MassMutual Foundation's Catchafire Program

Volunteer your skills to strengthen nonprofits

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Give Your Skills For Good

Your skills are valuable. Unfortunately, many nonprofit organizations can't pay for professional services such as copywriting, graphic design, project management, or website, budget and database development. This type of work is essential to building operational effectiveness, but it is often left on the to-do list while the nonprofit focuses on its critical mission work.

That's where you come in. By volunteering for a project, or even just getting on a phone call to provide advice, you are giving so much more than your time. You are supporting organizational growth, which enables nonprofits to have an even greater social good impact.
HAPPENING NOW

Tylesha matched with Cynthia from Assuaged Foundation, Inc. for an Instagram Set Up & Strategy project!

The National Association for Double Dutch Orgs received an application from Tylesha for a Partnership Proposal Presentation project.

HOLY STITCH FACTORY FELLOWSHIP received an application from Tylesha for a Social Media Set Up project.

Northside Inter-Community Agency received an application from Tylesha for a Flyer Graphic Design project.

Cassandra matched with Latanya from Forever Captain Poodaman The Ahmad Butler Foundation (ABF) for a Storytelling project!

Jaime matched with Porsche from Frayser Community Development Corporation for an Organizational Strategy Rapid Fire Challenge project!

DAndra matched with Roberta from Make-It Springfield Inc for an Event Planning Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Justine matched with Ruth from The August Project for a Fundraising Strategy Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Ajayindra matched with Edward from Caroline House, Inc. for a Fundraising Strategy Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Joanne matched with Laurel from The Arc of Midland for a Board Responsibilities & Structure project!

Jenny matched with Asha from The Dinner Table Documentary Inc for an Event Logistics Planning project!

Marcella matched with Donna from Smith Center for Healing and the Arts for a Time Management Coaching project!

Jaime matched with Colleen from Girl Scouts of Connecticut for a Management consultation call!

Marcella matched with Aneida from Revitalize Community Development Corporation for a Tech Systems consultation call!

Meredith matched with PUSH from Push Dance Company for a Communications consultation call!

Nichole matched with Crystal "Crys" from From Keisha's Heart To Your for a Flexible Copywriting Support project!

Kim matched with Alvin from RTTM Community Center for an Organizational Strategy Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Aurora matched with Jennifer from Community United Way of Pioneer Valley Inc for a Fundraising Strategy Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Sarah matched with John from Disaster Central for a Proposal Review project!

Tiffany matched with Ariel from Western New England University for a Talent Management Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Marc matched with Lakimja from LEAP for a Business Development Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Sarah matched with Jowharah from National Voices for Equality Education and Enlightenment for a Business Development Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Nakeitha matched with Karen from Springfield Cultural Partnership Incorporated for a Marketing & Communications Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Jaime matched with Victor from United Way of New York City for a Leadership Coaching project!

James matched with Iregi from Psychiatric Disability Organization (PDO Kenya) for an Organizational One-Pager project!

Melissa matched with Tangela from Rise Foundation, Inc. for a Social Media Audit project!

Jaime matched with Dr. Nicole from Diamond in the Rough for a Management consultation call!

Praveen matched with Melena from FamilyMeans for a Data & Analytics consultation call!

Joanne matched with William from Hearts of Empowerment for an Organizational Strategy consultation call!

Gerardo matched with Carolyn from The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts for a Human Resources consultation call!

Jenny matched with Duane from Junior Achievement of Northern California for an Online Research project!

Michele matched with Mazi A. E. from WORDS BEATS & LIFE for a Thank You Letter project!

Jaime matched with Andrew from Aish Australia for a Management consultation call!

Meredith matched with Emily from Postpartum Support Va for a Storytelling project!

Jenny matched with Karen from Springfield Cultural Partnership Incorporated for an Organizational One-Pager project!

Melissa matched with Taya from Humanity360 for an Event Management consultation call!

Edward matched with Calvin from Community Home Trust for a Flexible Copywriting Support project!

Nichole matched with Sadija from Stillborn And Infant Loss Support-SAILS for a Flexible Copywriting Support project!

Julia matched with Quinn from Re-use Hawaii for a Compensation Plan project!

Jessica matched with Faustina from Songambele Initiative Organisation for a Copyediting project!

D'Naysia matched with Chuck from HopeFor Learning for an Instagram Set Up & Strategy project!

Sarah matched with Erica from 4-H Education Center at Auerfarm for a Proposal Review project!

Nichole matched with Sheetal from Saahas for Cause for a Presentation Creation project!

Melissa matched with Mazi A. E. from WORDS BEATS & LIFE for a Project Management Plan project!

Prasanna matched with brandon from Bunny's Flowers for a Website Major Update project!

Anonymous matched with Tyler from Way Finders Inc for a Website Set Up (CMS-Based) project!

Kimberly matched with Tyler from Way Finders Inc for a Website Set Up (CMS-Based) project!

Marcin matched with Tyler from Way Finders Inc for a Website Set Up (CMS-Based) project!

Julie matched with Tyler from Way Finders Inc for a Website Set Up (CMS-Based) project!

Chris matched with Tyler from Way Finders Inc for a Website Set Up (CMS-Based) project!

How It Works

Support a cause you care about by volunteering for a project or consultation call. With over 150 different project types, there is an opportunity to give back that matches your skills and time availability.
1. Browse
Explore projects and questions posted by nonprofits based on your skills and causes you are passionate about.
2. Apply
Submit your application and resume to let the nonprofit know you are interested.
3. Match
When you and the organization decide it's a good fit, start working together!
Two ways to share your skills!
Consultation Calls
Get on the phone with a nonprofit to help answer burning questions, brainstorm organizational challenges, or give feedback.
Projects
Work with a nonprofit to complete critical projects such as graphic design, website development, copywriting, database customization, and more.

How Do You Want to Give Back?

Find projects that match your skills and interest areas

What Other Volunteers are Saying

“We, at Harborlight Community Partners, are incredibly impressed by the work done by Jason. This is our first completed Catchafire project and the quality of work was professional, prompt, and exactly what we needed. We are so grateful!”
Deanna Community Relations & HR Coordinator, Harborlight Community Partners
“Catchafire has been amazing. I’ve posted things on different volunteer boards in the past and it hasn’t worked. But here we have worked with such high caliber people who are giving some great insights & strategic help.”
Alison Inclusive Futures, Young Global Leaders

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 individuals to donate their 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 our talented employees with the opportunity to directly support nonprofit organizations through volunteering their professional skills and experience. We believe that skills-based volunteering is a high impact way for professionals to give back to their communities and have a positive social impact for the causes they are passionate about.

The nonprofit will review your application to decide whether they want to move forward with an interview. If so, you will be contacted by Catchafire to schedule the call. Nonprofits are encouraged to decide promptly, but there is no set timeline for when they will reply.

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.

If there are volunteer opportunities available in your region, you'll have the option to filter by location. However, since all Catchafire engagements are meant to be completed virtually, we encourage you to focus on finding projects that best fit your skills & interests, regardless of location.

Yes! All projects have been designed to allow you to work with the nonprofit organization remotely.

Projects vary in length from 1 to 50 hours, depending on the project type. Estimated hours are indicated for each project.

Yes! In fact, we recommend you apply to 2-4 projects at any given time. This will maximize your chances of matching. If you end up being selected for too many projects, you can always withdraw your application before or after you interview with the nonprofit. Once you say yes, we ask that you honor your commitment to work with the organization.

Catchafire is committed to making sure everyone who wants to volunteer their skills can do so. If you are having trouble finding a project that fits, feel free to contact Catchafire at [email protected] for help.

This is a company-sponsored volunteer activity. For that reason, if your manager approves your
participation, you do not need to use VTO for volunteer activity that takes place during non-
overtime business hours. For more information about VTO, read the policy.

Given the time commitment needed to participate in any skills-based volunteer opportunity, talk
to your manager before starting any project. Opportunities may take a few hours per week for
weeks at a time. If you intend to volunteer during business hours, have a conversation with your
manager about scheduling time in a way that allows business needs to be met.

Yes! Be sure to track your hours in the Community Impact Portal to ensure that $25 for each hour volunteered goes to the eligible nonprofit organization - up to $1,500 per employee annually.

Please note that many of the nonprofit organizations included in the Catchafire platform are international organizations. Currently, international nonprofit organizations (i.e., those domiciled outside of the U.S.) are not eligible for the matching time program per the eligibility guidelines linked above.

We do not have a process in place for employees to recommend nonprofit organizations
currently but hope to in the future.

About this Program

The MassMutual Foundation has partnered with Catchafire in this program to connect our talented colleagues with nonprofit organizations. This resource provides nonprofits with professional support for over 120+ different types of projects in areas like marketing, web, budget and database development, operations, and strategy. It also gives our employees the opportunity to give back to the community and use their many skills for good.

The MassMutual Foundation activates connections and untapped opportunities within communities so that all families can build their financial capability and thrive. In support of this mission, the Foundation builds partnerships and collaborates with like-minded organizations and institutions that share our vision for building thriving communities. Our ability to support the development of social and financial capital based on our business expertise and resources is central to this very important work.

Have more questions? Drop us a line.

Email the Catchafire team at [email protected]