In today’s world, people are hungry to infuse their life with purpose. Holding a 9-5 is simply not enough.

Professionals want to share their expertise in a way that yields the highest impact on the world. They want to connect with their passions and make the world a better place without having to quit their day job.

 

How do professionals find this balance? Enter: Skills-based volunteering. Skills-based volunteering is the intersection of passion and purpose. It allows professionals from all walks of life to find a cause that excites them and make an impact by sharing skills they already possess. What’s even cooler? Skills-based volunteering empowers professionals to become changemakers while honing their skills, building their resumes, and expanding their networks.

 

Skills-based volunteering is becoming one of the most sought after ways to give back. In fact, 2.5 million professionals from LinkedIn have already raised their hands insisting on more opportunities for skills-based volunteering. This number grows daily.

 

We are all about skills-based volunteering and the nonprofits that benefit from these world-changers are too, so much so that we built a company around it.

 

Why should your nonprofit pay attention to the skills-based volunteering movement? Here are the top 10 reasons why you can’t afford not to pay attention.

 

Hiring is risky business. Bringing in a consultant, a new employee or an intern is a huge investment of your time and money. The cost of working with skills-based volunteers is significantly lower; you haven’t spent much money (if any) out of pocket, and you still get an incredible project from a highly-skilled professional.

 

Skills-based volunteer projects often establish a long-term, mutually beneficial relationship between nonprofits and volunteers. Engaging with a professional outside of your organization allows you to build your network and expand your pool of donors, advocates & supporters.

 

Skills-based volunteers can fill nearly any gap in expertise your organization is experiencing. Do you have a firm handle on your donor base, but are not sure how to market yourself to a new audience effectively? There’s a volunteer for that!

 

In the nonprofit world, time is money. Save hours of your day by outsourcing projects to skills-based volunteers so you can focus on what you do best.

 

The relationships you build with skills-based volunteers doesn’t just allow for rapid-fire project completions, it gives you and your team the opportunity to develop professionally in ways you never imagined.

 

Skills-based volunteering is just one more way to engage your board. Ask a board member to manage a volunteer experience or tap into your Board Members’ diverse skillsets and ask them to share! Who knows, maybe there is someone on your board who has a skill set you weren’t aware of.

 

Skills-based volunteering deepens the relationship with your supporters by showing them you are invested and appreciate their advocacy. Working with skills-based volunteers allows them to put their personal fingerprints on a cause they’re already passionate about and want to see succeed!

 

You are doing amazing work. We see that – and so do others! People want to see you grow and our guess is that once you put yourself out there you’ll be amazed at the number of professionals who jump at the opportunity to work with you.

 

Who are these skills-based volunteers we speak of and where do they come from?

 

Skills-based volunteers are a different breed of volunteers. Combining their unique talents with an insatiable desire to make a social impact, they are able to give back in a way that’s more relevant (and impactful) than ever before.

 

-Professional “9-5ers” hoping to add more purpose to their life outside of their workday

-People in-between jobs searching for ways to keep their skills fresh and portfolios up to date

-Graduate school students kick-starting their professional careers

-Retirees hoping to maintain their skills and contribute to the mission-driven world

 

 

Pre-scoped projects: We know that volunteers are more likely to step up for a volunteer engagement when they know what to expect. We also know that coming up with a project plan can be confusing and time consuming. We’ve got you covered, Catchafire pre-scopes all projects and sets deliverables so you and your volunteer are prepared.

 

Human support. We’ve got a team of nonprofit advisors on hand who serve as an incredible resource for advice, mediation, problem-solving and consultation. They’ll be your best friend throughout the process and will make sure that the process runs smoothly.Not sure where to start or what your needs are? Our team is here to provide in-depth needs assessments to figure out what you need most and what projects will most greatly impact your organization in the short and long-term.

 

You get to be picky! On Catchafire you can choose which applicants you’d like to interview and you conduct the interview so you are assured the volunteer has the experience, portfolio and personality that’s best for your organization. Because no one knows better than you!

 

We built this community with you in mind.  Our easily accessible, virtual-volunteering platform is efficient and effective. You can list the project, receive applications, schedule interviews, and manager all your projects in one place!

 

We know you’re busy. Our projects are bite-sized and short-term. They have been designed with the utmost efficiency in mind.  This allows you to manage several projects at a time without feeling overwhelmed.

 

Outsourcing or hiring for new work can be expensive. By partnering with Catchafire, your projects pay for

themselves 10-fold within a few short months. High return on investment, low stress & time. Win-win!

 

We are 100% mission-driven. As a social mission business, we are here to change the world. We have a double sided mission and want both sides of our community (volunteers and nonprofits) to thrive from their experience. All for one and one for all!

 

Our network is expansive. Over 25,0000 professionals come to Catchafire because they know what to expect. We are a one-stop-shop for finding projects that match both their passion and their skills.

 

You can get started NOW! Our members are in control. With the ability to post project immediately, it means no wait on the changes and goals you have.

 

Our team culture is pretty rad. We’re a small, but fiercely passionate group of individuals that have hearts and backgrounds rooted in the nonprofit & social good sector. We are here to make a difference and we have a lot of fun doing it. Join us!

 

We listen.  We’re adaptive.  We hear you. If it’s not working, we’ll fix it.  If you’re not satisfied, we’ll go back to the drawing board.  We’re here to provide a valuable experience for both our volunteers and organizations. Talk to us.