Nonprofit spotlight: How Sammy's Buddy Program enhanced donations with pro bono consultants

Sammy's Buddy Program, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering inclusive play and friendship for children with disabilities, faced a common challenge in the nonprofit sector: a digital divide that limited its fundraising potential. Their donation platform was not effectively connecting supporters to their powerful mission. By partnering with Catchafire, they connected with a volunteer consultant, Devorah, who helped them transform their online giving experience. This strategic support not only made donating more intuitive and emotionally resonant but also proved a vital message: donations increase when nonprofits are supported in closing the digital gap, unlocking greater community impact.

The challenge: An ineffective digital bridge to donors

Sammy's Buddy Program has a simple and powerful mission: to ensure every child feels seen, supported, and included by pairing them with trained peer buddies. While their impact in the community was clear, their ability to fund these essential programs was hampered by an underperforming donation platform. The existing system created a barrier between the organization's heart-warming work and the supporters who wanted to contribute.

The solution: Building a modern donation experience to reach small and large donors

Sammy's Buddy Program turned to Catchafire to find a skilled professional who could help them evaluate and improve their donation site. They were matched with Devorah, a volunteer consultant passionate about helping purpose-driven teams. Together, they embarked on a project to reimagine the organization's online donation page. Devorah focused on creating a user journey that was not only seamless but also deeply connected to the nonprofit’s mission, allowing potential donors to understand the tangible impact of their contributions.

The results: All around generosity

The collaboration yielded a transformed donation platform that was intuitive, accessible, and emotionally resonant. By improving the digital giving experience, Sammy's Buddy Program made it easier for supporters to connect with their cause and contribute with confidence. The redesigned page successfully closed the digital gap, leading to an increase in donations that directly fund their ability to reach more families and build more friendships. This project powerfully demonstrates that investing in a nonprofit's digital capacity is a direct investment in its mission's success and sustainability. By providing this targeted support, Catchafire empowered Sammy's Buddy Program to amplify its community impact far beyond what a traditional grant alone could achieve.

"Helping nonprofits like Sammy's Buddy Program achieve their goals through thoughtful design and strategy is exactly the kind of impact I want to make. This was my first project through Catchafire, and it reminded me why I love working with purpose-driven teams."

— Devorah, Catchafire Volunteer

Conclusion: Empowering nonprofits to thrive in a digital world

The success of Sammy's Buddy Program is a testament to the transformative power of capacity building. By providing targeted expertise to close the digital gap, Catchafire enabled the organization to enhance its fundraising capabilities and strengthen its connection with the community. This case study underscores a crucial insight for foundations: going "beyond the grant" to provide resources that build a nonprofit's operational strength is one of the most effective ways to ensure long-term, sustainable impact. When we empower organizations with the tools they need to thrive, we unlock their full potential to create lasting change.