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Spark Community Cafe Inc

EIN 82-1517160 · Versailles, KY

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak47 out of 100GovernanceWeak48 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COLLEGE STUDENTS ALONG WITH A LONG LIST OF LOCAL SUPPORTERS WERE LOOKING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR HOMETOWN. THE IDEA BEGAN IN A HIGH SCHOOL CLASS LED BY NOW RETIRED TEACHER, KYLE FANNIN. AFTER SOME OF THE STUDENTS ATTENDED A NATIONAL CONFERENCE WHICH FOCUSED ON FOOD INSECURITY ISSUES, TEACHER ANDY SMITH SUGGESTED VISITING AN EXISTING FACILITY IN DANVILLE, KY KNOWN AS GRACE CAFE, WHICH WOULD SERVE AS A MODEL. FROM THERE THE SPARK COMMUNITY CAFE WAS BORN. IN 2020, BOARD CHAIR WHITNEY STEPP-GAY JOINED THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR SPARK COMMUNITY CAFE, INC. SHE, LIKE THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS, UNDERSTOOD THE PROBLEM OF FOOD INSECURITY AND WANTED TO EXPAND THE MISSION OF SPARK COMMUNITY CAFE, INC. AFTER A LOT OF DISCUSSION, THE CAFE MADE THE MOVE TO CLOSE ITS DOORS IN JUNE, BUT CONTINUE MOVING FORWARD PROVIDING MEALS AND ADVOCATING FOR VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY. WITH NEW GRANTS AND SUPPORT FROM LOCAL AND STATE PARTNERS, SPARK COMMUNITY CAFE INC, PLANS ON MAINTAINING A STORAGE SPA

Income
$257,260
Spending
$258,064
Spent on programs
95%
Reserves
0.2 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 54%
Employees
8
Volunteers
12

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

Weak: 47 out of 100. Higher than 10% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Reserves

    4 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 0.2 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    8 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 30% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    95% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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

Weak: 48 out of 100. Higher than 15% of charities in its peer group (food and agriculture, $250k to $1m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    0 of 15

    Reports no written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    0 of 7

    Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • 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 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. $245,150 spent. THE SPARK COMMUNITY CAFE, INC WAS A "PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN" TYPE OF RESTAURANT SIMILAR TO OTHER CAFES LOCATED ACROSS THE COUNTRY KNOWN AS THE "ONE WORLD-EVERYBODY EATS INITIATIVE. COMMUNITY LEADERS, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS DISCOVERED THAT ISSUES SUCH AS HUNGER CAN BE COMBATED WITH THE YOUNGER GENERATION. THE CAFE INVITED THOSE WHO COULD, TO PAY A MEAL FORWARD FOR THOSE WHO COULD NOT. UNFORTUNATELY, THE DOORS TO SPARK COMMUNITY CAFE'S CLOSED AT THE END OF JUNE. HOWEVER, AFTER A YEAR OF DISCUSSION, THE BOARD MEMBERS DECIDED TO FOCUS ON ADVOCATING FOR VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY BY PREPARING AND DELIVERING MEALS FROM A LOCAL CHURCH. PER WHITNEY STEPP-GAY, THE CHAIR OF SPARK COMMUNITY CAFE, WHILE THE CAFE CREW AND COMMUNITY SHARE A LOVE FOR THE GATHERING SPACE, THEY ARE LOOKING AHEAD. SPARK COMMUNITY CAFE, INC. PLANS ON MAINTAINING A STORAGE SPACE, FOOD PANTRY AND FREEZER FOR ITS WORK. WHILE OPEN, SPARK COMMUNITY CAFE SERVED MORE THAN 80,000 MEALS TO PEOPLE LIVING IN WOODFORD COUNTY, SOMETIMES FOR FREE THE SPARK COMMUNITY CAFE, INC WAS A "PAY-WHAT-YOU-CAN" TYPE OF RESTAURANT SIMILAR TO OTHER CAFES LOCATED ACROSS THE COUNTRY KNOWN AS THE "ONE WORLD-EVERYBODY EATS INITIATIVE. COMMUNITY LEADERS, TEACHERS AND STUDENTS DISCOVERED THAT ISSUES SUCH AS HUNGER CAN BE COMBATED WITH THE YOUNGER GENERATION. THE CAFE INVITED THOSE WHO COULD, TO PAY A MEAL FORWARD FOR THOSE WHO COULD NOT. UNFORTUNATELY, THE DOORS TO SPARK COMMUNITY CAFE'S CLOSED AT THE END OF JUNE. HOWEVER, AFTER A YEAR OF DISCUSSION, THE BOARD MEMBERS DECIDED TO FOCUS ON ADVOCATING FOR VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY BY PREPARING AND DELIVERING MEALS FROM A LOCAL CHURCH. PER WHITNEY STEPP-GAY, THE CHAIR OF SPARK COMMUNITY CAFE, WHILE THE CAFE CREW AND COMMUNITY SHARE A LOVE FOR THE GATHERING SPACE, THEY ARE LOOKING AHEAD. SPARK COMMUNITY CAFE, INC. PLANS ON MAINTAINING A STORAGE SPACE, FOOD PANTRY AND FREEZER FOR ITS WORK. WHILE OPEN, SPARK COMMUNITY CAFE SERVED MORE THAN 80,000 MEALS TO PEOPLE LIVING IN WOODFORD COUNTY, SOMETIMES FOR FREE

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 November 6, 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 August 2017.

    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 November 4, 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.