Catchafire again delivers million-dollar impact to nonprofits

Many people who work for nonprofits wear multiple hats in the office, whether it’s combining fundraising with event planning, or managing volunteers while also managing social media content. When specific expertise is needed, it can be hard to find a staff member or volunteer with just the right skills.

That’s why in 2018 the Community Foundation launched a partnership with Catchafire, an online platform that connects nonprofits with skilled volunteers who can tackle a wide array of projects. Projects range from one-hour phone calls to projects that take several weeks to complete (see a full list of options here).

The latest round of nonprofits matched with Catchafire has resulted in more than $1 million in project value and costs saved from June 2020 – March 2021. This represents 5,290 hours of volunteer work for more than 300 nonprofits. Projects completed in this round include a mobile-friendly tool to help a nonprofit’s immigrant constituents communicate needs and request services, an updated marketing brochure for an organization that assists students with supplies and technology and a professionally-designed annual report that creatively shows the impact of a shelter that houses victims of abuse and neglect while honoring the confidentiality of those who benefit from these services. 

One great feature of the platform is that nonprofits have the opportunity to choose the volunteer who is the best fit for the organization’s needs. As one nonprofit participant noted of their volunteer project lead: “Cynthia was a joy to work with! She created a beautiful and effective Annual Report and creatively worked with our confidentiality needs with photos. I highly recommend working with Cynthia on any project!” – Sherelle McKinley-Thomas, Executive Director, Rainbow House

The total impact of the Foundation’s partnership with Catchafire on our region’s nonprofits is approximately $3.5 million since 2018. Learn more here. The Foundation will open additional slots for Catchafire in July 2021 – nonprofits can indicate their interest by completing an online form here.