Spark Points

THE SPARK POINT BLOG

Serena Saunders works as the Communications and Programs Coordinator for Running Start, a nonpartisan nonprofit that trains young women to run for office. She recently earned her Masters of Public Policy from the University of Maryland and she’s invested in helping underrepresented groups become civically engaged. Growing up in the DC area, politics was always…

Read More...

Malcom X famously said, “When ‘I’ is replaced with ‘We’, even the illness becomes wellness”. For those of us in the nonprofit sector, this sentiment resonates across both our daily and professional lives. Nonprofit organizations, especially smaller nonprofits, invest so much time, effort, and heart into giving to their communities and fulfilling their missions. Sometimes,…

Read More...

This fall update deserves a round of a-paws! Hello Again! Here at Spark Point, we are settling into fall with new furry friends, plenty of cinnamon coffee, and the launch of ACCELERATE! Read on if you are prepared for extreme cuteness and the latest Spark Point news. Introducing: Bark Point Our Slack channels abound with…

Read More...

Sharon K. Dailey is a domestic violence survivor and advocate. She is currently working to open the doors of her nonprofit, My Auntie’s House, which will be one of the only safe houses in Maryland for women and children impacted by domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. “My purpose is to create that space,”…

Read More...

Kia Croom is a nonprofit leader and fund development professional who is passionate about social justice and education initiatives. She works with the Children’s Defense Fund and founded the Croom Institute for Fund Development and Social Change. To date, she has raised almost $400 million for nonprofits across the country that support communities of color…

Read More...

April Walker is a nonprofit consultant and founder of Philanthropy for the People, an organization dedicated to centering racial equity and justice in fundraising and grantmaking. In this role, April works with nonprofits, donors, and foundations to challenge biases and bring people with lived experiences to the forefront of the philanthropic conversation. After spending years…

Read More...

Position Title:         Senior Grant Writer Time Commitment:    35 hour work week at minimum Reports To:        Director of Foundation Strategy Spark Point Fundraising is seeking a Senior Grant Writer to support our work with progressive nonprofit clients fighting to end poverty, healthcare inequity, systemic racism, and more.  Senior grant writers lead client projects;…

Read More...

This summer, Spark Point Fundraising welcomed Emily Baker, a University of Washington student based in Seattle, as our Marketing and Operations intern. We were extra excited to work with Emily both because of her interest in the nonprofit sector and because of her initiative; after seeing full-time job postings on Idealist, Emily reached out to…

Read More...

Melody Webb is the Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of Mother’s Outreach Network, a non-profit that supports the economic empowerment of disadvantaged Black mothers in the DC area. The organization uses legal programming, policy and advocacy and community outreach to help these women. From an early age, Melody knew she was drawn to community…

Read More...

Position Title: Director of Fundraising StrategyTime Commitment: 35 hour work weekReports To: CEO Spark Point Fundraising is seeking a Director of Fundraising Strategy to lead the company’s growing strategy consulting practice in partnership with the CEO, shaping it over time into its own vertical. To ensure measured and successful growth, the Director of Fundraising Strategy…

Read More...

Veronica E. Jones is the Chief Operating Officer for ​​the National Abortion Federation (NAF), the professional association for abortion providers. NAF also runs the NAF Hotline Fund, a free hotline for patients in the US and Canada seeking abortion care and financial assistance. When Veronica joined NAF in 2019, she made it her priority to…

Read More...

July Newsletter

Here’s a glimpse of Spark Point’s July! Spark Point News Our team at Spark Point keeps on growing! We’re thrilled to announce that on July 18th we welcomed a new Operations Associate to our team. Please give a warm welcome to our newest staff member – Gagandeep Kaur! Introducing ACCELERATE! We’re thrilled to announce our…

Read More...

Lul Mohamud is the Executive Director of The Person Center (TPC), a DC-based non-profit that supports African Immigrant and Refugee survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault.  TPC was founded in 2013 by the late Amelia Missieledies and the organization continues to honor her vision by prioritizing linguistic inclusivity and intersectional justice in its trauma-informed…

Read More...

Crystal Clark-Chatman is the founder and CEO of Beautiful Spirited Women (BSW), a nonprofit mentorship program that works to empower and uplift young girls. Crystal started BSW in her hometown of Memphis, Tennessee, to help advocate for girls in her community who experience domestic violence, depression, low self-esteem, bullying, and so much more.  Since the…

Read More...

Yterenickia (YT) Bell is the Senior Advisor of Voting for The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, an organization that works to expand voting rights to vulnerable populations. She also teaches social work and social welfare courses at Georgia State University.  YT was also just re-elected to her second term as a Clarkston City…

Read More...

Throughout the course of her life, Dr. Ayoka Wiles has followed her heart. She currently works in arts and culture, global unit, at Open Society Foundations, the world’s largest private funder of independent groups working for justice, democratic governance, and human rights. Attaining a PhD in Public Policy and Administration with a concentration in nonprofit…

Read More...

Leigh Player is the Chief Development Officer of Horton Kids, a wraparound out-of-school-time service provider for under resourced DC neighborhoods. Horton Kids offers a range of programming, from tutoring to field trips to basic needs support. Students who participate in Horton Kids are twice as likely to graduate from high school. While Leigh loves building…

Read More...

From an early age, Ashley Munson felt called to represent those who don’t have a voice. Mentors, friends, and even strangers have repeatedly told her she was created for this work. She currently works as Senior Manager of Advocacy with the Greater Chicago Food Depository, an organization that helps provide food to more than 700…

Read More...

Saran Fossett is the founder and executive director of AZIZA PE&CE (AP), a nonprofit program that uses music, fashion, art, fitness, and entertainment to help girls of color and LGBTQ+ youth build self-esteem and confidence. AP offers in-school, after-school and summer mentorship programming that includes everything from workshops on toxic relationships to museum field trips….

Read More...

Nile Fossett is the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Outreach Specialist with Girls Who Code, an international nonprofit working to close the gender gap in tech. Nile is also studying ICT and Data for Development (the intersection of data science and public policy)  as an MPA-DP candidate at the Columbia University School of International and Public…

Read More...

Saran and Nile Fossett are the mother-daughter team behind AZIZA PE&CE (AP), a nonprofit program that uses art, fitness, music and fashion to support girls of color and LGBTQ+ youth on their journeys of self-actualization. Saran is the founder and executive director of AP while Nile serves as the director of operations.  Love is at…

Read More...

Adwoa Rey is the Chief Advancement Officer at Sojourners, a Christian faith-based social justice advocacy organization and award-winning magazine. She is also the President and CEO of Women of Praize, a non-profit dedicated to providing spiritual support for women of color in politics. Adwoa recently founded a second non-profit called You Read You Lead, a…

Read More...

Reverend Kazimir Brown serves as the National Director of Religious Affairs for Repairers of the Breach. This nonpartisan nonprofit was founded in 2015 by Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, II (Bishop Barber) to organize and support activists as they pursue moral analysis and moral public policy agendas. “I actually first heard about Bishop Barber when…

Read More...

Ruby Powell-Dennis is the founder and executive director of the Elect Black Women PAC and it’s nonprofit sister organization, The Black Woman Institute. Both organizations engage Black women seeking political leadership. These organizations connect candidates with a network of other Black women leaders across the country in addition to providing outreach and training. “As we…

Read More...

Position Title: Operations Associate Time Commitment: 35 hours/week; Full Time Reports To: Managing Director Core Work Hours: Spark Point’s core working hours are Monday through Friday from 10AM to 6PM EST, with client-facing meetings occurring, primarily, Tuesdays through Thursdays. Staff are permitted to work remotely at their discretion as long as they consult with their…

Read More...

Dr. Elesia Glover is the founder and president of Posh Pack, a nonprofit organization that provides feminine hygiene essentials to students. The organization also works to educate elected officials and the general public on the importance of alleviating period poverty. The organization donated 3,000 pads in 2018. Now, Posh Pack donates 22,000 pads annually and…

Read More...

Camille Berry is the founder and principal of Camille Berry Consulting, where she helps both nonprofit leaders and for-profit directors learn how to manage relationships and secure funds. She was also recently elected as a Chapel Hill Town Council Member. Years into her nonprofit career, she started thinking about what she wanted next in her…

Read More...

Lauren Lattany is the Director Of Government Relations at the American Medical Group Association (AMGA). This organization brings important issues from medical professionals to the attention of policymakers. AMGA also encourages advocates to use their voices to push for change. Although Lauren loves her work, she never thought she’d be a lobbyist.  “I wanted to…

Read More...

Tenille Hunter is the Chief Operating Officer for Central Arkansas Disability Services, a nonprofit that uses a people-centric approach to empower and support individuals with disabilities in every aspect of their lives. For more than 20 years, this organization has connected individuals with employment supports and community-based programs that support their highest level of independence. …

Read More...

Spark Point Fundraising is seeking a Grant Writer to support clients with grant writing, reporting, cultivation of new funders, and stewardship of current funders. The ideal candidate is someone who thrives in a fast-paced working environment and who embodies the values of kindness, compassion, and equity. Strong candidates will also have 1-2 years of experience…

Read More...