The Sparkplug Foundation
The Sparkplug Foundation is a private foundation based in New York, New York. It supports start-up organizations and new projects of established nonprofits in education, community organizing, and music, with an emphasis on grassroots organizing, innovation, and work guided by community voices.
The Sparkplug Foundation at a glance
In short: The Sparkplug Foundation gave $668K across 43 grants in 2024 (avg $16K), top state New York. 93% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $667,576
- +31.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 43
- +19.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $15,525
- +9.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $7,649,292
- +7.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 93% first-time grantees (40 of 43, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (28% 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 The Sparkplug Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Begin with the foundation’s online application process. A written proposal is required, and applicants must submit a letter of intent before being invited to complete a full application.
- Review Cycle
- The Fall 2026 cycle is scheduled to open September 1, 2026. The letter of intent deadline is November 1, 2026, and the full application deadline is November 16, 2026.
- Deadline
- The Fall 2026 cycle is scheduled to open September 1, 2026.
- Next open deadline
- November 1, 2026 (Sparkplug Foundation Grant)
- Contact
Application contact: The Sparkplug Foundation
Mailing address: PO Box 20956, New York, NY 10025
Phone: (877) 866-8285
Email: info@sparkplugfoundation.org
Website: https://sparkplugfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Sparkplug Foundation
Who The Sparkplug Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Institute for the Critical Study of ($63K). Together the top 10 received $244K.
Grant Size Distribution
210 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 208 grants of 210 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its grantmaking as U.S.-focused, with an exception for projects in Palestine/Israel. Its 2024 grants went to recipients in multiple states. The largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were New York (28%), California (22%), and Pennsylvania (13%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 43 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Sparkplug Foundation open to new grantees?
93%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 40 of 43 grantees (93%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $28K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 5% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 23% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 146% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $481K (2022) to $668K (2024). In 2024 it made 43 grants totaling $668K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Institute for the Critical Study of New York, NY | General Support | $62,976 |
| Palestinian Christians for Justice Anaheim, CA | General Support | $20,700 |
| 4DASOIL Philadelphia, PA | General Support | $20,000 |
| Alyssa Rodriguez Center for Gender Brooklyn, NY | General Support | $20,000 |
| Christians for a Free Palestine Lancaster, PA | General Support | $20,000 |
| Co-Op Hudson Valley Poughkeepsie, NY | General Support | $20,000 |
| Decarcerate KC Kansas City, MO | General Support | $20,000 |
| Foster Advocates St. Paul, MN | General Support | $20,000 |
| Human Rights Defenders Fund | General Support | $20,000 |
| Kokua NA Aina Kapaau, HI | General Support | $20,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Sparkplug Foundation?
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 | $7,649,292 | $1,527,346 | $1,007,959 | $667,576 | 43 | $784,570 | $1,045,305 | $538,640 |
| 2023 | $7,129,081 | $887,697 | $826,228 | $508,758 | 36 | $733,026 | $291,482 | $478,831 |
| 2022 | $7,067,612 | $1,013,908 | $732,438 | $481,197 | 37 | $633,505 | $453,694 | $445,910 |
| 2021 | $6,786,142 | $1,840,005 | $763,423 | $541,320 | 39 | $763,246 | $786,414 | $448,701 |
| 2020 | $5,709,560 | $601,650 | $839,793 | $644,390 | 55 | — | $204,599 | $385,902 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sparkplug Foundation reported a distributable amount of $539K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated aim is “Sparking Ideas into Action.” It says communities are best qualified to determine how funds should be used to create change. Its three funding areas are education, community organizing, and music.
It supports early-stage organizations and new projects of established nonprofits, particularly small-to-medium organizations and ideas that have not established broad sources of support. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits and individuals, communities, or collectives with a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor. The foundation describes eligible uses as materials and activities that help make new ideas real and sustainable, including outreach materials, short-term staff, capacity-building, and short-term general operating support for new organizations. Grants are for up to one year.
Examples of grantee work include the Philly Black Worker Project, which says it leads campaigns to advance Black workers’ rights and improve job quality; Foster Advocates, which describes its work as advocacy, policy change, and organizing with foster and impacted communities; and the Western Regional Advocacy Project, which says it works to expose and eliminate causes of civil and human rights abuses affecting people experiencing poverty and homelessness.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation awarded 43 grants totaling $667,576. Grants ranged from $1,080 to $62,976, with a median of $15,000. Larger awards included $62,976 to the Institute for the Critical Study of, $20,700 to Palestinian Christians for Justice, and $20,000 each to 4DASOIL, the Alyssa Rodriguez Center for Gender, Christians for a Free Palestine, Co-op Hudson Valley, Decarcerate KC, Foster Advocates, Human Rights Defenders Fund, Kōkua Nā ʻĀina, Memphis Tenants Union, and Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity.
The website describes a process of creating an account, answering a basic questionnaire, submitting a letter of intent, and—if invited—completing a full application. It requests a specific written proposal describing the steps, people, and materials needed, the need or issue addressed, and estimated costs. The website’s application checklist says organizations must have an annual budget under $1 million, propose activities occurring within one year, and not seek support for religious activity, lobbying, or election campaigns. The filing also states that the foundation restricts eligible expenses and makes grants for seed money or to launch new ideas within existing projects.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Felice Gelman, Yoram Gelman, and Emmaia Gelman as trustees, and John Francis Mulligan as director.
The Sparkplug Foundation's 2024 filing lists 4 officers; 2 of 4 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Emmaia Gelman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$34K (2023) → $33K (2024)
John Francis Mulligan
Director
On filings since 2023
40 hrs/week
$80K (2023) → $80K (2024)
Felice Gelman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Yoram Gelman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $80K, to John Francis Mulligan (Director). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Sparkplug Foundation
How much does The Sparkplug Foundation give each year?
The Sparkplug Foundation gave $668K across 43 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $509K across 36 grants.
What is The Sparkplug Foundation's typical grant size?
The Sparkplug Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $15,525, across 43 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Sparkplug Foundation that year got $15K on average.
Where does The Sparkplug Foundation give grants?
The Sparkplug Foundation's top state is New York, with 28% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (22%) and Pennsylvania (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (5 grants), Oakland, CA (3 grants), Philadelphia, PA (3 grants) and Albuquerque, NM (2 grants).
Does The Sparkplug Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Sparkplug Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (43 of 43) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Sparkplug Foundation's largest grantees?
The Sparkplug Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Institute for the Critical Study of ($62,976), Palestinian Christians for Justice ($20,700) and 4DASOIL ($20,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 16% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Sparkplug Foundation?
The Sparkplug Foundation reported $7.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $785K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $539K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Sparkplug Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated aim is “Sparking Ideas into Action.” It says communities are best qualified to determine how funds should be used to create change. Its three funding areas are education, community organizing, and music. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Sparkplug Foundation?
Begin with the foundation’s online application process. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Sparkplug Foundation's EIN?
The Sparkplug Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 33-1033952. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 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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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Sparkplug Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-sparkplug-foundation-morg_e5dccc708ed74a16ab42bfb322339efc
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_331033952_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Sparkplug Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-sparkplug-foundation-morg_e5dccc708ed74a16ab42bfb322339efc},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 The Sparkplug Foundation'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.
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