Frequently Asked Questions
Updated September 2025
For Organizations
When we scope a project, our team works closely with your organization to understand what is needed for success - this includes key competency areas (like strategic planning or leadership support), relevant sector experience (such as nonprofits or place-based partnerships), and any geographic preferences. We include these details in the project scope and invite proposals from providers who meet those criteria. You review the provider profiles and proposals, then decide who to interview and work with.
Providers who apply to our network are vetted through a three stage application, interview, and reference check process. We evaluate relevant experience and expertise and look for demonstrated commitment to improving student outcomes. The process also helps us gather the information we need to make more informed matches.
It’s free to post a project and receive proposals from providers. If you decide to work with a provider that we connect you with, we charge you a nominal service fee of 5% of the total project cost for making the match.
Providers set their own prices for projects based on the work required to achieve the deliverables. Organizations review the proposals and decide who they want to work with and at what price.
For Providers
You can apply as an individual or on behalf of the firm. The firm level application is best if you are applying on behalf of a mid- to large-sized firm with multiple areas of expertise. That way even as we “tag” you with your individual areas of expertise in our system, we also have a sense of the additional capabilities that your firm may bring to support work that you may do on projects. On the other hand, if you primarily work as an independent consultant or with a smaller boutique consulting firm, the individual level application would be a better fit. Either way, you must commit to being a part of the team on any project that you propose to.
We rely on our providers adhering to our terms to continue offering our services without an upfront cost to organizations or providers. Working on a project that you heard about through Catalyst and not informing us to avoid paying the service fee would be a breach of the trust we place on our network. It would also constitute a violation of our Terms of Service. If you know of an organization or provider circumventing us after being connected by us, please let us know by sending an email to info@catalyst-exchange.org.
There is no fee to join the Catalyst network, receive and review project scopes or submit proposals. Fees are charged once the projects are matched—providers and organizations will pay 5% of the final accepted project proposal. Organizations and providers matched on projects funded by a foundation pay no fee. For more details on our matching fees, see this blog post.