San Antonio, TX – October 1, 2024 – Nonprofits across San Antonio and surrounding regions have saved more than $3 million in value thanks to a virtual pro-bono matching tool that connects skilled volunteers with nonprofit organizations. The resource, Catchafire, was launched by a collaborative of local funders, led by Social Venture Partners San Antonio (SVPSA), to provide essential support to nonprofits during the height of the pandemic.

In response to unprecedented challenges posed by so many shut downs in 2020, local nonprofits faced increased community needs while trying to stretch limited resources. Simultaneously, thousands of skilled workers were eager to find meaningful ways to contribute their expertise remotely. In a timely initiative, six local funders—including SVPSA, the San Antonio Area Foundation, H.E. Butt Foundation, LISC San Antonio, Methodist Healthcare Ministries, and DOCUmation—began providing subscriptions to Catchafire for 100 nonprofits.

Since its launch on October 1, 2020, SVPSA’s Catchafire website has become an invaluable tool for nonprofits, offering access to a vast pool of skilled volunteers. In four years, the platform has facilitated 15,611 volunteer hours, with a total value of $3,005,200 delivered through 977 projects and consultations. Over the past year, 142 nonprofits actively used their subscription to Catchafire to tap into pro-bono expertise in areas such as strategic planning, graphic design, financial management, and human resources.

The program has grown each year, and thanks to the Nancy Smith Hurd Foundation, SVPSA was able to add a program manager, Debi Pfitzenmaier, to provide local training, and manage data and impact reports for all the funders.

Becky Dinnin, Executive Director of Social Venture Partners San Antonio, shared the story of how Catchafire became a reality for the region’s nonprofits. “In January 2020, I stumbled upon Catchafire while searching for volunteer project templates that we could use for SVPSA,” Dinnin recalls. 

“I noticed that no San Antonio nonprofits were listed on the site, and upon further investigation, I learned that foundations typically sponsor access to the platform for nonprofits they support. The startup cost was higher than one might fund especially during the pandemic, but we knew we could put a a few funders together to make it happen.”

By October 1, 2020, the collaborative had raised $105,000 to provide 100 local nonprofits with access to Catchafire. The timing could not have been better, as nonprofits were in desperate need of skilled support amidst the pandemic. “We couldn’t get it started fast enough,” Dinnin said. 

“Nonprofits were notified, given training resources, and encouraged to leverage the platform to save time and get critical help for their teams.”

Catchafire’s volunteer base, which now exceeds 100,000 individuals from around the world, provides expert assistance for both short-term projects and one-hour consultations. Volunteers, who bring professional-level skills to the table, assist nonprofits with everything from website data analysis and policy development to marketing and human resources.

The platform has also proven beneficial for employers, offering an easy way for employees to engage with causes they care about while using their professional expertise to make a tangible difference.

The continued success of this initiative reflects the growing commitment of local funders to empower nonprofits through innovative solutions. As more funders join the effort each year, the impact of skilled volunteerism on the local nonprofit sector is expected to grow even further.