Overview
What is Spark Microgrants?
Spark Microgrants is a nonprofit organization that empowers communities to collaborate and define their future through a community-led development model. Based in New York and with offices in Kigali, Kampala, and New York, the organization has impacted over 500,000 people across eight countries in Africa. Spark's innovative Facilitated Collective Action Process (FCAP) combines a village planning process with a seed grant, leading to families doubling their meals and a significant increase in women engaging in leadership roles. Since 2010, Spark has made a difference by scaling its national program in Rwanda, expanding to new countries, producing research on community-led development, and building a global community of practice. Spark trains partner organizations and works with governments to make the FCAP the go-to system for advancing social and economic development, improving lives, and securing lasting change.
Official website here: www.sparkmicrogrants.org
What are the reviews and ratings of this charity?
Charity Navigator Rating: 97% (Four-Star out of Four Stars)
Spark Microgrants has received an impressive Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator, reflecting its strong accountability and financial health. The organization excels in various governance metrics, including having a majority of independent board members and a comprehensive range of sound financial policies in place. With a program expense ratio of 82.35%, the majority of funds are directed toward their mission, underscoring their commitment to effective operational management.
User feedback highlights the positive impact of Spark Microgrants in communities, particularly through grassroots initiatives that empower local populations to identify and solve their own issues. One donor shared a personal story of contributing to a project that led a community to embrace beekeeping, illustrating the hands-on, sustainable approach the organization advocates. This method not only fosters ownership among community members but also encourages innovative problem-solving.
While the organization boasts strong financial practices and positive reviews from users, no significant limitations were noted in the available data. Overall, Spark Microgrants appears to be a well-managed nonprofit with a focus on empowering communities, making it a worthy consideration for potential donors and supporters.
This AI summary has been generated from information found on Charity Navigator and Great Nonprofits.
What do the Facebook reviews say about Spark Microgrants?
Spark Microgrants has received positive feedback from users regarding its impact in communities. One reviewer highlighted how the organization has significantly contributed to the building of a health center in the Bunakusi community, which is now benefitting both local residents and neighboring areas. This suggests that Spark Microgrants is effectively delivering on its mission to support community development.
While the reviews are limited, the sentiment leans towards appreciation for the nonprofit's initiatives and their tangible results, as reflected in the mentioned improvements to local infrastructure. Overall, it appears that the work being done by Spark Microgrants is making a meaningful difference in the lives of those they aim to serve.
This AI summary has been generated from reviews found on Facebook.
Is Spark Microgrants legitimate?
Spark Microgrants is a legitimate nonprofit organization registered as a 501(c)(3) entity. Spark Microgrants submitted a form 990, which is a tax form used by tax-exempt organizations in the U.S., indicating its operational transparency and adherence to regulatory requirements. Donations to this organization are tax deductible.
Heare are some key statistics you may want to consider:
Executive Compensation: $154,083
Professional Fundraising Fees: $0
Other Salaries and Wages: $1,609,991
For more financial information, click here
Official website here: www.sparkmicrogrants.org
What is the mission statement of Spark Microgrants?
Spark Microgrants empowers communities to work collaboratively towards a world where everyone lives with dignity and determines their own positive future. The organization believes in the collective power of people and aims to update the development model from prescriptive to community-led, enabling villages to define their future. Spark's innovative approach, the Facilitated Collective Action Process (FCAP), pairs a village planning process with a seed grant to facilitate cooperative solutions to poverty. This method has led to families doubling their meals and a sevenfold increase in women participating in leadership roles. More than 80 percent of communities establish inclusive village councils that last. Since 2010, Spark has reached over 500,000 people in eight countries. Over the next three years, Spark plans to scale its impact by expanding to two new countries, conducting new research on community-led development, and curating a global community of practice. Today, Spark trains partner organizations and works with governments to implement the FCAP as a preferred system for social and economic development, improving lives, and securing lasting change.
Official website here: www.sparkmicrogrants.org
Who is the CEO of Spark Microgrants?
Alexandra Fisher is the Executive Director And Co- of Spark Microgrants.
Official website here: www.sparkmicrogrants.org
What is the revenue of Spark Microgrants?
Spark Microgrants's revenue in 2022 was $13,702,703.
Official website here: www.sparkmicrogrants.org
Who are the executives of Spark Microgrants and what are their salaries?
The average compensation at Spark Microgrants during 2022 was $352,815. There are 5 employees and 7 volunteers at Spark Microgrants.
Here are 8 key members and their salaries:
- Compensation: $145,482
- Related: $0
- Other: $8,601
- Compensation: $0
- Related: $0
- Other: $0
- Compensation: $0
- Related: $0
- Other: $0
- Compensation: $0
- Related: $0
- Other: $0
- Compensation: $0
- Related: $0
- Other: $0
- Compensation: $0
- Related: $0
- Other: $0
- Compensation: $0
- Related: $0
- Other: $0
- Compensation: $0
- Related: $0
- Other: $0
Official website here: www.sparkmicrogrants.org
Where can I find the form 990 for Spark Microgrants?
Spark Microgrants's most recent form 990 was submitted in 2022 and can be accessed here.
Official website here: www.sparkmicrogrants.org
Learn more at the official website: www.sparkmicrogrants.org
Mission Statement of Spark Microgrants
Spark Microgrants is an empowering organization that believes in the collective power of communities to create a world where everyone lives with dignity and determines their own positive future. This belief stems from the observation that communities facing poverty are often overlooked by development programs meant to uplift them. Spark aims to update the development model, shifting from prescriptive to community-led, enabling villages to define their own futures.
Spark Microgrants' flagship innovation is the Facilitated Collective Action Process, or FCAP. This unique approach pairs a village planning process with a seed grant, fostering cooperative solutions to poverty. Research demonstrates that the FCAP leads to significant improvements, with families enjoying a twofold increase in meals and a sevenfold rise in women engaging in leadership roles. More than 80 percent of communities establish inclusive village councils that endure.
Since its inception in 2010, Spark Microgrants has reached over 500,000 people in eight countries. Over the next three years, the organization intends to expand its impact by scaling the national program in Rwanda, entering two new countries, producing new research on community-led development, and cultivating a global community of practice.
Today, Spark Microgrants collaborates with partner organizations and governments to scale the FCAP as the preferred system to advance social and economic development, enhance lives, and secure lasting change. With offices in Kigali, Kampala, and New York and operations in six countries in East and West Africa, Spark Microgrants is making a difference in the world, one community at a time.
Shop smarter and support your favorite cause with the Give Freely browser extension. Save money with coupons and donate to charity with a single click. Download now!
Impact
October, 2024
Spark Microgrants significantly transforms how communities facing poverty approach development by prioritizing local leadership and collective action. By implementing the Facilitated Collective Action Process (FCAP), Spark enables villages to engage in a planning process that is uniquely tailored to their needs and aspirations, supported by seed grants to kickstart cooperative solutions.
The impact is profound: families participating in the program reportedly double the number of meals they consume, which directly addresses food security. Additionally, there is a substantial increase in women's participation in leadership roles, showing a sevenfold rise, which not only empowers women but also fosters inclusive governance. More than 80% of the involved communities establish sustainable and inclusive village councils that continue to operate beyond the initial engagement.
Since its inception, Spark has positively affected over 500,000 individuals across eight countries, including a flagship program in Rwanda. As it scales its efforts in Rwanda and expands to new regions, Spark continues to shape its approach based on research that underscores the effectiveness of community-led development.
Through partnerships with local organizations and governments, Spark advocates for the FCAP as a preferred methodology for driving social and economic development, ensuring lasting improvements in the lives of the people it serves. This approach not only uplifts communities but also empowers them to envision and create their own futures with dignity.
This information is meant to be a general summary of Spark Microgrants. Please take the time to review official sources before making any decisions based upon the content provided here.
Financials
This financial information is from Propublica.
Other financial information:
This information is from the most recently submitted tax form from this organization, which was in 2022.
- Investment Income: $622
- Gross Receipts: $13,702,703
Assets and Liabilities:
- Total Assets: $15,642,763
- Total Liabilities: $890,106
- Net Assets: $14,752,657
Want to help this charity, for free? You can click here to learn more about Give Freely
Organization Details
Founding Year
2011
Phone
(860) 805-6478Principal Officer
Alexandra Fisher
Main Address
PO BOX 20435, NEW YORK, NY, 100019998
Website
www.sparkmicrogrants.orgNTEE Category
Code: Q33 - International
If you are a representative of Spark Microgrants and wish to learn more about how Give Freely can help you raise funds, please click here: https://givefreely.com/nonprofits/. Our services are offered at no cost to your organization.