Sparks Foundation
Sparks Foundation is a private foundation based in Monroe, Louisiana. Its 2024 filing reports grants to charitable organizations, with most grant dollars going to recipients in Louisiana.
Sparks Foundation at a glance
In short: Sparks Foundation gave $20K across 13 grants in 2024 (avg $2K), mostly in Louisiana. 46% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $20,204
- -2.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 13
- +8.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,554
- -10.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $600
- Total assets
- $112,747
- +5.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 46% first-time grantees (6 of 13, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Louisiana (96% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Sparks Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2104 Island Drive, Monroe, LA 71201
Phone: (318) 398-2204
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sparks Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Tiger Gridion Committee ($11K). Together the top 10 received $19K.
Grant Size Distribution
58 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 58 grants of 58 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 96% of grant dollars went to recipients in Louisiana and 4% to recipients in Arkansas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Sparks Foundation open to new grantees?
46%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 13 grantees (46%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $671. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $600 repeat.
- 31% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 34% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 76% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $15K (2020) to $24K (2022). In 2024 it made 13 grants totaling $20K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Tiger Gridion Committee Monroe, LA | Charitable | $10,600 |
| Neville Alumni Friends Association Monroe, LA | Charitable | $2,000 |
| Grace Episcopal Monroe, LA | Charity | $1,500 |
| Younglife Ruston, LA | Charitable | $1,100 |
| Twin City Art Foundation Monroe, LA | Charitable | $1,000 |
| Camp Ozark Foundation Mt Ida, AR | Charitable | $750 |
| St Fredrick's Monroe, LA | Charitable | $600 |
| The Tarver Braddock Foundation Monroe, LA | Charitable | $560 |
| Jesus the Good Shepherd Church Monroe, LA | Charitable | $500 |
| Neville Jr High School Foundation Monroe, LA | Charitable | $500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $112,747 | $26,112 | $20,306 | $20,204 | 13 | $20,306 | $26,112 | $26,719 |
| 2023 | $106,941 | $31,757 | $29,073 | $20,762 | 12 | $20,762 | $8,430 | $20,623 |
| 2022 | $104,257 | $11,649 | $25,838 | $23,600 | 12 | $23,600 | $9,665 | $18,839 |
| 2021 | $118,446 | $18,489 | $15,509 | $15,102 | 15 | $15,102 | $18,147 | $22,054 |
| 2020 | $115,466 | $10,015 | $16,701 | $14,950 | 6 | — | $8,264 | $15,971 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sparks Foundation reported a distributable amount of $27K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations including arts, school, church, youth, and other charitable organizations. Twin City Art Foundation, a 2024 grantee, describes its own mission as teaching, developing, and promoting the performing and non-performing arts, including operating museums and schools.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 13 grants totaling $20,204. Grants ranged from $250 to $10,600, with a median grant of $600. Its largest listed grants were $10,600 to Tiger Gridion Committee, $2,000 to Neville Alumni Friends Association, $1,500 to Grace Episcopal, $1,100 to YoungLife, and $1,000 to Twin City Art Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Elizabeth McQueen, Susan Lefebvre, and Jennifer C. Sparks as directors.
Sparks Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Elizabeth S. McQueen
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jennifer C. Sparks
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Susan Lefebvre
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Susan Sparks (2020) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Sparks Foundation
How much does Sparks Foundation give each year?
Sparks Foundation gave $20K across 13 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $21K across 12 grants.
What is Sparks Foundation's typical grant size?
Sparks Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $600, and its average grant was $1,554, across 13 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sparks Foundation that year got $3K on average.
Where does Sparks Foundation give grants?
Sparks Foundation gives mostly in Louisiana: 96% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Monroe, LA (11 grants).
Does Sparks Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Sparks Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (12 grants).
Who are Sparks Foundation's largest grantees?
Sparks Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Tiger Gridion Committee ($10,600), Neville Alumni Friends Association ($2,000) and Grace Episcopal ($1,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Sparks Foundation?
Sparks Foundation reported $113K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $20K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $27K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Sparks Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations including arts, school, church, youth, and other charitable organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sparks Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Sparks Foundation's EIN?
Sparks Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 72-1343011. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Sparks Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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