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

LIVING WAGE FOR US INC received an application from Derek for a Tech Systems Review project.

Mary Margaret matched with Kimberly from Urban League of Springfield Inc for an Employee Handbook project!

LIVING WAGE FOR US INC received an application from Richard for an Organizational Executive Summary project.

Madeline matched with Ariana from Women's Money Matters, Inc. for a Marketing & Communications Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Alison matched with Ariana from Women's Money Matters, Inc. for a Marketing & Communications Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Jason matched with Ariana from Women's Money Matters, Inc. for a Marketing & Communications Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Leronald matched with Ariana from Women's Money Matters, Inc. for a Marketing & Communications Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Barbara matched with Ariana from Women's Money Matters, Inc. for a Marketing & Communications Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Jenny matched with Ariana from Women's Money Matters, Inc. for a Marketing & Communications Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Matt matched with Ariana from Women's Money Matters, Inc. for a Marketing & Communications Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Jeralyn matched with Kristan from Wellspring Cooperative Corporation for a Talent Management Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Hazel matched with Kristan from Wellspring Cooperative Corporation for a Talent Management Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Abigail matched with Kristan from Wellspring Cooperative Corporation for a Talent Management Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Kimberly matched with Kristan from Wellspring Cooperative Corporation for a Talent Management Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Laura matched with Kristan from Wellspring Cooperative Corporation for a Talent Management Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Amy matched with Kristan from Wellspring Cooperative Corporation for a Talent Management Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Michele matched with Kristan from Wellspring Cooperative Corporation for a Talent Management Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Virginia matched with Jennifer from Community United Way of Pioneer Valley Inc for a Data Analysis Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Amanda matched with Jennifer from Community United Way of Pioneer Valley Inc for a Data Analysis Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Stephen matched with Jennifer from Community United Way of Pioneer Valley Inc for a Data Analysis Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Amy matched with Jennifer from Community United Way of Pioneer Valley Inc for a Data Analysis Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Irene matched with Jennifer from Community United Way of Pioneer Valley Inc for a Data Analysis Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Shane matched with Jennifer from Community United Way of Pioneer Valley Inc for a Data Analysis Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Ciara matched with Pema from Teach Western Mass Inc for a Business Development Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Kiley matched with Pema from Teach Western Mass Inc for a Business Development Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Maureen matched with Pema from Teach Western Mass Inc for a Business Development Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Alison matched with Pema from Teach Western Mass Inc for a Business Development Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Catherine matched with Pema from Teach Western Mass Inc for a Business Development Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Devin matched with Pema from Teach Western Mass Inc for a Business Development Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Joel matched with Pema from Teach Western Mass Inc for a Business Development Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Matthew matched with Jose from New North Citizens Council for a Project Management Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Luz matched with Jose from New North Citizens Council for a Project Management Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Matthew matched with Jose from New North Citizens Council for a Project Management Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Leah matched with Jose from New North Citizens Council for a Project Management Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Palak matched with Jose from New North Citizens Council for a Project Management Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Alex matched with Jose from New North Citizens Council for a Project Management Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Joseph matched with Jessica from Dress for Success - Western Massachusetts for a Talent Management Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Lucille matched with Jessica from Dress for Success - Western Massachusetts for a Talent Management Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Michelle matched with Jessica from Dress for Success - Western Massachusetts for a Talent Management Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Sean matched with Jessica from Dress for Success - Western Massachusetts for a Talent Management Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Christina matched with Jessica from Dress for Success - Western Massachusetts for a Talent Management Rapid Fire Challenge project!

AJ matched with Jessica from Dress for Success - Western Massachusetts for a Talent Management Rapid Fire Challenge project!

Ajayindra matched with Jessica from Dress for Success - Western Massachusetts for a Talent Management Rapid Fire Challenge project!

LIVING WAGE FOR US INC received an application from Akinola for an Email Marketing System Set Up project.

LIVING WAGE FOR US INC received an application from Michael for an Organizational Executive Summary project.

LIVING WAGE FOR US INC received an application from Jennifer for a Storytelling project.

Ariana matched with Marshall from Revitalize Community Development Corporation for an Organizational Strategy consultation call!

LIVING WAGE FOR US INC received an application from Peter for an Email Marketing System Set Up project.

Lara matched with Roxana from Revitalize Community Development Corporation for an Organizational Strategy consultation call!

Christine matched with Amy from Revitalize Community Development Corporation for a Change Management Coaching 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]