explore ideas.
HAPPENING NOW

Brandy from Harvest House Ministries listed a Translation project.

Andrea from Herkimer County Public Health listed a Brochure Graphic Design project.

Chautauqua Striders received an application from John for a Brochure Graphic Design project.

The Foundry received an application from deborah for a Logo Design & Visual Brand Identity project.

Fostering Greatness Inc. received an application from Oluwatobi for a Mission, Vision & Values project.

The Foundry received an application from Joel for a Logo Design & Visual Brand Identity project.

Apryle from Collaborative Center for Social Innovation listed a Social Media Audit project.

Leah Angel from Fostering Greatness Inc. listed a Mission, Vision & Values project.

Chautauqua Striders received an application from Anthony for a Brochure Graphic Design project.

Ryan matched with Donna from Southern Tier Health Care System, Inc. for a Customer Database (CRM) Set Up project!

Dane matched with Apryle from Collaborative Center for Social Innovation for a Data & Analytics consultation call!

Leigh matched with Apryle from Collaborative Center for Social Innovation for a Data & Analytics consultation call!

Chautauqua Striders received an application from Araki for a Brochure Graphic Design project.

Chautauqua Striders received an application from Nguyet Anh for a Brochure Graphic Design project.

Chautauqua Striders received an application from Audrey for a Brochure Graphic Design project.

The Foundry received an application from Carol for a Logo Design & Visual Brand Identity project.

Apryle from Collaborative Center for Social Innovation listed a Data & Analytics consultation call.

Dana matched with Apryle from Collaborative Center for Social Innovation for a Data & Analytics consultation call!

Zach from Chautauqua Striders listed a Brochure Graphic Design project.

Katherine matched with Natalie from Motion Project Foundation Inc. for a Communications consultation call!

Dr. Nader matched with Ashley from The Hub585, Inc for a Communications consultation call!

Hope from Hope Program Incorporation Organization (HPIO) listed a Visual Branding consultation call.

Jennifer matched with Annette from Salvation Army of Buffalo for a Management consultation call!

Chautauqua Striders received an application from Gayatri for a Management consultation call.

Jan matched with Apryle from Collaborative Center for Social Innovation for a Finance consultation call!

Tracie matched with Alexander from The Hub585, Inc for a Facilitated Strategy Session project!

Remso matched with Willie Hutch from Willie Hutch Jones Educational and Sports Programs for a Brand Messaging consultation call!

Christine matched with Catherine from ACR Health for a Human Resources consultation call!

Rachel matched with Andrea from Herkimer County Public Health for a Brochure Graphic Design project!

Michael matched with Justin from Mental Health Association in Chautauqua County for a Public Relations consultation call!

Chautauqua Striders received an application from Robert for a Management consultation call.

Agustina matched with Olivia from Causewave Community Partners for a Logo Design project!

Paulina matched with Elizabeth from Spiritus Christi Prison Outreach, Inc. for a Translation project!

Chautauqua Striders received an application from Scott for a Management consultation call.

Chautauqua Striders received an application from Mariana for a Management consultation call.

Jon matched with Andrea from Herkimer County Public Health for a Brochure Writing project!

Chautauqua Striders received an application from Karl for a Management consultation call.

Chautauqua Striders received an application from Kay J. for a Management consultation call.

Chautauqua Striders received an application from Tkach for a Management consultation call.

Chautauqua Striders received an application from Michelle for a Management consultation call.

Compeer West received an application from Dominic for a Program Strategy & Goals project.

Chautauqua Striders received an application from Michael for a Management consultation call.

Chautauqua Striders received an application from Pamela for a Management consultation call.

Ellen from Chautauqua Striders listed a Management consultation call.

Andy matched with Cheri from Compeer West for a Tech Systems consultation call!

Victoria matched with Andrea from Herkimer County Public Health for a Translation project!

Victoria matched with Andrea from Herkimer County Public Health for a Translation project!

Victoria matched with Andrea from Herkimer County Public Health for a Translation project!

Stephanie matched with Kelly from Journey's End Refugee Services for a Management Skills Coaching project!

Jessica matched with Willie Hutch from Willie Hutch Jones Educational and Sports Programs for a Board Responsibilities & Structure project!

How It Works

Whether you need pro bono support on a project, or want advice from an industry expert, get it all done with Catchafire.
1. Explore Available Projects
Browse through over 150 pre-scoped projects and post your own.
2. Find Your Pro Bono Professional
Review applications from interested professionals and choose who you want to work with.
3. Get The Help You Need
Kick off your project and start making progress.
Two ways to connect!
Consultation Calls
Get on the phone with an industry expert to get answers to burning questions, brainstorm organizational challenges, or get feedback.
Projects
Work with a skilled professional to complete critical projects such as graphic design, website development, copywriting, database customization, and more!

What Do You Need Help With?

Select from 150+ pre-scoped projects or post a consultation call to get started.

ABOUT THE VOLUNTEERS

Work With Talented Professionals From Around the World

Catchafire's virtual volunteering network connects you with passionate professionals across a diverse range of fields, from Fortune 500s to 1-person startups, all over the world.

Finding the right match is important. Each of the 150+ pre-scoped projects contains prerequisite skills and experience, core deliverables, and time estimates, so volunteers know exactly what is required when they apply to work with you.

The rigorous application process, which includes work experience, portfolios, and statements of interest, limits applicants to those who are serious about working with you. It's not a one-click application, and it shouldn't be.

You can review up to three applications at a time, and interview candidates before deciding. The decision is yours.

What Other Organizations are Saying

“Monica was terrific. She took a relatively convoluted process and creatively developed a way to present it clearly in a manner that met our needs. We are very happy to have had the opportunity to work with Monica!”
Andrew CEO & Founder, Sanivation
“This is an amazing opportunity for small organizations like ours to be able to tap into the knowledge and experience of others.”
Shannon Quality Improvement Coordinator, Caswell Family Medical Center

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.

We are partnering with Catchafire to provide grantees with access to virtual, skilled volunteers. We believe that by providing this valuable resource for capacity building and strategic project work, we can help our grantees amplify and accelerate the impact they have on the communities and beneficiaries they serve.

No. Your access to Catchafire is sponsored through this program, so it’s completely free for your organization.

In order to participate, you must first register your organization and then post your first project or consultation call. Get started by visiting the Project Menu to browse through over 150+ detailed project types.

You can work on an unlimited number of projects and calls throughout your membership. Once you finish a project, just make sure to mark it “complete”.

Your posted projects are visible to Catchafire’s entire skills-based volunteer community of 40,000+ talented professionals on the platform, and millions more via Catchafire's partnership with LinkedIn. Those who are interested in your organization’s cause area and who have the skills required for your project will be able to apply.

Skills-based volunteers may apply to your projects from all across the country and around the world. We encourage you to engage with virtual skills-based volunteers. If you prefer to work with somebody local, please expect it to take longer than normal to receive applications from a professional in the area.

On average, projects are matched within two weeks. If you are not seeing the response you hoped for, please reach out to [email protected], and one of Catchafire's Nonprofit Advisors will get in touch with you.

After the interview, you can log into your account dashboard and ACCEPT or PASS on the match. Once both parties accept, you are officially matched and can begin the project! If you need to exchange any materials or have follow-up conversations to determine if it is a good fit after the interview, you are encouraged to do so.

Absolutely! Schedule a call, or email your questions to [email protected] and one of Catchafire’s Nonprofit Advisors will be in touch within 24 business hours.

About this Program

The Nonprofit Support Group (NSG) was founded on the principle that a group of funders can accomplish more together than any one funder can working alone. The power of this group lies in the scope and scale of work, covering the 8 counties of Western of New York and Monroe County. Serving as a connector, partner, resource and convener of nonprofits across the sector, we are dedicated to creating a thriving nonprofit ecosystem that promotes accessibility and equity for organization and the people they serve. Comprised of the Health Foundation for Western & Central New York, the John R. Oishei Foundation, Peter & Elizabeth Tower Foundation, Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, the Western New York Foundation, ESL Charitable Foundation and 1.5 staff members, the work of the NSG is inspired and informed by the community.

NSG has spent much of the last few years listening and learning from nonprofit leaders in the region about the strengths and gaps in resources for the sector. The need for increased access to professional volunteers was raised. In an effort to meet that need, NSG, in partnership with the funders listed below, are excited to bring Catchafire to our region and beyond. Catchafire is an online tool that connects social good organizations with talented professionals looking to donate their skills. This resource provides organizations with expert support in areas like marketing and communications, web design, operations, strategy and more. Through the connection to skills-based volunteers, NSG and their partners maximize the impact organizations are able to make on the communities they serve.

Learn more here about Chautauqua Region Community Foundation, ESL Charitable Foundation, the Health Foundation for Western & Central New York, Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, John R. Oishei Foundation, Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, United Way of Southern Chautauqua County, The Western New York Foundation, and Nonprofit Support Group.


Get Started Photo: Keir Johnston and Ernel Martinez's Welcome Wall, 2017, at 751 Fillmore Avenue, Buffalo, NY

Have more questions? Drop us a line.

Email the Catchafire team at [email protected], or schedule a Catchafire introduction call to learn more about how your organization can build capacity with help from skilled pro bono professionals