Catchafire

{{Short description|American volunteering organization}} {{Infobox website | name = Catchafire | logo = Catchafire logo.png | company_type = Private | location = New York City, New York | founded = {{start date and age|2009|4|21}} | founder = Rachael Chong | website = {{url|http://catchafire.org}} }}

'''Catchafire''' is a New York-based organization which makes skill-based connections between professional volunteers and other non-profits. It was founded in 2009 by Rachael Chong.<ref>Lore Croghan (July 5, 2009). [http://www.nydailynews.com/news/money/new-yorkers-turn-recession-era-gloom-entrepeneurial-gold-article-1.428954 "New Yorkers turn recession-era gloom into entrepeneurial{{sic|nolink=y}} gold"]. ''NY Daily News''. Retrieved November 27, 2014.</ref><ref>John Leland (November 1, 2011). [https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/02/giving/volunteer-work-gains-stature-on-a-resume.html?scp=2&sq=%22catchafire%22&st=nyt&_r=0 "Volunteering Rises on the Résumé"]. ''NY Times''. Retrieved November 27, 2014.</ref> Catchafire matches professionals who want to donate their time with nonprofits who need their skills.

Volunteers with any of a wide variety of skills can browse Catchafire<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.csmonitor.com/World/Making-a-difference/Change-Agent/2012/0601/Catchafire-matches-talented-volunteers-with-opportunities-to-serve|title=Catchafire matches talented volunteers with opportunities to serve|date=1 June 2012|access-date=16 December 2021|via=Christian Science Monitor}}</ref> to find short-term projects which match their specific talents. Catchafire has been explicitly compared with matchmaking or dating websites.<ref>"[http://smallbusiness.foxbusiness.com/biz-on-main/2011/03/03/matchcom-nonprofits-volunteers/ A 'Match.com' for Nonprofits and Volunteers]" Fox Business Small Business Center, March 3, 2011</ref>

Chong has said she was inspired to start Catchafire by her experience volunteering for a house-building project in The Bronx, which left her financial and banking skills "untapped," requiring her instead to haul lumber around a building site.<ref>Ann Fisher, "[http://mycrains.crainsnewyork.com/blogs/executive-inbox/2011/01/a-matchmaker-for-nonprofits-an/ A matchmaker for nonprofits and skilled volunteers]" Crains NY Business, January 21, 2011</ref> "We're matching what people do in their day-to-day lives with the opportunity to apply those amazing skills to a non-profit that truly needs it," she has said.<ref>Laurie Segall "[https://web.archive.org/web/20101126024317/http://money.cnn.com/2010/11/24/technology/startups_charity/index.htm Giving thanks, Web 2.0 style]" CNN Money, November 24, 2010</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{official website|http://catchafire.org}}

Category:Companies based in New York City Category:2009 establishments in New York City Category:Internet properties established in 2009 Category:American companies established in 2009 Category:B Lab-certified corporations