Spark Grants Platform
The Spark Grants platform is an innovative just-in-time grantmaking process that enables organizations aligned with our focus areas to receive funding within weeks. This rapid funding approach supports initiatives that would be impossible under traditional grant decision timelines.
The Spark Principles
Scalability
We support systems-level strategies that can create impact at scale and inform public policy.
Pilot Program Support
We prioritize demonstrating the viability of groundbreaking ideas, seeding innovative initiatives that are still in the proof of concept phase.
Rapid Response
We are committed to advancing or declining an LOI within one week of when the call for proposals closes. Grants are awarded within six weeks of the call for proposals closing.
Funding Cycles
In the spirit of acting quickly, grants are reviewed on a rolling basis. Below is a rough timeline of when each cycle’s call for proposals opens:
- Open Educational Resources (Q1 of 2025)
- Digital Equity (Q2 of 2025)
- Smart Justice (Q3 of 2025)
- Student Basic Needs (Q4 of 2025)
Eligibility
For our Spark Grant cycles, we generally focus our impact on organizations doing work in California. Organizations whose work does not impact California are likely ineligible, but please review our call for proposals each cycle.
Grantees
Creative Commons
Faculty Professional Development Bootcamps on OER
FFRP
Supporting Workforce Development for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals in Forestry and Firefighting Careers
FRAC
Educating Decision Makers on How SNAP Benefits Help Students Meet Their Basic Needs
#OaklandUndivided
Local Bandwidth Speed Tests to Inform State Policy
PPIC
Implementation Analysis of California’s $6B Broadband Investment Through SB156
Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition
Building a Student Coalition to Combat Automatic Textbook Billing
U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund
Study Revealing the Limited Choice and Uncertain Savings of Automatic Textbook Billing
University of California, Irvine LIFTED
Piloting the First UC Degree-Granting Program in Prison
Young Invincibles
Student-Led Research Ensuring Effective Implementation of California's Investment in Community College Basic Needs Centers