Spark Microgrants
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
SPARK MICROGRANTS EMPOWERS COMMUNITIES TO WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE A WORLD WHERE EVERYONE LIVES WITH DIGNITY AND DETERMINES THEIR OWN POSITIVE FUTURE.
- Income
- $7.7 million
- Spending
- $7.0 million
- Spent on programs
- 78%
- Reserves
- 13.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 95%
- Employees
- 11
- Volunteers
- 7
- Highest pay
- $212,814, executive director and co-founder
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.8 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 7% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 9% of income.
Income trend
0 of 15Income fell 25% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1578% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 95 out of 100. Higher than 61% of charities in its peer group (international, $1m to $10m).
Independent board
25 of 257 of 7 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $5.5 million spent. SPARK BELIEVES IN THE COLLECTIVE POWER OF PEOPLE. YET TOO OFTEN, COMMUNITIES FACING POVERTY ARE SIDELINED BY THE VERY PROGRAMS MEANT TO UPLIFT THEM. SPARK UPDATES THE DEVELOPMENT MODEL, FROM PRESCRIPTIVE TO COMMUNITY-LED, SO THAT EVERY VILLAGE CAN DEFINE THEIR OWN FUTURE. SPARK'S KEY INNOVATION IS THE FACILITATED COLLECTIVE ACTION PROCESS, OR FCAP PAIRS A VILLAGE PLANNING PROCESS WITH A SEED GRANT TO FACILITATE COOPERATIVE SOLUTIONS TO POVERTY. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THE FCAP RESULTS IN FAMILIES DOUBLING THE MEALS THEY EAT AND A SEVENFOLD INCREASE IN WOMEN ENGAGING IN LEADERSHIP ROLES. MORE THAN 80 PERCENT OF COMMUNITIES CREATE INCLUSIVE VILLAGE COUNCILS THAT LAST. SINCE 2010, SPARK HAS REACHED MORE THAN 500,000 PEOPLE IN EIGHT COUNTRIES, INCLUDING THROUGH ITS FLAGSHIP PROGRAM WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF RWANDA. OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, SPARK WILL ACCELERATE ITS IMPACT BY SCALING THE NATIONAL PROGRAM IN RWANDA AND EXPANDING TO TWO NEW COUNTRIES, PRODUCING NEW RESEARCH ON COMMUNITY-LED DEVELOPMENT, AND CURATING A GLOBAL COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE. TODAY, SPARK TRAINS PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS AND WORKS WITH GOVERNMENTS TO SCALE THE FCAP AS THE SYSTEM OF CHOICE TO ADVANCE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IMPROVE LIVES, AND SECURE LASTING CHANGE. SPARK HAS OFFICES IN KIGALI, KAMPALA, AND NEW YORK AND OPERATES IN SIX COUNTRIES IN EAST AND WEST AFRICA.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since March 2012.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.