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.
Greater Rochester Housing Partnership, Inc. received an application from Solomon for an Email Marketing Copywriting project.
Seneca Street Community Development Corporation received an application from Ane for a Hiring Strategy project.
The Urban Redemption Foundation (T.U.R.F.) received an application from Dhivyesh for a Social Media consultation call.
Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council received an application from Muhammad for a Customer Database (CRM) Audit project.
Christian from Community Missions of Niagara Frontier, Inc. listed a Visual Branding consultation call.
Gregory from Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council listed a Customer Database (CRM) Audit project.
Greater Rochester Housing Partnership, Inc. received an application from Ramon for an Email Marketing Copywriting project.
Every Bottom Covered received an application from Olivia for a Volunteer Manual project.
Seneca Street Community Development Corporation received an application from Brien for a Hiring Strategy project.
Every Bottom Covered received an application from Jyothi for a Salesforce Database Customization project.
Every Bottom Covered received an application from Blaise for a Volunteer Manual project.
Every Bottom Covered received an application from Blaise for an Employee Handbook project.
Raziya from Every Bottom Covered listed a Salesforce Database Customization project.
Raziya from Every Bottom Covered listed an Employee Handbook project.
Raziya from Every Bottom Covered listed an Operating Budget project.
Raziya from Every Bottom Covered listed a Board Responsibilities & Structure project.
Christine from Greater Rochester Housing Partnership, Inc. listed an Email Marketing Copywriting project.
Every Bottom Covered received an application from Linda for an Employee Handbook project.
Jaylene from Habitat for Humanity of Genesee County, NY listed a Fundraising Plan Assessment project.
Cheryl from Seneca Street Community Development Corporation listed a Hiring Strategy project.
The Foundry received an application from Afia for an Accounting Systems Review project.
Full Circle Family Services inc. received an application from Bhagyashree for a SWOT Analysis project.
Astra Rai matched with Louise from JustCause for a Website Audit project!
The Foundry received an application from Tammie for an Accounting Systems Review project.
Astra Rai matched with Louise from JustCause for a Search Engine Optimization Audit project!
Lewis matched with Gerard from Full Circle Family Services inc. for an Individual Donor Letter project!
Daniel matched with Gerard from Full Circle Family Services inc. for a Brochure Graphic Design project!
Fathy matched with Gerard from Full Circle Family Services inc. for a Partnership Proposal Presentation project!
The Urban Redemption Foundation (T.U.R.F.) received an application from Fátima for a Social Media consultation call.
Matt matched with Gerard from Full Circle Family Services inc. for a Website Content Plan project!
jasmine matched with Katie from NY Funders Alliance for an Excel-Based Accounting System project!
Hope of Buffalo, Inc (dba Peaceprints of WNY) received an application from Christine for a Brochure Graphic Design project.
Jae matched with Sara from Parkway Center for a Website Usability Audit project!
Dean from Orleans United Way listed a Fundraising Plan Assessment project.
Sara matched with Beth from Golisano Autism Center for an Organizational One-Pager project!
Lindsey from Hope of Buffalo, Inc (dba Peaceprints of WNY) listed a Brochure Graphic Design project.
Hope of Buffalo, Inc (dba Peaceprints of WNY) received an application from Gouranga for a Brochure Graphic Design project.
Hope of Buffalo, Inc (dba Peaceprints of WNY) received an application from Chuck for a Brochure Graphic Design project.
Monica matched with Christina from MK Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence for a Website Content Plan project!
The Hub585, Inc received an application from Aleksandra for a Time Management Coaching project.
The Hub585, Inc received an application from Paola for a Time Management Coaching project.
The Hub585, Inc received an application from Chandra for a Time Management Coaching project.
The Hub585, Inc received an application from Togu for a Time Management Coaching project.
Dorothy from The Hub585, Inc listed a Time Management Coaching project.
Eric matched with Theresa from Journey's End Refugee Services for an Organizational Strategy consultation call!
Bo matched with Beth from Golisano Autism Center for an Email Marketing System Set Up project!
Megan from The Foundry listed an Accounting Systems Review project.
Penghao matched with Lara from The Hub585, Inc for a Presentation Creation project!
Amy matched with Beth from Golisano Autism Center for an Impact Report Graphic Design project!
Champions of Change received an application from Logan for a Video Editing 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
Matched Nov 22nd, 2022
How Astra Rai D. helped JustCause
Matched Nov 20th, 2022
How Lewis A. helped Full Circle Family Services inc.
Matched Nov 10th, 2022
How jasmine c. helped NY Funders Alliance
Matched Nov 1st, 2022
How Sara K. helped Golisano Autism Center
Matched Oct 31st, 2022
How Monica C. helped MK Gandhi Institute for Nonviolence
Matched Oct 28th, 2022
How Eric N. helped Journey's End Refugee Services
Matched Oct 28th, 2022
How Penghao W. helped The Hub585, Inc
Matched Oct 24th, 2022
How Gretchen W. helped Southern Tier Health Care System, Inc.
Matched Oct 24th, 2022
How Amy E. helped Champions of Change
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) is a working group whose goal is to strengthen communities in Western New York and Monroe County by increasing the capacity of the organizations that serve those areas. 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, NSG envisions a healthy nonprofit ecosystem in which organizations collaborate, learn, and innovate together, ultimately becoming even more successful in delivering on their missions.
NSG has spent the last year 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 skills-based 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 the largest, online tool that connects social good organizations with talented professionals looking to donate their skills. This resource provides organizations with expert support in areas 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, Max and Marian Farash Charitable Foundation, Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, John R. Oishei Foundation, Ralph C. Sheldon Foundation, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation, United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes, 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
