Welcome to the Bay Area Capacity Building Collective
Strengthen your organization with the help of pro bono volunteers
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 120+ 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.
California Film Institute received an application from Jade for a Website User Experience project.
The Crucible received an application from Tyler for a Video Editing project.
Nicholas matched with Alexandria from Oakland Public Education Fund for an Email Layout & Template project!
East Bay Center for the Performing Arts received an application from Kate for a Flexible Human Resources Support project.
Coaching Corps received an application from Veronica for a Google Analytics Set Up & Training project.
East Bay Center for the Performing Arts received an application from Prathima for a Human Resources consultation call.
Bernadette matched with Rachel from DeLIVER Care Van, UCSF for a Flexible Coaching Support project!
Sarah matched with Sia from Oakland Literacy Coalition for a Partnership Proposal Presentation project!
Gina matched with Rachel from DeLIVER Care Van, UCSF for a Process Improvement project!
Lauren from Coaching Corps listed a Google Analytics Set Up & Training project.
Coaching Corps received an application from Brian for a Google Analytics Set Up & Training project.
Isiah matched with Yesenia from DeLIVER Care Van, UCSF for a Flexible Graphic Design Support project!
East Bay Center for the Performing Arts received an application from Jasmin for a Flexible Human Resources Support project.
East Bay Center for the Performing Arts received an application from Colleen for a Human Resources consultation call.
Elizabeth Anne matched with Erin from Coaching Corps for a Human Resources consultation call!
Pan matched with Jean from East Bay Center for the Performing Arts for a Tech Systems Review project!
Daniel from California Film Institute listed an Email Layout & Template project.
Scott matched with David from Hepatitis C Warmline, UCSF Clinician Consultation Center for a Meeting Facilitation Coaching project!
Daniel from California Film Institute listed a Website User Experience project.
Mark matched with Daniel from California Film Institute for a Leadership Coaching project!
Sia from Oakland Literacy Coalition listed a Website Copywriting project.
Elizabeth Anne matched with Beau from San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium for a Human Resources consultation call!
Shawn matched with Jean from East Bay Center for the Performing Arts for a Salesforce Report Creation project!
Martin matched with Jean from East Bay Center for the Performing Arts for an Accounting Systems Review project!
Emma matched with Sanam from Oakland Literacy Coalition for a Process Improvement project!
Kimberly matched with Sara from East Bay Center for the Performing Arts for an Organizational Strategy consultation call!
Philippe matched with Chelsea from East Bay Center for the Performing Arts for a Website consultation call!
Kim matched with Chelsea from East Bay Center for the Performing Arts for a Logo Design & Visual Brand Identity project!
The Crucible received an application from Jacklyn for a Video Editing project.
Alexandra matched with Mari from At The Crossroads for a Visual Brand Guide project!
Susan from The Crucible listed a Video Editing project.
Jennifer matched with Lara from The Mosaic Project for a Salesforce Training project!
East Bay Center for the Performing Arts received an application from Elizabeth Anne for a Human Resources consultation call.
Sara from East Bay Center for the Performing Arts listed a Human Resources consultation call.
Angela from Lotus Bloom listed a Board Operations & Systems project.
Josh matched with Read-Aloud Staff from Read-Aloud Volunteer Program for a Short Video Creation Training project!
Ashley matched with Dean from Immigrants Rising for a Remote Work consultation call!
Ghilda G. matched with Chelsea from East Bay Center for the Performing Arts for a Website Content Plan project!
Patricia matched with Kellyn from ODC for a Translation project!
Gina matched with Rachel from DeLIVER Care Van, UCSF for an Organizational Strategy consultation call!
Mohamed Tahar matched with Rachel from DeLIVER Care Van, UCSF for a Talent Recruitment consultation call!
Elizabeth Anne matched with Rachel from DeLIVER Care Van, UCSF for a Talent Recruitment consultation call!
Sandy matched with Cissie from EatSF, Vouchers 4 Veggies for a Marketing Assessment project!
Jean from East Bay Center for the Performing Arts listed a Flexible Human Resources Support project.
Kristin matched with Jethro from Oakland Literacy Coalition for a Flyer Graphic Design project!
Sharon A. matched with Dean from Immigrants Rising for a Remote Work consultation call!
Christine matched with Read-Aloud Staff from Read-Aloud Volunteer Program for a Social Media Content Calendar project!
Lauren matched with Sara from East Bay Center for the Performing Arts for an Organizational Strategy consultation call!
Austin matched with Taunu'u from Pacific Islander Taskforce for a Website consultation call!
Ashley matched with Cassie from Oakland Literacy Coalition for a New Employee Recruiting project!
How It Works
1. Explore Available Projects
Browse through over 120 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 120+ pre-scoped projects or post a consultation call to get started.
Great Connections Are Made Here
Matched Mar 6th, 2021
How Nicholas K. helped Oakland Public Education Fund
Email Layout & Template
Matched Mar 4th, 2021
How Bernadette N. helped DeLIVER Care Van, UCSF
Flexible Coaching Support
Matched Mar 4th, 2021
How Sarah C. helped Oakland Literacy Coalition
Partnership Proposal Presentation
Matched Mar 1st, 2021
How Elizabeth Anne L. helped Coaching Corps
Human Resources
Matched Mar 1st, 2021
How Pan C. helped East Bay Center for the Performing Arts
Tech Systems Review
Matched Feb 10th, 2021
How Alexandra I. helped At The Crossroads
Visual Brand Guide
Matched Feb 8th, 2021
How Jennifer R. helped The Mosaic Project
Salesforce Training
Matched Jan 29th, 2021
How Patricia D. helped ODC
Translation
Matched Jan 22nd, 2021
How Kevin L. helped Chabot Space & Science Center
Brochure Graphic Design
ABOUT THE VOLUNTEERS
Work With Talented Professionals From Around the World
Finding the right match is important. Each of the 100+ 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 nonprofits 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 120 detailed project types.
You can work on an unlimited number of projects and calls throughout your membership. Once you finish a project, just mark 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 help@catchafire.org, and one of Catchafire's Nonprofit Advisors will get in touch to troubleshoot 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 help@catchafire.org and one of Catchafire’s Nonprofit Advisors will be in touch within 24 business hours.
About This Program
The San Francisco Foundation, Marin Community Foundation, Walter & Elise Haas Fund, San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development, East Bay Community Foundation’s ASCEND:BLO Initiative and the Hellman Foundation have joined together to launch the Catchafire Bay Area Collective. This program provides capacity building resources to local nonprofit organizations working to build stronger, more equitable communities.
The participating foundations have partnered with Catchafire to support nonprofit organizations by making connections to pro bono professionals here in the Bay Area and across the world. Through these connections, the Collective maximizes the impact organizations are able to make on the communities they serve.
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 like marketing and communications, web development, operations, strategy and much, much more.
Learn more about The San Francisco Foundation, Marin Community Foundation, Walter & Elise Haas Fund, San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development, East Bay Community Foundation’s ASCEND:BLO Initiative, and the Hellman Foundation.
Have more questions? Drop us a line.
Email the Catchafire team at help@catchafire.org, or schedule a Catchafire introduction call to learn more about how your organization can build capacity with help from skilled pro bono professionals
