Urban Sparks
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Create & Improve Public Spaces, Inspire Similar Work
- Income
- $132,467
- Spending
- $114,461
- Reserves
- 10.6 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 100%
- Highest pay
- $26,000, president
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 90 out of 100. Higher than 75% of charities in its peer group (human services, under $250k).
Reserves
28 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 10.6 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 14% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 (2)
- $104,650 spent. See Schedule O
- Urban Sparks General Mission Work: We continued our mission of facilitating and leading community projects as well as acting as a resource for those wanting to accomplish public projects and charitable work. We help new associations plan their growth from a group with a cookie jar of cash, to one with a checking account, to a state nonprofit with a fiscal sponsor, to a federally recognized 501c3. We coach many projects without ever doing monetary business, helping project leaders find resources - community and government contacts, past project leaders as mentors, vendors, etc. to build their organizations or to complete their projects. We keep a website and database of resources and readily share them. We also share templates for a variety of documents needed by organizations to manage and fund their projects. TRU - Transit Riders Union and MASS - Move All Seattle Sustainably: We are fiscal sponsor for TRU which helps lead MASS. TRU focuses on public education and civic engagement around issues including public transit affordability and access, multimodal transportation, climate change, fair wages, affordable housing, homelessness, tax policy, and other issues that impact the quality of life in Seattle and King County. TRU plays a leadership role in convening the MASS coalition, which brings together transportation, climate, and disability rights organizations to advocate for a sustainable and equitable transportation system. Complete Streets Bellevue: We are fiscal sponsor for Complete Streets Bellevue which inspires and organizes public participation in transportation decision making. Complete Streets Bellevue is creating meaningful relationships with residents, businesses, and organizations to advance the construction of comprehensive & accessible pedestrian, bicycle, and transit networks in Bellevue. Through direct action, walking audits, community events, engagement with public officials, and education, they seek to effect meaningful changes to our transportation system that bring our city closer to becoming an antiracist, equitable, and sustainable community. They acknowledge that transportation is only one piece of a larger progressive & intersectional mosaic required to achieve this goal, so they provide support & authentic partnerships with organizations working towards this future through other policy spheres. The Urbanist: We are fiscal sponsor for The Urbanist, whose mission is to tell stories that inform and influence the public and their leaders - and win them to our vision: that the Puget Sound regions built environment and social systems support thriving, healthy, sustainable, and just communities. Service House: Urban Sparks is developing a philanthropic living/learning center to provide full-time volunteers like AmeriCorps members with affordable housing and a welcoming and enriching program so that they learn from their elders in service and philanthropy while they serve. Our goal is for the residents to choose to continue to play important roles in philanthropic society as life-long donors, nonprofit managers, direct service providers, social entrepreneurs or civil servants. Seattle CoderDojo: In 2024 the Facebook page disseminated information about internships and scholarships to keep the kids engaged and moving toward future opportunities, while large events were put on hold. The current leadership of Seattle CoderDojo is preparing to hand the project and resources over to new leadership. Urban Sparks continues to manage the financial resources for the project.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 April 2003.
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.