The Spark Foundation
The Spark Foundation is a private foundation, based in Westwood, MA. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $613K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $70K. Net investment income was $25K.
The Spark Foundation at a glance
In short: The Spark Foundation gave $70K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $10K), mostly in Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $70,000
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,000
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $613,483
- -4.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Spark Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Boston Higher Ed Resosurce Center ($15K). Together the top 7 received $70K.
Grant Size Distribution
33 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 33 grants of 33 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Spark Foundation gives
- Giving grew 56% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 151% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $35K (2020) to $70K (2025). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $70K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Boston Higher Ed Resosurce Center Boston, MA | Charitable | $15,000 |
| Minds Mattter Boston Boston, MA | Charitable | $15,000 |
| School on Wheels MA East Bridgewater, MA | Charitable | $12,500 |
| Cape Cod Children's Place Eastham, MA | Charitable | $10,000 |
| 826 Boston Roxbury, MA | Charitable | $7,500 |
| Teens in Print - Write Boston Jamaica Plain, MA | Charitable | $5,000 |
| The Children's Center -Harwich Ecumenical Council for Housing West Harwich, MA | Charitable | $5,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $613,483 | $49,524 | $75,078 | $70,000 | 7 | $74,078 | $24,524 | $49,007 |
| 2024 | $639,037 | $67,795 | $74,602 | $70,000 | 7 | $74,602 | $43,795 | $45,751 |
| 2023 | $645,844 | $70,933 | $60,509 | $55,000 | 7 | $58,886 | $60,884 | $40,220 |
| 2022 | $635,420 | $193,594 | $48,583 | $45,000 | 4 | $48,583 | $93,594 | $39,717 |
| 2021 | $490,409 | $28,894 | $62,930 | $60,750 | 8 | $62,930 | $28,894 | $43,755 |
| 2020 | $524,445 | $18,494 | $37,235 | $35,000 | 3 | — | $18,494 | $34,477 |
| 2019 | $543,186 | $21,762 | $40,430 | $37,500 | 5 | — | $21,762 | $33,018 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Spark Foundation reported a distributable amount of $49K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Spark Foundation's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mary-Jo Hannigan
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William Hannigan
Trustee
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 The Spark Foundation
How much does The Spark Foundation give each year?
The Spark Foundation gave $70K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $70K across 7 grants.
What is The Spark Foundation's typical grant size?
The Spark Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $10,000, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Spark Foundation give grants?
The Spark Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (2 grants).
Does The Spark Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 7 grants with a stated purpose on The Spark Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (7 grants).
Who are The Spark Foundation's largest grantees?
The Spark Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Boston Higher Ed Resosurce Center ($15,000), Minds Mattter Boston ($15,000) and School on Wheels MA ($12,500), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 61% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Spark Foundation?
The Spark Foundation reported $613K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $74K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $49K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is The Spark Foundation's EIN?
The Spark Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-7106346. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 28, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 1, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 16, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 10, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 28, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS June 28, 2024)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Spark Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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