The Sparks Foundation Inc

Private foundation · Grantmaker Midland, TX EIN: 20-0396160

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.

Key facts about The Sparks Foundation Inc

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.

EIN
20-0396160
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$1,072,000
Grants made (2024)
11
Average grant
$97,455
Median grant
$20,000
New grantees (estimate)
45% first-time grantees (5 of 11, 2024)
Total assets
$12,705,306
Primary geography
Texas (79% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
How to apply
The 2024 filing lists C Todd Sparks as the contact and says to use prescribed forms and materials. Full details ↓
Deadline
Apply 90 days before the requested funding date.

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$12.7M

+57.0% YoY

Annual Giving

$1.1M

+295.6% YoY

Grant Count

11

+83.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$97K

+115.8% YoY

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.

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. 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.

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.

Review Cycle

Apply 90 days before the requested funding date.

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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 0% to Florida recipients. The listed grants include organizations in Midland and other Texas communities, Arlington, Virginia, and Tarpon Springs, Florida.

Grant Distribution by State

8states

Share of all 11 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Cities

MidlandAustinArlingtonColorado SpringsLemontTarpon SpringsAlexandriaBuena VistaGarlandWashingtonBarlettFriscoFritchHillsdlaeHoustonLeanderOdessaPlanoSherman OaksWaco

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$500K$1M$1.5M13 grants202014 grants202120 grants20226 grants202311 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $271K (2023) to $1.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 11 grants totaling $1.1M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Midland Memorial Foundation: $300KMidland Memorial Foundation$300KTexas Public Policy Foundation: $300KTexas Public Policy Foundation$300KPBBHC: $200KPBBHC$200KAmerica First Policy Institute: $125KAmerica First Policy Institute$125KAmerica First Works: $100KAmerica First Works$100KChristians Engaged: $20KChristians Engaged$20KOne Accord for Kids: $10KOne Accord for Kids$10KMidland Fair Haven: $10KMidland Fair Haven$10KCelebration Family Church: $5KCelebration Family Church$5KFlag Foundation: $1KFlag Foundation$1K

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

46<$50K3$50–100K11$100–250K4$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 46 grants of 64 (72%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Midland Memorial Foundation Midland, TXTo assist and support the services and programs of the foundation.$300,000
Texas Public Policy Foundation Austin, TXTo assist and support the services and programs of the foundation.$300,000
PBBHC Midland, TXTo assist and support the services and programs of the foundation.$200,000
America First Policy Institute Arlington, VATo assist and support the services and programs of the foundation.$125,000
America First Works Arlington, VATo assist and support the services and programs of the foundation.$100,000
Christians Engaged Garland, TXTo assist and support the services and programs of the foundation.$20,000
One Accord for Kids Midland, TXTo assist and support the services and programs of the foundation.$10,000
Midland Fair Haven Midland, TXTo assist and support the services and programs of the foundation.$10,000
Celebration Family Church Fritch, TXTo assist and support the services and programs of the foundation.$5,000
Flag Foundation Tarpon Springs, FLTo assist and support the services and programs of the foundation.$1,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2024 $12,705,306 $5,800,390 $1,171,411 $1,072,000
2023 $8,094,163 $2,151,637 $430,322 $271,000
2022 $6,554,909 $3,757,870 $964,517 $892,200
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$2M$4M$6M$8M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$12,705,306$8,094,163$6,554,909
Revenue$5,800,390$2,151,637$3,757,870
Expenses$1,171,411$430,322$964,517
Qualifying Distributions$1,072,000$271,000$892,200
Net Investment Income$5,696,205$2,127,364$3,697,553
Distributable Amount$350,856$180,095$183,863

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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.

Contact

Application contact: C Todd Sparks
Mailing address: 2600 Mockingbird Ln, Midland, TX 79705
Phone: (432) 683-5203

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 September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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