Spark Opportunity Giving Circle
Spark learning. Spark collaboration. Spark momentum. Spark change.
“Although I already had a very strong relationship with the Foundation staff, Spark has provided me with an introduction to other donors. I’ve now met a variety of people who are passionate about the same issues that I am. That inspired and challenged me to do even more.”Anonymous Spark Opportunity Donor
Collaborative impact
Since 2016, the Spark Opportunity Giving Circle of donors has focused its learning and philanthropic investments in Thomasville Heights, a small neighborhood located southeast of downtown Atlanta. Read on to discover more about these investments structured by the group’s call-to-action framework.
Supporting resident leaders
Developing neighborhood nonprofit capacity
In 2019, Spark Opportunity invested $20,000 for a green jobs training program for residents of Thomasville Heights. The training was provided by HABESHA, a local grassroots nonprofit dedicated to cultivating youth leadership through practical experiences in education, agriculture, entrepreneurship, health and technology.
Strengthening anchor organizations
In 2018, a total grant of $84,338 was given to four anchor organizations serving the Thomasville Heights community.
Timeline:
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June 2015
The Community Foundation invited critically acclaimed author Robert Putnam to Atlanta to speak about his book Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis. Putnam’s view inspired a hyper-local review of metro Atlanta’s equity gap and the unconscionable regional disparities in access to resources needed for all children to be successful.
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2016
Following several lectures by renowned thought leaders and strategic discussions at donor homes and community spaces, the Spark Opportunity Learning Circle was created with a goal to reduce inequity and the opportunity gap in our region.
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2016-2017
Six learning sessions were held with donors from April 2016 to January 2017 to offer perspectives on specific issues. At these sessions, experts shared insightful information about high-level policy, as well as on-the-street realities, to help assess strategic opportunities for individual and collective action.
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Spring 2017
To make greater impact with their donations, Spark members worked in conjunction with Community Foundation staff to transition the Learning Circle to a formal Giving Circle. In the established group charter, each participant must invest at least $10,000 to be a member of the Spark Opportunity Giving Circle, which would shift focus specifically to the Thomasville Heights community.
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Fall 2017
The Giving Circle made a $157,500 investment in Thomasville Heights. Grants supported programs that mobilized residents, encouraged parent engagement in the schools and coordinated nonprofit service delivery.
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Spring 2018
Spark Opportunity Giving Circle added 14 additional donor members to the group, growing to 27 participants.
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Fall 2018
Spark invested $180,538 into Thomasville Heights, granting dollars to support resident leaders, development of neighborhood nonprofit organizations and strengthen anchor institutions.
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Spring 2019
Spark co-invested with the Community Foundation to launch “THRIVE Thomasville Heights,” a community-led grantmaking initiative. Spark invested more than $11,000 in Thomasville Heights to meet anchor institutions immediate funding needs.
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Fall 2019
Spark made an additional $97,960 in investments in Thomasville Heights.
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Spring 2020
Spark Giving Circle added the amazing Lorde-Rustin Giving Circle members, working together toward equitable grantmaking in Thomasville Heights.
For more information, please contact:
Jarrod Fleming
Philanthropic Officer
404.588.3218
jfleming@cfgreateratlanta.org