In 2019, CFSA granted Catchafire memberships to 100 local nonprofit organizations as part of our commitment to increasing the capacity of nonprofits in Southern Arizona. A Catchafire membership offers significant operational support by connecting nonprofit organizations with professional, virtual volunteers. From building a new website to video production, HR policy review to leadership coaching, Catchafire’s highly-skilled volunteers support nonprofits with over 160 different capacity-building projects.
In our first year, CFSA Catchafire grantees have already completed more than $1.6 million in projects through their Catchafire memberships, representing 8,052 volunteer hours and 414 individual projects.
As a part of CFSA’s long-term COVID-19 recovery strategy, we are expanding our Catchafire Program this year to offer year-long memberships to 500 nonprofits in Southern Arizona. To increase the reach of this effective program, we have partnered with other regional funders, including Arizona Community Foundation of Cochise, Arizona Community Foundation of Yuma, The David and Lura Lovell Foundation, Legacy Foundation of Southeast Arizona, Vitalyst Health Foundation, and Thomas R. Brown Foundations.
The impact of completed projects is wide-reaching, ultimately allowing every organization to better serve their communities.
In speaking about their organization’s experience using Catchafire in year one, Boys to Men Tucson Executive Director, Michael B. shared, “We are such a small organization (one staff member at the moment) that capacity-building like this reverberates through everything we do. We are in the middle of a website re-design for example, which many of our participants use. It has made a massive difference.” Head of School at Imago Dei Middle School, Cameron T., said, “We matched with a marketing project that will help bring more awareness and support to the work we do, which directly benefits the students we serve.”
The scope of volunteer work is incredibly diverse, allowing nonprofit staff and leadership to focus on the most important aspects of their mission while experts support that mission through specific projects or guidance.
Grants Manager with the Boys and Girls Club of Tucson, Kristyn D., shared, “Overall, utilizing Catchafire has allowed me to focus my time and energy on the most time-sensitive tasks now while utilizing the strengths of volunteers to help me strategize for future tasks. It’s been a huge help.” Organizations can work on multiple projects throughout the year, allowing professionals to address long-terms gaps and new needs. Kristyn continued, “I’m currently working with a volunteer, Ben, who is conducting grants research for me. I am hoping he can pare down a huge prospect list I have, allowing me to focus my time on the funders who are the best fit for us.”
Development Director of Therapeutic Ranch for Animals and Kids, Melinda S., shared their experience with the support they receive through the Catchafire grants. “We got expert help managing a Google Ad grant to make it perform better than it did before. I am impressed!” Melinda continued, “We can reach and help more people than ever before.”
Nonprofits can choose between projects or calls, depending on organizational needs. Projects may include website audits and updates, graphic design, online research, or video editing; calls may be regarding organizational strategy, marketing materials, technology systems, human resources, or even data collection and analysis. Executive Administrator, Mary R., with Friends of Pima Animal Care Center shared, “We have MANY projects planned… It’s an amazing concept, and we are very grateful for this gift from CFSA.”
Selected organizations will receive in-depth training, webinar support, and tech support throughout the process to maximize their membership. Interested organizations need to complete a simple online form by August 14th at 5 pm. Click here to apply today!