Michelson Spark Grants
The Smart Justice funding cycle will be open for proposals from December 6, 2023 to December 20, 2023. Join members of the grant committee on November 30th for an informational webinar to learn more.
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 advancing or declining an LOI within one week of when our call for proposals close. Grants will be awarded within six weeks of the call for proposals closing.
Grant Evaluation Criteria
Baseline Grant Criteria
- Grant ask is up to $25,000
- This funding cycle seeks to support projects that advance systems-level strategies with the potential to create positive impact at scale and inform public policy.
- Proposals where Michelson Spark Grant funds are part of a larger overall project with multiple funding streams are welcomed.
- For this round of funding, we are focusing our impact on organizations doing work in California—organizations whose work does not impact California will be ineligible for this opportunity.
Smart Justice Funding Cycle Focus Areas
- Innovative scalable programming that builds a “going to college” culture among the nonprofit ecosystem that serves systems impacted individuals. This could include:
- Efforts that guide formerly incarcerated individuals who have not begun their higher education journeys to get to and through college/universities
- Efforts that have developed a roadmap or toolkit that makes higher education one of the priorities for individuals reintegrating into community
- Efforts focused on mitigating the impact/disruption that prison closures and transfers have on the educational trajectories of individuals enrolled in in-prison college programs
- Efforts looking to scale best-practices for in-prison women-focused education and workforce development programming.
- Multigenerational programming that supports the children of incarcerated individuals and prevents the school to prison pipeline. Efforts can include but are not limited to the following:
- Efforts that address trauma and mental health needs of children
- Efforts that maintain the parent/child bond during incarceration
- Mentoring programs geared toward college access and success
- Workforce development opportunities for youth and young adults
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.
Alignment with focus areas
Lasting organizational sustainability
Measurability of project impact
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 6 weeks of our call for proposals closing.
Grant Committee
Phil Kim
Chief Executive Officer
Mayra Lombera
Chief Operating Officer
Ryan Erickson-Kulas
Director of Programs and Operations
Kenia Miranda Verdugo
Program Manager, Smart Justice
Past Spark Grant Recipients
Want to Learn More?
On November 30th, members of the grant committee will host an informational webinar on the funding cycle, focus areas, and Spark Grants process.