Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Sparkwheel Inc

EIN 48-1175467 · Lawrence, KS

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair51 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

TO REMOVE BARRIERS AND PROVIDE THOSE WE SERVE WITH TOOLS AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO THRIVE, NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE.

Income
$6.2 million
Spending
$7.2 million
Spent on programs
77%
Reserves
2.5 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 63%
Employees
104
Volunteers
609
Highest pay
$175,488, president/ceo

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

Financial health

Fair: 51 out of 100. Higher than 31% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    10 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 2.5 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 17% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 16% of income.

  • Income trend

    10 of 15

    Income fell 2% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    77% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 10 cents.

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

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 74% of charities in its peer group (education, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    11 of 11 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a 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

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited 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 June 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. $5.6 million spent. OUR 2024-25 IMPACT: DURING THE 2024-25 SCHOOL YEAR, WE SERVED SCHOOLS WITH A COMBINED ENROLLMENT OF OVER 31,500 STUDENTS. THROUGH OUR SCHOOL-WIDE SUPPORT PROGRAMS, WE DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 250,000 ESSENTIAL NEEDS ITEMS, INCLUDING FOOD, CLOTHING, HYGIENE PRODUCTS, SCHOOL SUPPLIES, BUS PASSES, AND REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES (INCLUDING CRISIS INTERVENTION SUPPORT). OUR FAMILY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES REACHED OVER 8,000 FAMILY AND HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS, STRENGTHENING THE CONNECTION BETWEEN HOME AND SCHOOL. STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN OVER 30,000 INSTANCES OF ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES, WHILE LIFE SKILLS WERE SHARED OVER 20,000 TIMES. BEYOND SCHOOL-WIDE SUPPORTS, WE PROVIDED TARGETED, INDIVIDUAL SERVICES TO 3,067 CASELOAD STUDENTS, RESULTING IN OVER 33,000 INDIVIDUAL GOAL-RELATED SUPPORTS. OUTCOMES FOR THESE STUDENTS INCLUDE: 99% REMAINED ENROLLED IN SCHOOL 99% WERE PROMOTED TO THE NEXT GRADE LEVEL 96% OF SENIORS GRADUATED 53% OF GRADUATING SENIORS PURSUED POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION OR MILITARY SERVICECASELOAD STUDENTS WITH SPECIFIC INDIVIDUAL GOALS ACHIEVED THE FOLLOWING: 91% IMPROVED IN ACADEMICS 78% IMPROVED IN ATTENDANCE 86% IMPROVED IN BEHAVIOR 96% IMPROVED IN LIFE SKILLS 97% IMPROVED IN EARLY CHILDHOOD MILESTONES 95% IMPROVED IN OUR POST-SECONDARY PROGRAMSIN OUR POST-SECONDARY PROGRAMS, 90% OF CASELOAD STUDENTS WERE RETAINED OR GRADUATED FROM THEIR ENROLLED INSTITUTIONS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 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 October 13, 2026.

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

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

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

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

    Recognized by the IRS since April 1996.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 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 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.