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.
Jean matched with Andrea from Herkimer County Public Health for a Social Media Content Calendar project!
Girls Education Collaborative received an application from Elaine for a Marketing Materials consultation call.
Girls Education Collaborative received an application from Jonathan for a Marketing Materials consultation call.
Empire Justice Center received an application from Tunisia for a Social Media consultation call.
Colored Girls Bike Too received an application from Araki for a Website Set Up (CMS-Based) project.
African American Cultural Center received an application from Dorthea L. for an Organizational Strategy consultation call.
Herkimer County Public Health received an application from Daniel for a Process Assessment project.
Colored Girls Bike Too received an application from Adam for a Website Set Up (CMS-Based) project.
Hannah matched with Cassandra from CAO of Orleans and Genesee for a Social Media consultation call!
Girls Education Collaborative received an application from Carla for a Marketing Materials consultation call.
Empire Justice Center received an application from Ahmad for a Social Media consultation call.
Orleans United Way received an application from Sandeep for a Tech Systems consultation call.
Herkimer County Public Health received an application from TERRANCE for a Process Assessment project.
Orleans United Way received an application from Charles for a Tech Systems consultation call.
Empire Justice Center received an application from Irewolede for a Social Media consultation call.
Girls Education Collaborative received an application from Carla for a Marketing Materials consultation call.
Nicole matched with Jalonda from Colored Girls Bike Too for a Flexible Graphic Design Support project!
Nyla from Orleans United Way listed a Tech Systems consultation call.
Herkimer County Public Health received an application from Tom for a Process Assessment project.
Colored Girls Bike Too received an application from Victoria for a Website Set Up (CMS-Based) project.
Girls Education Collaborative received an application from Grace for a Marketing Materials consultation call.
Ankit matched with Jalonda from Colored Girls Bike Too for a Flexible Data Support project!
Ruben matched with Cheri from Compeer West for a Facilitated Strategy Session project!
Guillemette from Girls Education Collaborative listed a Marketing Materials consultation call.
Ayana matched with Rebekah from Food for the Spirit for an Organizational Chart Creation project!
Michael matched with Jalonda from Colored Girls Bike Too for a Time Management Coaching project!
Empire Justice Center received an application from Frank for a Social Media consultation call.
Chautauqua Striders received an application from Tom for an Organizational Strategy consultation call.
The Foundry received an application from Victoria for a HR Policy Writing project.
Empire Justice Center received an application from Ogbo for a Social Media consultation call.
Herkimer County Public Health received an application from Syd for a Display Materials Design project.
Jalonda from Colored Girls Bike Too listed a Website Set Up (CMS-Based) project.
Chautauqua Striders received an application from Dr. Ross for an Organizational Strategy consultation call.
Empire Justice Center received an application from Tawose for a Social Media consultation call.
Chautauqua Striders received an application from Maureen for an Organizational Strategy consultation call.
Marina matched with Christine from Greater Rochester Housing Partnership, Inc. for an Illustration project!
Chautauqua Striders received an application from Roman for an Organizational Strategy consultation call.
Chautauqua Striders received an application from Heather for an Organizational Strategy consultation call.
Chautauqua Striders received an application from SUMON for an Organizational Strategy consultation call.
Ayana matched with Rebekah from Food for the Spirit for a Human Resources consultation call!
Samicka from Chautauqua Striders listed an Organizational Strategy consultation call.
Herkimer County Public Health received an application from Eric for a Process Assessment project.
Chautauqua Striders received an application from Patrick for an Organizational Strategy consultation call.
Chautauqua Striders received an application from Marie for an Organizational Strategy consultation call.
Chautauqua Striders received an application from Brian for an Organizational Strategy consultation call.
Chautauqua Striders received an application from Saurav for an Organizational Strategy consultation call.
Jalonda from Colored Girls Bike Too listed an Event Logistics Planning project.
Jalonda from Colored Girls Bike Too listed a Fundraising Plan Assessment project.
Herkimer County Public Health received an application from Erfan for a Display Materials Design project.
Heather matched with Gia from The Clean Air Coalition of Western New York for a Branded Digital Assets 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 Jean T. helped Herkimer County Public Health
How Hannah A. helped CAO of Orleans and Genesee
How Ruben U. helped Compeer West
How Ayana E. helped Food for the Spirit
How Marina E. helped Greater Rochester Housing Partnership, Inc.
How Heather J. helped The Clean Air Coalition of Western New York
How MJ R. helped Girls Education Collaborative
How Vanessa M. helped Beyond the Sanctuary
How Tim L. helped Accessible Academics USA, Inc.
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