John & Polly Sparks Foundation
The John and Polly Sparks Foundation is a Christian-based, private independent foundation headquartered in Pennington, New Jersey. Established in 2012, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a single employee and focuses on charitable giving primarily in the southeastern United States, continuing the philanthropic tradition of its founders.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$70.9M
+6.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.3M
-12.5% YoY
Grant Count
67
+6600.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$49K
-98.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John & Polly Sparks Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on giving primarily for:
- Mental illness, chemical imbalance, and depression in infancy
- Housing for children and adults
- Assistance with health and aging
The foundation also supports research in early intervention and treatment for serious emotional disturbance in children, and funds work in education, philanthropy, voluntarism, and human services.
Grantmaking
The foundation partners with the American Psychological Foundation to administer the John and Polly Sparks Early Career Grant for Psychologists Investigating Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED). This program provides up to $22,000 to early career psychologists (no more than 10 years postdoctoral) conducting research on early intervention and treatment for serious emotional disturbance in children.
Ready to take the next step with John & Polly Sparks Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation operates primarily in the southeastern United States, with documented giving in Georgia, Florida, and New York.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (as of November 2024):
- Total assets: $70,869,717
- Total revenues: $8,199,428
- Total expenses: $4,001,252
- Investment income and dividends: $2,444,966
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $70,869,717 | $66,720,746 | $67,644,511 |
| Revenue | $8,199,428 | $3,578,217 | $8,189,018 |
| Expenses | $4,001,252 | $4,321,392 | $4,256,661 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,653,662 | $4,087,195 | $3,884,549 |
| Net Investment Income | $7,896,898 | $3,183,026 | $7,687,333 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,837,679 | $3,823,099 | $3,957,717 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
103 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta Inc ($500,000), Emory University ($421,029), Christian City Inc ($350,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| FIFTH AVENUE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING | $60,000 |
| ENCORE COMMUNITY NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING | $25,000 |
| FAMILIES AND WORK INSTITUTE INC HILLSBOROUGH, NJ | GENERAL OPERATING | $40,000 |
| PTSD FOUNDATION OF AMERICA HOUSTON, TX | GENERAL OPERATING | $10,000 |
| FAITHBRIDGE FOSTER CARE INC ALPHARETTA, GA | GENERAL OPERATING | $20,000 |
| AMERICA'S VETDOGS SMITHTOWN, NY | GENERAL OPERATING | $20,000 |
| KENNESAW STATE UNIVERSITY FDN INC KENNESAW, GA | GENERAL OPERATING | $15,000 |
| COMMUNITY FRIENDSHIP INC ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL OPERATING | $25,000 |
| 247 GATEWAY LLC ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL OPERATING | $40,000 |
| GEORGIANS FOR A HEALTHY FUTURE INC ATLANTA, GA | GENERAL OPERATING | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| BANK OF AMERICA N A | TRUSTEE | 2 | $403,890 |
| RICHARD W HALLOCK | ADVISORY MEMBER | 1 | $15,000 |
| KIM BARRONTON THORNTON | ADVISORY MEMBER | 1 | $15,000 |
| KATHY BARRONTON HALL | ADVISORY MEMBER | 1 | $15,000 |
| VALERIE SHUPING | ADVISORY MEMBER | 1 | $5,000 |
| BROCK RICHARD PEYER | ADVISORY MEMBER | 1 | $15,000 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported collaborative initiatives addressing mental health and addiction services, including partnerships with Emory University and Grady Health Foundation to integrate addiction services into primary care. The foundation also funds early career psychological research through its partnership with the American Psychological Foundation, with recent recipients conducting research on serious emotional disturbance in children.
Sparks Foundation supports collaboration integrating addiction services intoSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does John & Polly Sparks Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on giving primarily for: • Mental illness, chemical imbalance, and depression in infancy • Housing for children and adults • Assistance with health and aging The foundation also supports research in early intervention and treatment for serious emotional disturbance in children, and funds work in education, philanthropy, voluntarism, and human services.
How do I apply for a grant from John & Polly Sparks Foundation?
**Grant Amounts & Activity:** • Total giving: $3,258,029 (2024) • Typical award range: $10,000–$900,000 • Recent notable grants include: • Emory University: $421,029 (2024) • The Grady Health Foundation: $250,000 (2024) • Morehouse School of Medicine: $200,000 (2024) **Specialized Grant Programs:** The foundation partners with the American Psychological Foundation to administer the John and Polly Sparks Early Career Grant for Psychologists Investigating Serious Emotional Disturbance (SED). This…
Where does John & Polly Sparks Foundation make grants?
The foundation operates primarily in the southeastern United States, with documented giving in Georgia, Florida, and New York.
What size grants does John & Polly Sparks Foundation award?
In 2024, John & Polly Sparks Foundation awarded 67 grants totaling $3.3M — an average of about $49K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is John & Polly Sparks Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, John & Polly Sparks Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is John & Polly Sparks Foundation's EIN?
John & Polly Sparks Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-2992779. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in John & Polly Sparks Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Related Funders
Similar funders by location and focus area
Laborers Intl Union of 472 Hcl
NEWARK, NJ
Assets
$61.5M
Grants
1
Total Given
$179K
The Community Chest of Englewood
ENGLEWOOD, NJ
Assets
$491K
Grants
5
Total Given
$38K
Margaret a Darrin Charitable Trust
FLORHAM PARK, NJ
Assets
$111.3M
Grants
61
Total Given
$6.9M
Anplr Religious Education Inc
PASSAIC, NJ
Assets
$19K
Grants
0
Total Given
—
The William & Phyllis Mack Family
FORT LEE, NJ
Assets
$5.9M
Grants
53
Total Given
$3.2M
New Digital Trade Coalition Ndtc
NORTH BERGEN, NJ
Assets
$300
Grants
0
Total Given
—
Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with John & Polly Sparks Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities
Go from researching John & Polly Sparks Foundation to a real strategy.