It Takes A City
Accelerate your impact with help from skilled volunteers
An Unrestricted Resource to Empower Baltimore Nonprofits
Our capacity building program is designed to extend your team and expand your skill set with a massive pool of skilled volunteers who complete tangible projects and provide expert consultation in areas such as marketing, finance, and web development so you can spend more time focusing on your mission.
We are proud to launch Catchafire Baltimore, a project supported by The Catchafire Foundation. This initiative is more than a technology tool — it provides the framework and skills to support equity across Baltimore by empowering nonprofit leaders like yourself to decide what you need to sustain your work over time, giving you more control of your organization's growth and overall impact. This program is free to all nonprofits in Baltimore — simply sign up!
National Association of Asian American Professionals Baltimore Chapter received an application from Abigail for a Social Media Audit project.
National Association of Asian American Professionals Baltimore Chapter received an application from Gabby for a New Employee Onboarding project.
Brian from National Association of Asian American Professionals Baltimore Chapter listed a Finance consultation call.
Brian from National Association of Asian American Professionals Baltimore Chapter listed a Website consultation call.
Brian from National Association of Asian American Professionals Baltimore Chapter listed a Membership Strategy project.
Brian from National Association of Asian American Professionals Baltimore Chapter listed a New Employee Onboarding project.
Brian from National Association of Asian American Professionals Baltimore Chapter listed a Social Media Audit project.
Heathcote received an application from Diana for a Website User Experience project.
Heathcote received an application from Md.Jamiul for a Website User Experience project.
Heathcote received an application from Leah for a Website User Experience project.
National Association of Asian American Professionals Baltimore Chapter received an application from Austin for a Website consultation call.
National Association of Asian American Professionals Baltimore Chapter received an application from Shumaila for a Social Media Audit project.
Heathcote received an application from Meybel for a Branded Digital Assets project.
National Association of Asian American Professionals Baltimore Chapter received an application from Emuron for a Website consultation call.
National Association of Asian American Professionals Baltimore Chapter received an application from Jojo for a Website consultation call.
Kaspars matched with Ayla from Parity Baltimore Incorporated for a Tech Systems consultation call!
Adonis matched with Ayla from Parity Baltimore Incorporated for a Tech Systems consultation call!
Park Heights Renaissance Inc received an application from Molly for a Brochure Graphic Design project.
Jordan matched with Wendy from TasteWise Kids for an Impact Report Graphic Design project!
Krystal matched with David from HOPE4U2020 for a Logo Design & Visual Brand Identity project!
Heathcote received an application from Quinta for a Marketing Strategy Consultation project.
Heathcote received an application from Nathan for a Marketing Strategy Consultation project.
Stefan matched with Christine from Weekend Backpacks for Homeless Kids, Inc. for an Email Layout & Template project!
Nick matched with Stephanie from Community Wealth Builders for a Website Visual Design project!
John from Heathcote listed a Website Image Sourcing project.
John from Heathcote listed a Marketing Strategy Consultation project.
John from Heathcote listed a Website User Experience project.
Heathcote received an application from Najee for a Branded Digital Assets project.
Heathcote received an application from Luis Fernando for a Website Copywriting project.
Park Heights Renaissance Inc received an application from Robynn for a Copyediting project.
De'Andre matched with David from HOPE4U2020 for a Mission, Vision & Values project!
John from Heathcote listed a Branded Digital Assets project.
Park Heights Renaissance Inc received an application from Chatterjee for a Copyediting project.
Backyard Basecamp, Inc. received an application from Chatterjee for a Partnership Proposal Presentation project.
The Center for Community Ownership received an application from George for an Operating Budget project.
The Center for Community Ownership received an application from Fernando for an Operating Budget project.
Amanda matched with John from Heathcote for a Flexible Copywriting Support project!
Christine from Weekend Backpacks for Homeless Kids, Inc. listed an Impact Report Graphic Design project.
Joel matched with John from Heathcote for a Change Management Coaching project!
Heathcote received an application from Mahamat for a Website Copywriting project.
Park Heights Renaissance Inc received an application from Anca for a Copyediting project.
MJ matched with Wendy from TasteWise Kids for an Impact Report Graphic Design project!
John from Heathcote listed a Flexible Graphic Design Support project.
Joshua matched with John from Heathcote for a Logo Design & Visual Brand Identity project!
Joel matched with John from Heathcote for a Talent Recruitment consultation call!
Park Heights Renaissance Inc received an application from Rhea Mae for a Brochure Graphic Design project.
Park Heights Renaissance Inc received an application from Eric for a Brochure Graphic Design project.
Yolanda from Park Heights Renaissance Inc listed a Brochure Graphic Design project.
John from Heathcote listed a Website Copywriting project.
Unintentional Purpose Inc received an application from Caroline for a Social Media consultation call.
How It Works
1. Explore Available Projects
Browse through over 150 proven projects and post your own.2. Find Your Pro Bono Professional
Review applications from interested professionals and choose who you want to work with.3. Get The Help You Need
Kick off your project and start making progress.Two ways to connect!
Consultation Calls
Projects
Great Connections Are Made Here
How Jordan K. helped TasteWise Kids
How Krystal H. helped HOPE4U2020
How Stefan W. helped Weekend Backpacks for Homeless Kids, Inc.
How Nick Z. helped Community Wealth Builders
How Amanda J. helped Heathcote
How Pamela S. helped Ashland Community Development Corporation
How Scott M. helped The North Avenue Learning Initiative/City...
How Christine B. helped TRANSFORMING YOUTHS INTO ADULTS
How Douglas S. helped Music Instruction For All Learners, Inc.
ABOUT THE VOLUNTEERS
Work With Talented Professionals From Around the World
Finding the right match is important. Each of the 150+ proven projects contains prerequisite skills and experience, core deliverables, and time estimates, so volunteers know exactly what is required when they apply to work with you.
The rigorous application process, which includes work experience, portfolios, and statements of interest, limits applicants to those who are serious about working with you. It's not a one-click application, and it shouldn't be.
You can review up to three applications at a time, and interview candidates before deciding. The decision is yours.
What Baltimore Organizations 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 organizations and skilled volunteers to connect for good, from all around the world!
Skills-based volunteering is a high impact form of volunteering that allows an individual to donate his or her 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.
No. Your access to Catchafire is sponsored through this program, so it’s completely free for your organization.
In order to participate, you must first register your organization and then post your first project or consultation call. Get started by visiting the Project Menu to browse through over 150+ detailed project types.
You can work on an unlimited number of projects and calls throughout your membership. Once you finish a project, just make sure to mark it “complete”.
Your posted projects are visible to Catchafire’s entire skills-based volunteer community of 40,000+ talented professionals on the platform, and millions more via Catchafire's partnership with LinkedIn. Those who are interested in your organization’s cause area and who have the skills required for your project will be able to apply.
Skills-based volunteers may apply to your projects from all across the country and around the world. We encourage you to engage with virtual skills-based volunteers. If you prefer to work with somebody local, please expect it to take longer than normal to receive applications from a professional in the area.
On average, projects are matched within two weeks. If you are not seeing the response you hoped for, please reach out to [email protected], and one of Catchafire's Nonprofit Advisors will get in touch with you.
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.
Absolutely! Schedule a call, or email your questions to [email protected] and one of Catchafire’s Nonprofit Advisors will be in touch within 24 business hours.
About Our Approach
For a little over a decade, Catchafire has provided its platform to thousands of nonprofit organizations throughout the globe, bringing equitable systems of support to help local nonprofits maximize their impact and meet the needs of residents.
At Catchafire, we believe in inclusive capacity building that is more accessible and responsive, more deeply rooted in mutual trust, and more scalable to reach the widest range of nonprofits — with a special focus on communities that have been under-resourced and underrepresented. Because of our particular approach, we were provided the opportunity, alongside The Catchafire Foundation, to launch our platform in any city within the United States.
Through interviews with nonprofits and community members, it was clear Baltimore and its surrounding area already has all the changemakers (you!) it needs. The surest path forward to strengthening Baltimore neighborhoods is by bridging the gap to expert talent through consistent access to critical capacity building projects and operational support. You are the experts in your neighborhood and by no means do we want to change the way you advocate for your city, we simply want to exist as a resource to help you grow.
Get Started by Signing Up Today
If you have more questions, email the Catchafire team at [email protected]. We also encourage you to share this offering with any 501c3 in Baltimore.
