The Sparks Foundation Inc
The Sparks Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Midland, Texas. Its 2024 filing reports grants to organizations in Texas, Virginia, and Florida, including organizations based in Midland and groups working in public policy, child and family support, and other areas.
The Sparks Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Sparks Foundation Inc gave $1.1M across 11 grants in 2024 (avg $97K), mostly in Texas. 45% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,072,000
- +295.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- +83.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $97,455
- +115.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $12,705,306
- +57.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 45% first-time grantees (5 of 11, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Texas (79% 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 Sparks Foundation Inc
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing lists C Todd Sparks as the contact and says to use prescribed forms and materials. It states that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and lists no restrictions on awards.
- Review Cycle
- Apply 90 days before the requested funding date.
- Deadline
- Apply 90 days before the requested funding date.
- Contact
Application contact: C Todd Sparks
Mailing address: 2600 Mockingbird Ln, Midland, TX 79705
Phone: (432) 683-5203
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Sparks Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Midland Memorial Foundation ($300K). Together the top 10 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
64 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 46 grants of 64 (72%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing reports that 79% of grant dollars went to Texas recipients, 21% to Virginia recipients, and less than 1% to Florida recipients. The listed grants include organizations in Midland and other Texas communities, Arlington, Virginia, and Tarpon Springs, Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Sparks Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
45%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 11 grantees (45%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $63K; repeat grants $126K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $73K repeat.
- 36% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 61% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 306% 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 $271K (2023) to $1.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 11 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Midland Memorial Foundation Midland, TX | To assist and support the services and programs of the foundation. | $300,000 |
| Texas Public Policy Foundation Austin, TX | To assist and support the services and programs of the foundation. | $300,000 |
| PBBHC Midland, TX | To assist and support the services and programs of the foundation. | $200,000 |
| America First Policy Institute Arlington, VA | To assist and support the services and programs of the foundation. | $125,000 |
| America First Works Arlington, VA | To assist and support the services and programs of the foundation. | $100,000 |
| Christians Engaged Garland, TX | To assist and support the services and programs of the foundation. | $20,000 |
| One Accord for Kids Midland, TX | To assist and support the services and programs of the foundation. | $10,000 |
| Midland Fair Haven Midland, TX | To assist and support the services and programs of the foundation. | $10,000 |
| Celebration Family Church Fritch, TX | To assist and support the services and programs of the foundation. | $5,000 |
| Flag Foundation Tarpon Springs, FL | To assist and support the services and programs of the foundation. | $1,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Sparks Foundation Inc?
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 | $12,705,306 | $5,800,390 | $1,171,411 | $1,072,000 | 11 | $1,072,000 | $5,696,205 | $350,856 |
| 2023 | $8,094,163 | $2,151,637 | $430,322 | $271,000 | 6 | $271,000 | $2,127,364 | $180,095 |
| 2022 | $6,554,909 | $3,757,870 | $964,517 | $892,200 | 20 | $892,200 | $3,697,553 | $183,863 |
| 2021 | $3,763,557 | $1,335,204 | $693,337 | $667,500 | 14 | $667,500 | $1,048,364 | $210,703 |
| 2020 | $3,121,688 | $814,451 | $376,005 | $336,050 | 13 | — | $519,774 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Sparks Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $351K 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 included $300,000 to the Texas Public Policy Foundation, whose stated mission is to promote and defend liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise through research and outreach. One Accord for Kids, which received $10,000, describes its work as supporting children facing adversity and their families in West Texas through community-driven resources, support, and advocacy.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 11 grants totaling $1,072,000. Awards ranged from $1,000 to $300,000, with a median grant of $20,000. Its largest grants were $300,000 each to Midland Memorial Foundation and the Texas Public Policy Foundation, followed by $200,000 to PBBHC, $125,000 to America First Policy Institute, and $100,000 to America First Works.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Don L Sparks as President, W Jeffrey Sparks as Vice President, C Todd Sparks as Secretary, and Kevin D Sparks as Treasurer.
The Sparks Foundation Inc is led by Don L Sparks, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Don L Sparks
President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
C Todd Sparks
Secretary
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin D Sparks
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
W Jeffrey Sparks
Vice President
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Sparks Foundation Inc
How much does The Sparks Foundation Inc give each year?
The Sparks Foundation Inc gave $1.1M across 11 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $271K across 6 grants.
What is The Sparks Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Sparks Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $97,455, across 11 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Sparks Foundation Inc that year got $63K on average.
Where does The Sparks Foundation Inc give grants?
The Sparks Foundation Inc gives mostly in Texas: 79% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Virginia (21%). The most frequent recipient cities were Midland, TX (4 grants) and Arlington, VA (2 grants).
Does The Sparks Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 11 grants with a stated purpose on The Sparks Foundation Inc's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Sparks Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Sparks Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Midland Memorial Foundation ($300,000), Texas Public Policy Foundation ($300,000) and PBBHC ($200,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Sparks Foundation Inc?
The Sparks Foundation Inc reported $12.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $351K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Sparks Foundation Inc fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants included $300,000 to the Texas Public Policy Foundation, whose stated mission is to promote and defend liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise through research and outreach. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Sparks Foundation Inc?
The 2024 filing lists C Todd Sparks as the contact and says to use prescribed forms and materials. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Sparks Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Sparks Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-0396160. 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 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
Live grants for the work The Sparks Foundation Inc funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Sparks Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Sparks Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-sparks-foundation-inc-morg_59d83a2032e3459e963962fa925ce5b4
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_200396160_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Sparks Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-sparks-foundation-inc-morg_59d83a2032e3459e963962fa925ce5b4},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Sparks Foundation Inc'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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