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Sparknc

EIN 92-1765886 · Raleigh, NC

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

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthWeak20 out of 100GovernanceGood86 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

Points to look into

  • Raising each dollar of donations cost 112 cents.

These come from the organization's own tax return. There may be a good explanation; ask the charity.

What it says it does

SPARKNC EMPOWERS STUDENTS TO DISCOVER CAREERS IN HIGH-TECH FIELDS LIKE CYBERSECURITY, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND MACHINE LEARNING, SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT AND COMPUTER SYSTEMS ENGINEERING. WE HELP SCHOOLS MOVE AWAY FROM TRADITIONAL CLASSES AND RIGID SCHEDULES. INSTEAD, STUDENTS CHOOSE WHAT, WHERE AND HOW THEY LEARN. EDUCATORS HAVE FLEXIBILITY TO USE INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES TO DELIVER INSTRUCTION IN ENGAGING WAYS TO STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE.

Income
$109,739
Spending
$4.2 million
Spent on programs
91%
Reserves
-0.1 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 55%
Employees
12
Volunteers
6
Highest pay
$244,190, president

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Weak: 20 out of 100. Higher than 3% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 0% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    0 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 3717% of income.

  • Income trend

    0 of 15

    Income fell 98% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    0 of 15

    91% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 112 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 86 out of 100. Higher than 83% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    6 of 6 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

    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

    10 of 10

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

  • Pay set independently

    0 of 5

    Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

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

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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. $3.8 million spent. SPARKNC EMPOWERS STUDENTS TO DISCOVER CAREERS IN HIGH-TECH FIELDS LIKE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT, COMPUTER SYSTEMS ENGINEERING, AND CYBERSECURITY. SPARKNC HAS ESTABLISHED 25 DISTRICT PARTNERSHIPS IN 2025, 30 SPARKLABS ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA, EQUIPPED WITH FURNITURE AND EQUIPMENT, A SPARKLAB LEADER, AND A LEARNING PLATFORM FOR STUDENTS TO ACCESS CONTENT AND TRACK PROGRESS. SPARKLABS OFFER VARIOUS TYPES OF LEARNING EXPERIENCES, INCLUDING ON-DEMAND, LIVE-INTERDISTRICT, AND EXPERIENTIAL OPTIONS, WHICH CAN BE STACKED TOWARD ELECTIVE CREDIT. THESE MODERN, COLLABORATIVE SPACES PROVIDE STUDENTS WITH ACCESS TO COMPETENCY-BASED, INDUSTRY-ALIGNED, MODULAR LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOCUSED ON HIGH-WAGE, SOCIALLY IMPACTFUL CAREERS IN HIGH-TECH FIELDS. APPROXIMATELY 2,401 STUDENTS HAVE ENGAGED IN SPARKNC'S LEARNING PLATFORM SINCE AUGUST 2023, DEMONSTRATING THE REACH OF THIS INITIAL PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENT.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 June 2023.

    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.