In a rapidly evolving world, The Family & Youth Institute faced the critical challenge of equipping its staff with new skills to meet emerging community needs. The pace of change in 2025 demanded constant learning and adaptation, a significant hurdle for a nonprofit already maxed out on responsibilities and urgent community need. By embracing Catchafire, The Family & Youth Institute unlocked a powerful ecosystem of professional development and project support. This partnership empowered their team to continuously learn and implement new strategies, demonstrating that investing in staff capacity is essential for driving sustainable community impact and ensuring organizational resilience.
The challenge: Keeping pace in a fast-changing world
The Family & Youth Institute turned to Catchafire to bridge this critical skills gap, opening the door to an inspiring network of skilled volunteers dedicated to making a difference. Sumbal R. leads the HR team and works to support 25 nonprofit teammates. As a one-person department, she has leveraged Catchafire and consultants to help her stand up a Learning & Development strategy along with foundational pieces like compensation plans, an employee handbook, and other policies.
The solution: A culture of continuous learning through Catchafire
Among the many impactful collaborations was Sumbal R.’s experience with leadership coach Vic C.—a pivotal moment in the organization’s learning journey. Vic approached their sessions with a strategic mindset, guiding Sumbal through challenges with clarity and actionable insight. This partnership went far beyond surface-level advice: Sumbal gained focused strategies for setting priorities, streamlining workflows, and implementing practical solutions uniquely suited to The Family & Youth Institute’s needs. Vic’s attentive listening and thoughtful questions fostered an environment where growth thrived, leaving Sumbal empowered and inspired to lead more effectively.
In addition to leadership coaching, the broader team took advantage of projects ranging from tech system setup to marketing strategy and organizational goal-setting. Catchafire became more than just a project platform; it became an engine for continuous learning and professional renewal. Staff were encouraged to identify their growth areas, reach out for targeted support, and apply what they learned—nurturing a spirit of empowerment, collaboration, and progress across the organization.
The results: Empowering staff and amplifying The Family & Youth Institute mission
The collaboration with Catchafire’s network of professionals delivered transformative results. By tackling projects ranging from tech support to storytelling, The Family & Youth Institute team not only completed critical operational tasks but also gained invaluable knowledge and skills along the way. This ongoing learning process has been instrumental in helping them adapt to new challenges and opportunities. The key outcome has been the empowerment of their staff, who now have the confidence and resources to thrive in a fast-paced environment. This demonstrates a powerful principle: when nonprofits are given the tools to learn and grow, their capacity for impact expands exponentially. This investment in human capital is a cornerstone of building stronger, more resilient communities.
"Catchafire has been an amazing help. I've been able to get a lot of projects done, from HR employee handbooks to getting our financial system set up to helping create policies. I have a lot of high output because of Catchafire and it's wonderful volunteers."
— Sumbal Raza, Director of People & Administration
Conclusion: Investing in people to power lasting change
The story of The Family & Youth Institute illustrates a vital truth for modern philanthropy: supporting nonprofits means investing in their people. By providing resources that go "beyond the grant," foundations can empower organizations to not only meet their immediate needs but also build the internal capacity for long-term success. Catchafire provided The Family & Youth Institute with the exact support they needed to navigate a complex landscape, proving that when we equip nonprofit teams with the right skills and knowledge, we unlock their full potential to create profound and lasting community impact.
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$263,221 in value |
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