As we approach the season of giving, we want to take a moment to highlight and thank the many people who have generously volunteered their time and talent to ARC in 2011 – a gift that doesn’t come wrapped in pretty paper and a satin ribbon, but which is at the top of our wish list every year. In addition to our stellar Board of Directors, Junior Board, Advisors, Contributing Artists, and student interns, we were fortunate enough this year to connect with Catchafire and get matched up with a suite of amazing professionals who helped us with everything from launching our first social media campaign to grant writing to training us in financial management systems.

To put it simply, Catchafire matches professionals who want to give their skills with nonprofits and social enterprises that need their help. Their project menu provides detailed deliverables and project steps for forty projects (with new ones being added all the time) that are in high demand in the nonprofit sector. Member nonprofits request specific projects from the menu and Catchafire’s staff works diligently to match their database of pro bono professionals to the right projects. It is a win-win situation for all involved.

A recent New York Time’s article on volunteering not only profiled Catchafire and two of the pro bono professionals they connected ARC with (Joe Ladd and Liz Healy), but we were fortunate enough to get a small mention near the end of page two! This article inspired us to reach out to our Catchafire volunteers (many of whom are still actively engaged with ARC even though their projects are completed) and ask them about their volunteer experience.

Here is what our pro bono professionals are saying about their experience with ARC:

Helping ARC enhance their social media presence and expand their toolkit was an extremely rewarding experience. Not only was it exciting to be a part of ARC’s first venture into Twitter as a new way to engage communities and to collaborate with such amazing and passionate people, but I was also able to learn more about a critical environmental issue that has been relevant for my own professional development.
-Megan Caiola, Edelman Public Relations, CSR/Sustainability (Social Media Campaign project with Catchafire)

I was drawn to working with ARC by way of its mission to increase conservation efforts in East Africa. Not only was my experience with the staff extremely positive, but I was also really impressed with the organization’s emphasis on partnering with local NGOs in Tanzania and encouraging community ownership, which is key to making a sustainable impact. I wouldn’t hesitate to work with the ARC team again in the future!
-Meghan Corneal, International Development Specialist (Grant Proposal Preparation project with Catchafire)

After my first meeting with ARC’s staff, I was immediately taken aback by the passion and amazing vision the organization has. It was really inspiring to work with ARC and even better for me that I was able to use my experience in advertising to help such a good cause. I’ve taken away with me a lot from the experience and will look to do what I can for ARC moving forward as their passion has certainly rubbed off on me.
-Joe Ladd, Advertising and Marketing (Brand Identity project with Catchafire)

Volunteering with ARC was my first project upon moving to NYC.  I had just moved from London, knew very few people, and decided to jump into a project to help me learn about the non profit world of New York City. The project was very manageable from the beginning. The estimated time commitment was accurate, the tasks were clearly defined and the staff was more than willing to help out in any way to achieve the end result.  I learned a lot about a great cause, discovered a new area of NYC, and attended a  fun fundraiser. It was a very rewarding experience for me.
-Liz Healy, Former Accountant (Accounting System Advice project with Catchafire)

It was a privilege to be a part of an organization like ARC and to contribute to this very important cause. The destruction of East Africa’s rainforests is a global issue, but because it’s so far away we often don’t hear a lot about it. I was glad to be able to help ARC bring this issue closer to the hearts and minds of people in the US. I also gained valuable new experiences as a project volunteer – I feel I learnt as much from ARC as I hope they did from me.
-Kate Bowmaker, The Social Deck (PR Plan project with Catchafire)

Would you like to volunteer with ARC? To round out 2011, we are working with Catchafire to bring on board one more pro bono professional to help us develop a press list and press outreach strategy. You can learn more about this opportunity and apply here. Not a good fit for your skills? We encourage you to check out some of Catchafire’s open projects – you never know what nonprofit is waitng for your simple gift of time.