Michelson Spark Grants

The call for proposals for our Student Basic Needs funding cycle closed on September 13th. We will be announcing awardees in early October. To receive updates on the Spark Grant program, please sign up via the form at the bottom of this page.

Spark Grants is an innovative, just-in-time grantmaking process.

Our vision is to introduce a process that can fill urgent needs for education organizations that are well-aligned with our focus areas. We seek to fund highly impactful initiatives that would not be possible if they needed to wait through a traditional grant decision timeline.

The Spark Advantage

Timing

In the spirit of acting quickly, grants will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Eligibility

For this round of funding we have decided to focus our impact on organizations that are doing work in California. Organizations whose work does not impact California will be ineligible for this opportunity.

Velocity

We are committed to reaching a decision on each application within 15 business days of our call for proposals closing.

Spark Grant Awardees

Click the logo to learn more about the work we have funded.

A community based organization designed to save lives, by reducing violence and assisting in the personal development of high risk individuals, proven offenders, ex-felons, parolees and others who society disregards.

Academic Senate for California Community Colleges

The official voice of California community college faculty in academic and professional matters with a commitment to equity, student learning and student success.

Anti-Recidivism Coalition

Working to end mass incarceration in California.

Believe in Students

The nation’s only non-profit organization focused exclusively on supporting college students’ living expenses.

Better Make Room

Launched by Michelle Obama to inspire every student to take charge of their future by completing an education past high school.

California State University Long Beach

California State University, Long Beach

Enriching students' lives through globally informed, high-impact educational experiences.

The Campaign for College Opportunity

Works to ensure that all eligible and motivated students in California have an opportunity to go to college and succeed.

The Common Application

An undergraduate college admission application that streamlines applications to 800+ member colleges and universities.

(click to view site)

The Education Trust-West

Advocates for educational justice and high academic achievement of all CA students, particularly those of color and living in poverty.

A nonprofit dedicated to creating social and economic opportunity by connecting low-income families to affordable internet service and computers, and delivering digital skills trainings.

The Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program

Provides career support to formerly incarcerated firefighters and those currently incarcerated in California’s Conservation Camps who are interested in careers in the Wildland and Forestry sector.

Foundation for California Community Colleges

The official foundation supporting the Board of Governors, Chancellor's Office, and the entire California Community College system.

Hildreth Institute

Conducts research to develop and promote policy solutions that address the college affordability crisis.

The Hope Center for College, Community and Justice

Redefining what it means to be a student-ready college, with a national movement centering #RealCollege students’ basic needs.

An innovation and research center advancing new ideas and solutions for justice reform.

The Institute for College Access and Success

The Institute for College Access and Success

Advancing student-centered public policies that promote affordability, accountability, and equity in higher education..

A global nonprofit that inspires and convenes educators to embrace an ecosystem of learning fueled by collaboration and sharing.

John Burton Advocates for Youth

John Burton Advocates for Youth

Engaging institutions to work together, share best practices, and advocate for policies that support foster youth in higher education.

An inclusive and collaborative regional broadband consortium employing a community-driven process to assess and close the broadband gaps that exist in communities across the LA region.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Office of Open Learning

Transforming teaching and learning at MIT and around the globe through the innovative use of digital technologies.

At the forefront of the movement to ensure that children and families in low-income communities have the digital resources they need to thrive and realize their full potential in their communities.

Public Policy Institute of California

Informing and improving public policy in California through independent, objective, nonpartisan research.

Rand Corporation

A nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decision making through research and analysis.

A legal advocacy center focused on ending the harm caused by mass incarceration and the war on drugs.

Southern California College Access Network

Southern California College Access Network

Increasing the rate at which underrepresented students access and complete post-secondary education.

Swipe Out Hunger

A leading nonprofit addressing hunger among college students.

(click to view site)

A nonprofit organization ensuring that all young people have the financial information and resources necessary to find an affordable path to and through college.

Enabling incarcerated individuals to earn a bachelors degree.

A global leader in education and scholarship with 2,300 undergraduate and graduate students studying communication, journalism, public diplomacy, and public relations.

An independent, non-partisan group that stands up to powerful interests in support of consumers.

Vera Institute of Justice

Works to build and improve justice systems that ensure fairness, promote safety, and strengthen communities.

A higher education program that gives students the rare and powerful opportunity to write for a real audience.

What We’re Looking For

Our vision is to introduce a process that can fill urgent needs for education organizations that are well-aligned with our focus areas. We seek to fund highly impactful initiatives that would not be possible if they needed to wait through a traditional grant decision timeline.

R

Alignment with focus areas

R

Lasting organizational sustainability

R

Measurability of project impact

Grant Evaluation Criteria

Baseline Grant Criteria

Grant ask is up to $25,000.
We welcome proposals where Michelson Spark Grant funds are part of a larger overall project with multiple funding streams.
We will not be funding initiatives that would result in direct assistance to students during this Michelson Spark Grant round, such as emergency student aid, laptops and hotspots for remote learning, or food and housing vouchers. While we realize there is a tremendous need among students for direct support, at this time we are leveraging our funding to effect broader systemic change.
For this cycle of funding we have decided to focus our impact on organizations that are doing work in California. Organizations whose work does not impact California will be ineligible for this opportunity.
Preference will be given to grants that cover a specific self-contained milestone focus including inflection points, things that may open up a new foothold with a partner (i.e. enabling a new partnership with a market leader), or a new proof of concept.
For this funding cycle we will not be funding general operating expenses such as rent, utilities, server costs, etc.

Student Basic Needs (SBN) Funding Cycle Focus Areas:

Innovative efforts that help advance systemic solutions to support disproportionately impacted student populations better meet their basic needs. Efforts should focus on serving one or more of the following student population groups:
- Current or former foster youth
- Pregnant or parenting
- Undocumented
- Veterans
- LGBTQIA
- DACA
Efforts that address implementation challenges for the distribution of emergency student aid funding, including better insights on how institutions of higher learning manage and distribute aid dollars and how these dollars impact student retention, persistence and graduation.
Innovative efforts looking to scale solutions that tackle housing insecurity/homelessness among college students.
Research on effective implementation of student basic needs centers/coordinators within the California Community College system.
Innovative efforts focused on re-enrolling students who stopped out/dropped out during the Covid-19 pandemic due to basic needs challenges. These efforts should be able to scale across institutions and/or higher education systems

Spark Grants Evaluation Process

Grant Application is Received

After LOI is submitted the Grant Committee will do an initial assessment.

Reject or Move Forward Decision is Made

Within 6 business days you will be notified if your proposal is moving forward in the process.

Complete Full Application

Proposals that advance will be asked to complete a full application.

Applications Assessed

Full applications will be assessed and a follow up call will be scheduled with those that advance to the finalist stage.

Final Decision Made

You will be notified of the Grant Committee decision within 15 business days of our call for proposals closing.

Grant Committee

Phil Kim

Phil Kim

Chief Executive Officer

Mayra Lombera

Mayra Lombera

Chief Operating Officer

Ryan Erickson-Kulas

Ryan Erickson-Kulas

Programs Director

Miguel Leon

Miguel Leon

Program Manager

Want to Learn More?

We hosted a webinar on August 11th to provide an overview of the Spark Grant program. It highlighted past awardees and also provided updates regarding our Student Basic Needs round.

WATCH THE RECORDING