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Spark Kindness Inc

EIN 46-5037162 · Natick, MA

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood85 out of 100GovernanceGood83 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

SPARK STANDS FOR SUCCESSFUL POSITIVE AUTHENTIC RESILIENT KIDS. SPARK'S MISSION IS TO BUILD A KIND, RESILIENT AND WELCOMING COMMUNITY WHERE NO ONE FEELS ALONE, BULLIED, UNSUPPORTED OR UNCONNECTED. WE SUPPORT FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, ORGANIZATIONS, COACHES, ARTISTS, FAITH AND COMMUNITY LEADERS IN BUILDING A CULTURE THAT EMPOWERS INDIVIDUALS (INCLUDING YOUTH AND FAMILIES) AND PROMOTES KINDNESS AND RESPECT. SPARK'S MOTTO IS KINDESS WITHOUT JUSTICE IS INCOMPLETE.SPARK'S VISION IS TO CULTIVATE A NETWORK OF CONNECTED INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH THAT WORK TOGETHER AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL TO SUPPORT KINDNESS, RESILIENCE AND INCLUSION.

Income
$428,826
Spending
$375,851
Spent on programs
74%
Reserves
4 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 92%
Employees
8
Volunteers
100
Highest pay
$72,116, exec. director

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 85 out of 100. Higher than 65% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 4.0 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 5% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 12% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 14% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    74% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 16 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 69% of charities in its peer group (youth development, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    15 of 17 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    6 of 15

    Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, 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)
  1. $276,635 spent. SPARK'S PROGRAMS AND IMPACTS INCLUDE:THE RESILIENT COMMUNITY SPEAKING SERIES - SPARK HOSTS 20-30 EDUCATIONAL SPEAKER EVENTS ANNUALLY, WITH AN AVERAGE ATTENDANCE OF 250-400 COMMUNITY MEMBERS PER EVENT. ALL RESILIENT COMMUNITY PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED IN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE AND WE OFFER MULTILINGUAL PROGRAMMING IN PORTUGUESE AND SPANISH.SMALL GROUP PROGRAMMING - WORKSHOPS, MONTHLY GROUPS AND RETREATS TO PROVIDE DEEPER INTERACTION WITH SPARK PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES. THESE SMALL GROUPS PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILIES WHO NEED MORE INTENSIVE SUPPORT, INCLUDING PARENTS WITH STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS OR FROM DIFFERENT CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS. MOST RECENTLY, SPARK HAS ADAPTED OUR PROGRAMMING ADDRESSING INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY RESILIENCE AND WELL-BEING FOR COLLABORATIVE WORK WITH AGENCIES SERVING FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, AS WELL AS DEVELOPING PROGRAMMING FOR PORTUGUESE SPEAKING PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS.INCLUSION AND ANTIRACISM LEADERSHIP - SPARK HAS A SPECIFIC FOCUS ON PROMOTING INCLUSION AND ADDRESSING RACISM THROUGH OUR INTERNAL WORK, OUR PROGRAMMING AND OUR LEADERSHIP ROLES WITH ORGANIZATIONS IN METROWEST BOSTON.ACTIVE AND ONGOING COMMUNITY BUILDING - SPARK PARTNERS WITH LOCAL AND REGIONAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ALIGNED WITH OUR MISSION TOWARD THE GOAL OF PROMOTING A WEB OF SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. METROWEST ANTI-BULLYING COALITION - SPARK IS THE CONVENER OF THE METROWEST ANTI-BULLYING COALITION, AN INNOVATIVE, COMMUNITY-WIDE APPROACH TO ADDRESSING IDENTITY-BASED BULLYING AND ALL OTHER FORMS OF BULLYING. FEEDBACK FROM PROGRAM ATTENDEES AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS CONSISTENTLY REINFORCES THAT SPARK IS MEETING A NEED IN NATICK/METROWEST AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES LIKE NO OTHER GROUP AND THAT THROUGH CONNECTION WITH OUR ORGANIZATION'S STAFF, ONLINE RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS, INDIVIDUALS FEEL MORE CONNECTED, SUPPORTED AND BETTER ABLE TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES THEY ARE FACING WITH NEW TOOLS, APPROACHES AND A POSITIVE MINDSET.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. 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 September 7, 2026.

  2. 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 September 30, 2026.

  3. 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 September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 2014.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. 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 7, 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.