College Spark Washington is a private foundation based in Seattle, Washington, dedicated to supporting the postsecondary dreams of students and their communities through grantmaking focused on dismantling racism in the education system. The organization works to remove unfair barriers and make education systems work better for everyone by building an anti-racist education system and supporting leaders who advance this mission.
Key facts about College Spark Washington
- EIN
- 91-1215725
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,876,544
- Grants made (2025)
- 50
- Average grant
- $77,531
- Median grant
- $60,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (10 of 39, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Washington (93% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Detailed requests-for-proposals are available at www.collegespark.org, which set forth requirements for consideration of grant proposals, including eligibility criteria. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who College Spark Washington funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for College Spark Washington's 50 itemized 2025 grants were Washington (93%). The most frequent recipient cities were Seattle, WA (24 grants), Renton, WA (4 grants), Yakima, WA (2 grants) and Oakland, CA (2 grants). 10% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Employee Match" (11 grants).
Is College Spark Washington open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 10 of 39 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $115K; repeat grants $94K. How we count
Medians: $60K first-time, $60K repeat.
- 64% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+11%). Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with College Spark Washington
- How to evaluate College Spark Washington as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$3.9M
+6.1% YoY
Grant Count
50
+4.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$78K
+1.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: College Spark Washington supports the postsecondary dreams of students and their communities through grantmaking focused on dismantling racism in the education system. The foundation envisions an education system that encourages learners to be their authentic selves and is equipped to guide them toward realizing their dreams.
Core Values: The organization's work is rooted in love for community and justice. College Spark demonstrates this commitment by:
- Believing in the wisdom of students and their communities, recognizing that solutions come from those most directly affected by racist systems
- Actively seeking opportunities to support students, communities, and allies in devising and implementing educational solutions
- Operating with humility and collaborating with others to leverage collective insight, experience, networks, and resources
- Forging authentic relationships with communities and allies through openness, transparency, and responsiveness
- Embracing continuous improvement and new ways of thinking to enhance impact and effectiveness
- Maintaining a steady, relentless approach to lasting change
Primary Funding Areas:
- Education Equity Fund: Supports schools, colleges, and organizations working toward antiracist practices in education
- LEADER Initiative: Increases community representation in teaching and supports equitable educator preparation programs
- College Readiness Initiative: Focuses on improving college readiness and access for students, especially those from underserved communities
- Rural Education Support: Funds initiatives to improve education in rural areas, including partnerships with local schools
The foundation gives to organizations with a staffed and physical presence in Washington State that can demonstrate successful experience in reaching and serving low-income students. Students are considered low-income if they are eligible for Pell Grants or Washington State Need Grants, or from families eligible for public assistance programs including Food Stamps, Free and Reduced Price Lunch, or Temporary Assistance to Needy Families.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:**
Average Grant
$65,900–$77,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with College Spark Washington?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
College Spark Washington primarily funds organizations in Washington State. The foundation also supports educational projects in California, Michigan, Oregon, and Texas, with grantmaking concentrated in Washington, Oregon, and Texas, which account for 99% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across five states.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 50 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue:
- Total assets: $123.2 million (as of 2024)
- Annual revenue: $6.3 million–$10.1 million
- Total expenses: $5.9 million–$6.4 million
- Annual income: $74.3 million
Staffing:
- 5–6 employees
Organization Details:
- EIN: 91-1215725
- Founded: 1983 (IRS ruling year)
- Type: Independent private foundation, 501(c)(3)
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
258 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from College Spark Washington
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Puget Sound Education Service District 121 ($525,000 across 2 grants), Education Service District #105 ($420,000 across 2 grants), Technology Access Foundation ($360,000 across 2 grants).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICT 105 Yakima, WA | LEA2143 LEADER IMPLEMENTATION | $300,000 |
| TECHNOLOGY ACCESS FOUNDATION Seattle, WA | LEA2144 LEADER IMPLEMENTATION | $300,000 |
| PUGET SOUND EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICT 121 Renton, WA | LEA2138 LEADER IMPLEMENTATION | $275,000 |
| PUGET SOUND EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICT 121 Renton, WA | LEA2138 LEADER IMPLEMENTATION | $250,000 |
| NORTHEAST WA ESD 101 Spokane, WA | LEA2139 LEADER IMPLEMENTATION | $175,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON Seattle, WA | LEA2145 LEADER IMPLEMENTATION | $175,000 |
| COMMUNITY CENTER FOR EDUCATION RESULTS Renton, WA | EEF2152 COMMUNITY PRACTICE PARTNERSHIPS | $164,000 |
| ONEAMERICA Seattle, WA | EEF2114 BUILDING A PIPELINE FOR MULTIRACIAL SCHOOL BOARD LEADERSHIP | $150,000 |
| NORTHWEST EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICT 189 Anacortes, WA | LEA2142 LEADER IMPLEMENTATION | $133,584 |
| EDUCATION SERVICE DISTRICT #105 Yakima, WA | EEF2127 EQUITY AND VOICE STRUCTURES | $120,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Warren Brown, Ed.D. – Chief Executive Officer/Executive Director
- Annual compensation: $273,734
Sandy Brewster – Chief Financial Officer
The foundation's leadership team includes numerous trustees, most of whom serve without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Warren Brown | Chief Executive Officer | 40 | $301,067 |
| Sandy Brewster | CFO (As of 2/25) | 20 | $57,692 |
| Kris Lambright | CFO (Thru 4/25) | 20 | $63,237 |
| Joseph Accuardi-Gilliam | Vice-Chair | 4 | — |
| Allison Fitzgerald Bromley | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Anthony Craig | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Lupe Mares-Rojas | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Linda McDermott | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Sid Parakh | Treasurer/Secretary | 4 | — |
| Prakash Ramoutar | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Susana Reyes | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Francicso Rios | Trustee | 4 | — |
| Omar Santoy | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Jeff Wagnitz | Trustee | 4 | — |
| Lin Zhou | Chair | 4 | — |
| Denise Stiffarm | Trustee | 4 | — |
| Karin Edwards | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Shirline Wilson | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Debora Juarez | Trustee | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
College Spark Washington has announced several significant grants and initiatives:
Investing in the Future of School Leadership: College Spark Awards ...**Washington STEM:** $360,000 grant for Community-Centered, School-Based Improvement (2024)
**Technology Access Foundation (TAF):** $300,000 grant for LEADER Implementation (2024)
**OneAmerica:** $150,000 grant for Building A Pipeline for Multiracial School Board Leadership (2024)
Investing in the Future of School Leadership: College Spark Awards ...**Washington State University:** $220,000 grant for investing in the future of school leadership
Investing in the Future of School Leadership: College Spark Awards ...**Five Washington Colleges:** $2.5 million in grants to implement guided pathways
Five Washington Colleges Awarded $2.5 Million in Grants to Implement GuidedThe foundation continues to actively award Education Equity Fund grants to educational institutions and nonprofit organizations working to remove barriers to equity for high-need students.
College Spark Awards $75K Grant Igniting Educational Equity in ...Contact Information
Website: www.collegespark.org
Address: 210 S Hudson St # 322, Seattle, WA 98134-2417
Phone: 206-461-7248
Email: info@collegespark.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does College Spark Washington fund?
**Mission:** College Spark Washington supports the postsecondary dreams of students and their communities through grantmaking focused on dismantling racism in the education system. The foundation envisions an education system that encourages learners to be their authentic selves and is equipped to guide them toward realizing their dreams. **Core Values:** The organization's work is rooted in love for community and justice. College Spark demonstrates this commitment by: • Believing in the wisdom…
How do I apply for a grant from College Spark Washington?
Detailed requests-for-proposals are available at www.collegespark.org, which set forth requirements for consideration of grant proposals, including eligibility criteria. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does College Spark Washington make grants?
College Spark Washington primarily funds organizations in Washington State. The foundation also supports educational projects in California, Michigan, Oregon, and Texas, with grantmaking concentrated in Washington, Oregon, and Texas, which account for 99% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across five states.
What size grants does College Spark Washington award?
In 2025, College Spark Washington awarded 50 grants totaling $3.9M — an average of about $78K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is College Spark Washington's EIN?
College Spark Washington's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1215725. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Explore Open Grants
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.