Another national organization focused on furthering social good is launching a Philadelphia outpost. New York City-based
Catchafire will announce its Founding Member Class at an official local launch on November 13.
A for-profit social mission business and certified B Corporation, Catchafire empowers existing nonprofits and social enterprises to achieve their goals. Catchafire does this by connecting talented individuals who want to volunteer their services with organizations in need of pro-bono work.
Over the last six months, Catchafire has partnered with a small group of nonprofit leaders and organizations in the city, including the
Children's Crisis Treatment Center, the
Center for Literacy and
Philadelphia FIGHT. Locals helped the group understand the city's volunteer and nonprofit landscape, culture and challenges.
"We have been impressed by the passion and professionalism of our current partners and the strength of the Philadelphia nonprofit community in general," says Adrienne Schmoeker, a corportate accounts lead at Catchafire. "We were eager to build on this early success by investing in Philadelphia in order to serve more organizations and volunteers across the region."
Catchafire asked community leaders to nominate two or three nonprofits or social enterprises. Nominees were interviewed and the Philadelphia Founding Member Class was selected.
Catchafire will celebrate its local launch at the headquarters of one of those 28 Founding Members --
Impact Hub Philly. They're also new to the city, having recently
taken over the former 3rd Ward space in South Kensington. (Flying Kite publisher Michelle Freeman works out of Impact Hub.)
"They also share our values in building a strong, efficient and effective social good community," says Schmoeker. "Catchafire provides resources for nonprofit organizations to connect with talent, and Impact Hub Philly's physical and digital spaces allow leaders to dialogue with one another and to collaborate for the greater good."
Several founding members are already launching projects with volunteer professionals; these include a business plan writing project at the Center for Literacy; a Culture Coaching project at Philadelphia FIGHT; a brand messaging project with
Tech Impact; a fundraising plan project with the
Philadelphia Center for Arts & Technology (PCAT); and a print materials redesign at the
Welcoming Center for New Pennsylvanians.
Catchafire plans to engage others in the Philadelphia nonprofit community over the next few months.
Writer: Nicole Woods
Source: Adrienne Schmoeker, Catchafire