Empowering organizations to meet their capacity needs.
Leverage talented volunteers to drive your mission
Connect With Talented and Engaged Professionals
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.
Isa matched with Zach from Chautauqua Striders for an Online Survey project!
Gabrielle matched with Tammy from Batavia Development Corporation for an Illustration project!
Bahri matched with Maya from Lt. Col. Matt Urban Human Services Center for a Translation project!
Kexin from Homeless Alliance of WNY listed an Accounting Systems Review project.
L'Arche of Buffalo and Western New York received an application from Mira for a Website consultation call.
Homeless Alliance of WNY received an application from Fahim for an Accounting Systems Review project.
Max from Open Buffalo listed an Impact Report Graphic Design project.
Girls Education Collaborative received an application from Tanaka for a Tech Systems consultation call.
Lt. Col. Matt Urban Human Services Center received an application from Sai Vishnu Anudeep for a Flexible Web Development Support project.
Colored Girls Bike Too received an application from peter for a Social Media Content Calendar project.
Briaanna matched with Jalonda from Colored Girls Bike Too for a Flexible Graphic Design Support project!
Sensational Fun, Inc received an application from Noor for a Marketing Strategy consultation call.
L'Arche of Buffalo and Western New York received an application from Fagbemi for a Website consultation call.
L'Arche of Buffalo and Western New York received an application from Robert for a Website consultation call.
Aimiamia from International Child Advancement Inc listed a Finance consultation call.
richard matched with Aimiamia from International Child Advancement Inc for a Finance consultation call!
International Child Advancement Inc received an application from FANNUEL for a Finance consultation call.
International Child Advancement Inc received an application from Nicholas for a Finance consultation call.
Equestrian Trail System received an application from Fayemi for a Human Resources consultation call.
Girls Education Collaborative received an application from Amina for a Tech Systems consultation call.
Dunsin matched with Gregory from Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council for a Tech Systems consultation call!
Jalonda from Colored Girls Bike Too listed a Social Media Content Calendar project.
Joshua matched with Tammy from Batavia Development Corporation for a Visual Branding consultation call!
The Clean Air Coalition of Western New York received an application from Pauline for a Branded Digital Assets project.
Lt. Col. Matt Urban Human Services Center received an application from Serhii for a Flexible Web Development Support project.
Devin matched with Anna from Chautauqua Striders for a New Employee Recruiting project!
Sensational Fun, Inc received an application from Oluwadarasimi for a Marketing Strategy consultation call.
L'Arche of Buffalo and Western New York received an application from Churchill for a Website consultation call.
Lt. Col. Matt Urban Human Services Center received an application from Zohair "Z" for a Flexible Web Development Support project.
Girls Education Collaborative received an application from Jitendra for a Tech Systems consultation call.
Logan matched with Denise from Buffalo Prenatal Perinatal Network Inc. (BPPN) for an Individual Donor Letter project!
Ryan from Lt. Col. Matt Urban Human Services Center listed a Flexible Web Development Support project.
L'Arche of Buffalo and Western New York received an application from Araki for a Website consultation call.
L'Arche of Buffalo and Western New York received an application from Cassidy for a Website consultation call.
L'Arche of Buffalo and Western New York received an application from Alyssa for a Website consultation call.
Maggie from L'Arche of Buffalo and Western New York listed a Website consultation call.
Cheryl from Sensational Fun, Inc listed a Marketing Strategy consultation call.
Ramit matched with Ryan from Lt. Col. Matt Urban Human Services Center for a Website consultation call!
Tim matched with Katie from NY Funders Alliance for a Human Resources consultation call!
marcella matched with Jessica from Herkimer County Public Health for a Brochure Graphic Design project!
MJ matched with Ryan from Lt. Col. Matt Urban Human Services Center for a Logo Design & Visual Brand Identity project!
Lutfe matched with Jessica from Herkimer County Public Health for a Social Media Content Calendar project!
Tamar matched with Brittany from JustCause for a Website consultation call!
Andrea from Herkimer County Public Health listed a Translation project.
Gia from The Clean Air Coalition of Western New York listed a Branded Digital Assets project.
Anne from Girls Education Collaborative listed a Tech Systems consultation call.
Jennifer from Equestrian Trail System listed a Human Resources consultation call.
Girls Education Collaborative received an application from Andrew for a Tech Systems consultation call.
Marina matched with Elizabeth from Spiritus Christi Prison Outreach, Inc. for a Translation project!
Eylul matched with Hope from Hope Program Incorporation Organization (HPIO) for an Illustration project!
How It Works
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
Projects
What Do You Need Help With?
Select from 150+ pre-scoped projects or post a consultation call to get started.
Great Connections Are Made Here
How Isa S. helped Chautauqua Striders
How Gabrielle F. helped Batavia Development Corporation
How Bahri H. helped Lt. Col. Matt Urban Human Services Center
How richard s. helped International Child Advancement Inc
How Logan B. helped Buffalo Prenatal Perinatal Network Inc. (BPPN)
How marcella l. helped Herkimer County Public Health
How Rich S. helped Community Missions of Niagara Frontier, Inc.
How Scott M. helped Sensational Fun, Inc
How Dan N. helped Hope Program Incorporation Organization (HPIO)
ABOUT THE VOLUNTEERS
Work With Talented Professionals From Around 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
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.
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