Spark Climate Solutions
Spark Climate Solutions is a Form 990 (a public charity) based in Covina, California. It says it accelerates emerging climate mitigation and adaptation approaches that are under-addressed and potentially high-impact, including research and field-building intended to help manage climate risks and contribute to a safer climate.
Spark Climate Solutions at a glance
In short: Spark Climate Solutions gave $965K across 11 grants in 2025 (avg $88K), top state New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $964,745
- -64.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 11
- +22.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $87,704
- -71.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $82,500
- Total assets
- $21,488,025
- +28.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (35% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Spark Climate Solutions
- Review Cycle
- The published deadlines for the opportunities described above have passed; the methane-removal opportunities are listed as closed, and the WIE-MIP deadline has passed.
- Deadline
- The published deadlines for the opportunities described above have passed; the methane-removal opportunities are…
- Contact
Mailing address: 440 N Barranca Ave 3536, Covina, CA 91723
Phone: (415) 231-2032
Website: https://sparkclimate.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Spark Climate Solutions
Exploratory Grants for Atmospheric Methane Research
Spark Climate Solutions
Amount
Up to $300,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Laboratory Investigation of Chlorine-Mediated Methane Removal Pathways to Advance Model Development
Spark Climate Solutions
Amount
Phase I: Up to $80,000; Multi-year Phase II: Up to $2 million; Potential Phase III focused on global modeling
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Spark Climate Solutions funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was UltraPure Air LLC ($254K). Together the top 10 received $950K.
Grant Size Distribution
27 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 9 grants of 27 (33%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 grants went to recipients in multiple states. By share of grant dollars, the largest recipient-state shares were New York (35%), Maryland (19%), Arizona (12%), North Carolina (11%), and Colorado (10%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Spark Climate Solutions gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $284K (2022) to $2.7M (2024). In 2025 it made 11 grants totaling $965K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UltraPure Air LLC Setauket, NY | Research Grants | $254,310 |
| Univ of Maryland Center Envir Cambridge, MD | Research Grants | $185,000 |
| Arizona State University Fdtn Tempe, AZ | Research Grants | $120,003 |
| Duke University Durham, NC | Research Grants | $102,432 |
| Colorado State University Fort Collins, CO | Research Grants | $82,500 |
| Cornell Unversity Ithaca, NY | Research Grants | $82,500 |
| CTrees Pasadena, CA | Research Grants | $50,000 |
| Gordon Research East Greenwich, RI | Research Grants | $30,000 |
| Regents of the University of Los Angeles, CA | Research Grants | $25,000 |
| Scientific Committee on Ocean Newark, DE | Research Grants | $18,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Spark Climate Solutions?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $21,488,025 | $12,435,732 | $6,538,704 | $964,745 | 11 | $374,641 |
| 2024 | $16,748,370 | $9,761,404 | $7,392,727 | $2,749,384 | 9 | $156,946 |
| 2023 | $12,196,337 | $6,363,291 | $5,161,197 | $652,262 | 5 | $79,135 |
| 2022 | $9,896,473 | $11,729,345 | $2,343,574 | $284,228 | 2 | $12,111 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Spark’s stated mission is to accelerate progress in emerging, potentially high-impact approaches to climate mitigation and adaptation, as part of a comprehensive portfolio of responses that can enable a return to a safe climate while minimizing risks to societal stability.
Its 2025 filing describes work to advance research, policy, and market pathways for reducing livestock methane; research into atmospheric methane sinks and possible removal approaches; innovations to reduce agricultural nitrogen loss; and better understanding and management of greenhouse gas emissions from warming natural systems. The organization says its methane-removal work assesses whether approaches could responsibly complement emissions reductions. Its website says none of the approaches it discusses for removing methane at ambient atmospheric concentrations is currently ready for deployment.
The 2025 grants include awards to universities and other research or science organizations. For example, the Arizona State University Foundation says its mission is to raise and manage private contributions supporting Arizona State University’s work. CSU STRATA says it aids research and educational efforts at institutions in the Colorado State University System. CTrees says it works to track carbon in trees and deliver geospatial data for natural climate solutions, while Aspen Global Change Institute says it advances global change science and solutions through interdisciplinary work and community-building.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Spark reported 11 grants totaling $964,745. Grant amounts ranged from $15,000 to $254,310, with a median of $82,500. The largest awards included $254,310 to UltraPure Air LLC for research grants, $185,000 to the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, $120,003 to Arizona State University Foundation, $102,432 to Duke University, and $82,500 each to Colorado State University and Cornell University.
Spark’s website describes several research funding opportunities, but the listed cycles are closed. The Exploratory Grants for Atmospheric Methane Research offered awards of up to $300,000; its stated 2024 submission deadlines have passed. A laboratory research opportunity on chlorine-mediated methane removal pathways described a first phase of up to $80,000 and later multi-year laboratory studies of up to $2 million; its March 9, 2026 Phase I deadline has passed. The Warming-Induced Emissions Model Intercomparison Project invited modeling teams to apply for grants generally in the $100,000–$150,000 range; its November 30, 2025 deadline has passed.
Spark says grantees must submit final narrative and financial reports within 60 days after fully and finally spending grant funds. It may also request quarterly or semiannual reports, depending on grant length.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Philip Duffy as Chief Scientist; David Mann as Secretary; Charles Brooke as Program Director, Livestock Enteric; Danielle Potocek as Deputy Director, Warming-Induced Emissions; Katrine Gorham as Deputy Director, Methane Removal; Laura Adams as Chief of Staff; Paige E Brocidiacono as Project Manager; Ryan Price as Deputy Director of Policy; Sam Abernethy as Research Scientist; and Benjamin Poulter as Program Director.
Spark Climate Solutions is led by Erika Reinhardt, President since 2024 (on filings since 2022); 11 of 14 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Erika Reinhardt
President
Executive Director → President, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charles Brooke
Program Director & Livestock Enteric
Program Lead Enteric Methane → Program Director & Livestock Enteric, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$154K (2024) → $181K (2025)
Benjamin Poulter
Program Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$132K (2025)
Cooper Rinzler
Board Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Koweek
Board Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Mann
Secretary
Hd of Roadmappi → Hd of Strategy, 2023
Hd of Strategy → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$188K (2022) → $269K (2025)
Laura Adams
Chief of Staff
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$155K (2023) → $154K (2025)
Paige E Brocidiacono
Project Manager
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$141K (2023) → $144K (2025)
Danielle Potocek
Deputy Director & Warming-Induced Em
Natural Systems Scientist → Deputy Director & Warming-Induced Em, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$156K (2024) → $161K (2025)
Katrine Gorham
Deputy Director & Methane Removal
Project Manager → Deputy Director & Methane Removal, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$149K (2024) → $155K (2025)
Ryan Price
Deputy Director Policy
Us Policy Manager → Deputy Director Policy, 2025
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$122K (2024) → $143K (2025)
Sam Abernethy
Research Scientist
Scientist → Research Scientist, 2025
On filings since 2024
25 hrs/week
$110K (2024) → $132K (2025)
Ilissa Seroka
Snr Climate Scient
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$117K (2025)
Philip Duffy
Chief Scientist
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$400K (2025)
Former officers (3)
- Former: Daphne Wysham (2023) — Hd of Methane Remo
- Former: David Brown (2023) — Schmidt Futures Innovation Fellow
- Former: Remi Bouteille (2022) — Hd of Strategy
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $400K, to Philip Duffy (Chief Scientist). 11 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Spark Climate Solutions
How much does Spark Climate Solutions give each year?
Spark Climate Solutions gave $965K across 11 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.7M across 9 grants.
What is Spark Climate Solutions's typical grant size?
Spark Climate Solutions's median grant in 2025 was $82,500, and its average grant was $87,704, across 11 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Spark Climate Solutions give grants?
Spark Climate Solutions's top state is New York, with 35% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Maryland (19%) and Arizona (12%).
Does Spark Climate Solutions give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on Spark Climate Solutions's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Research Grants" (11 grants).
Who are Spark Climate Solutions's largest grantees?
Spark Climate Solutions's largest 2025 grantees include UltraPure Air LLC ($254,310), Univ of Maryland Center Envir ($185,000) and Arizona State University Fdtn ($120,003), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 58% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Spark Climate Solutions?
Spark Climate Solutions reported $21.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $12.4M.
What does Spark Climate Solutions fund?
Spark’s stated mission is to accelerate progress in emerging, potentially high-impact approaches to climate mitigation and adaptation, as part of a comprehensive portfolio of responses that can enable a return to a safe climate while minimizing risks to societal stability. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Spark Climate Solutions?
Spark Climate Solutions has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check sparkclimate.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Spark Climate Solutions's EIN?
Spark Climate Solutions's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-4299990. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(5)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS October 4, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 10, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 31, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2022–2024
Live grants for the work Spark Climate Solutions funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Spark Climate Solutions's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Spark Climate Solutions funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/spark-climate-solutions-morg_b5d00f86531949cb959ba6382c61d465
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_874299990_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Spark Climate Solutions funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/spark-climate-solutions-morg_b5d00f86531949cb959ba6382c61d465},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Spark Climate Solutions's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Spark Climate Solutions down — hundreds of funders to go?