MassMutual Foundation's Catchafire Program
Volunteer your skills to strengthen nonprofits
GET STARTEDGive Your Skills For Good
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.
Julie from Teach Western Mass Inc listed a Compensation Plan project.
Joel from Jump$tart Coalition listed a Data & Analytics consultation call.
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts received an application from Mark for an Excel Training project.
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts received an application from Ahmed for an Excel Training project.
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts received an application from Jack for an Excel Training project.
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts received an application from Talha for an Excel Training project.
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts received an application from Eleanor for an Excel Training project.
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts received an application from Derick for an Excel Training project.
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts received an application from Surya for an Excel Training project.
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts received an application from Vidhi for an Excel Training project.
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts received an application from Godwin for an Excel Training project.
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts received an application from Fatema for an Excel Training project.
The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts received an application from Gaurav for an Excel Training project.
Beth from The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts listed an Excel Training project.
Jay matched with Maria from Teach Western Mass Inc for a Human Resources consultation call!
Colleen matched with Karen from Springfield Cultural Partnership Incorporated for a Succession Planning Sessions project!
Suzanne matched with Karen from Springfield Cultural Partnership Incorporated for a Board Responsibilities & Structure project!
Melinda matched with Karen from Springfield Cultural Partnership Incorporated for an Infographic project!
Stephanie matched with Karen from Springfield Cultural Partnership Incorporated for a Logo Design project!
Mary Margaret matched with Kimberly from Urban League of Springfield Inc for an Employee Handbook project!
Amy matched with Jennifer from Community United Way of Pioneer Valley Inc for a Data Analysis Rapid Fire Challenge project!
Luz matched with Jose from New North Citizens Council for a Project Management Rapid Fire Challenge project!
Maureen matched with Pema from Teach Western Mass Inc for a Business Development Rapid Fire Challenge project!
Michele matched with Kristan from Wellspring Cooperative Corporation for a Talent Management Rapid Fire Challenge project!
Stephen matched with Jennifer from Community United Way of Pioneer Valley Inc for a Data Analysis Rapid Fire Challenge project!
Matthew matched with Jose from New North Citizens Council for a Project Management Rapid Fire Challenge project!
Matt matched with Ariana from Women's Money Matters, Inc. for a Marketing & Communications Rapid Fire Challenge project!
Kiley matched with Pema from Teach Western Mass Inc for a Business Development Rapid Fire Challenge project!
Amy matched with Kristan from Wellspring Cooperative Corporation for a Talent Management Rapid Fire Challenge project!
Amanda matched with Jennifer from Community United Way of Pioneer Valley Inc for a Data Analysis Rapid Fire Challenge project!
Jenny matched with Ariana from Women's Money Matters, Inc. for a Marketing & Communications Rapid Fire Challenge project!
Ciara matched with Pema from Teach Western Mass Inc for a Business Development Rapid Fire Challenge project!
Laura 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!
Barbara matched with Ariana from Women's Money Matters, Inc. for a Marketing & Communications Rapid Fire Challenge project!
Kimberly matched with Kristan from Wellspring Cooperative Corporation 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!
Leronald matched with Ariana from Women's Money Matters, Inc. for a Marketing & Communications Rapid Fire Challenge project!
Abigail matched with Kristan from Wellspring Cooperative Corporation 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!
Jason matched with Ariana from Women's Money Matters, Inc. for a Marketing & Communications Rapid Fire Challenge project!
Hazel matched with Kristan from Wellspring Cooperative Corporation 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!
Alison 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!
Alex matched with Jose from New North Citizens Council for a Project Management Rapid Fire Challenge project!
Joel matched with Pema from Teach Western Mass Inc for a Business Development Rapid Fire Challenge project!
Sean matched with Jessica from Dress for Success - Western Massachusetts for a Talent Management Rapid Fire Challenge project!
Madeline matched with Ariana from Women's Money Matters, Inc. for a Marketing & Communications Rapid Fire Challenge project!
Palak matched with Jose from New North Citizens Council for a Project Management Rapid Fire Challenge project!
How It Works
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
Projects
Great Connections Are Made Here
How Jay Z. helped Teach Western Mass Inc
How Colleen C. helped Springfield Cultural Partnership Incorporated
How Christine J. helped Revitalize Community Development Corporation
How Ruth S. helped GenUnity
How Ajay G. helped Habitat For Humanity International Inc - Springfield
How Ben W. helped Wellspring Cooperative Corporation
How Beverly V. helped Community Music School of Springfield Inc
How Alanson V. helped Way Finders Inc
How Mihir P. helped NeighborShare
What Other Volunteers 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 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]