2024-08-14T12:44:38-07:00 2023-09-30 043338777 BISCEGLIA STEIMAN & FUDEMAN LLP 339 main st suite 110 worcester MA 01608 990 2022-10-01 465037162 SPARK KINDNESS INC SPAR 5082691127 PO BOX 823 NATICK MA 01760 NIRA MAHESH CHAIR 2024-08-14 true true HAROLD HOUGH CPA P00035610 5087992491 X 2022 2024-08-08 14:25:15Z NIRA MAHESH PO BOX 823 NATICK MA 01760 374289 false X SPARKKINDNESS.ORG X 2014 MA SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 2010, SPARK KINDNESS HAS DEVELOPED AN INNOVATIVE MODEL FOR BUILDING COMMUNITY AND ADDRESSING THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS OF DISCONNECTION, SUCH AS LONELINESS, BULLYING, RACISM, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, SUICIDE, MENTAL ILLNESS AND INCIVILITY. SPARK FOCUSES ON INDIVIDUAL, INTERPERSONAL, INSTITUTIONAL AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTS TO INCREASE CONNECTEDNESS, CIVILITY AND POSITIVE HEALTH OUTCOMES.OVER THE PAST 14 YEARS, SPARK KINDNESS HAS GROWN FROM A SMALL PARENT VOLUNTEER GROUP INTO A RESILIENT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION WITH OVER 8,900 MEMBERS IN NATICK, FRAMINGHAM, AND MORE THAN 25 TOWNS IN METROWEST BOSTON AND BEYOND. DURING THIS TIME, SPARK HAS OFFERED HUNDREDS OF FREE PROGRAMS AND WRAP-AROUND SUPPORTS REACHING OVER 13,000 INDIVIDUALS, INCLUDING PARENTS, CAREGIVERS, EDUCATORS AND COMMUNITY LEADERS. SPARK CONTINUES TO BE FOCUSED ON OFFERING FREE RESOURCES, IN A VARIETY OF ACCESSIBLE FORMATS, TO INDIVIDUALS, PARENTS, CAREGIVERS, YOUTH AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT SUPPORT CONNECTION, RE 16 14 7 30 0 276068 343845 12307 24170 30 6274 0 288405 374289 0 0 192597 203060 0 32961 95694 85419 288291 288479 114 85810 49461 145688 12198 22615 37263 123073 SPARK STANDS FOR SUCCESSFUL POSITIVE AUTHENTIC RESILIENT KIDS. SPARK'S MISSION IS TO BUILD A KIND, RESILIENT AND WELCOMING COMMUNITY WHERE NO ONE FEELS ALONE, BULLIED, UNSUPPORTED OR UNCONNECTED EVERY DAY AND ESPECIALLY IN THE MOST CHALLENGING TIMES. WE SUPPORT INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, ORGANIZATIONS, COACHES, ARTISTS, FAITH AND COMMUNITY LEADERS IN BUILDING CULTURES THAT EMPOWER YOUTH AND ADULTS, AND PROMOTE KINDNESS AND RESPECT. SPARK'S MOTTO IS KINDESS WITHOUT JUSTICE IS INCOMPLETE.SPARK'S VISION IS TO CULTIVATE A NETWORK OF CONNECTED INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT THE COMMONWEALTH THAT WORK TOGETHER AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL TO SUPPORT KINDNESS, RESILIENCE AND INCLUSION. false false 227436 SPARK'S PROGRAMS AND IMPACTS INCLUDE:THE RESILIENT COMMUNITY SPEAKING SERIES - SPARK HOSTS 20-30 EDUCATIONAL SPEAKER EVENTS ANNUALLY, WITH AN AVERAGE ATTENDANCE OF 250-400 COMMUNITY MEMBERS PER EVENT. ALL RESILIENT COMMUNITY PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED IN AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE AND WE OFFER MULTILINGUAL PROGRAMMING IN PORTUGUESE AND SPANISH.SMALL GROUP PROGRAMMING - WORKSHOPS, MONTHLY GROUPS AND RETREATS TO PROVIDE DEEPER INTERACTION WITH SPARK PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES. THESE SMALL GROUPS PROVIDE ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILIES WHO NEED MORE INTENSIVE SUPPORT, INCLUDING PARENTS WITH STUDENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS OR FROM DIFFERENT CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS. MOST RECENTLY, SPARK HAS ADAPTED OUR PROGRAMMING ADDRESSING INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY RESILIENCE AND WELL-BEING FOR COLLABORATIVE WORK WITH AGENCIES SERVING FAMILIES EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, AS WELL AS DEVELOPING PROGRAMMING FOR PORTUGUESE SPEAKING PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS.INCLUSION AND ANTIRACISM LEADERSHIP - SPARK HAS A SPECIFIC FOCUS ON PROMOTING INCLUSION AND ADDRESSING RACISM THROUGH OUR INTERNAL WORK, OUR PROGRAMMING AND OUR LEADERSHIP ROLES WITH ORGANIZATIONS IN METROWEST BOSTON.ACTIVE AND ONGOING COMMUNITY BUILDING - SPARK PARTNERS WITH LOCAL AND REGIONAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS THAT ARE ALIGNED WITH OUR MISSION TOWARD THE GOAL OF PROMOTING A WEB OF SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES. METROWEST ANTI-BULLYING COALITION - SPARK IS THE CONVENER OF THE METROWEST ANTI-BULLYING COALITION, AN INNOVATIVE, COMMUNITY-WIDE APPROACH TO ADDRESSING IDENTITY-BASED BULLYING AND ALL OTHER FORMS OF BULLYING. FEEDBACK FROM PROGRAM ATTENDEES AND COMMUNITY PARTNERS CONSISTENTLY REINFORCES THAT SPARK IS MEETING A NEED IN NATICK/METROWEST AND SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES LIKE NO OTHER GROUP AND THAT THROUGH CONNECTION WITH OUR ORGANIZATION'S STAFF, ONLINE RESOURCES AND PROGRAMS, INDIVIDUALS FEEL MORE CONNECTED, SUPPORTED AND BETTER ABLE TO ADDRESS THE CHALLENGES THEY ARE FACING WITH NEW TOOLS, APPROACHES AND A POSITIVE MINDSET. 227436 true true false false false false false false false false true false false false false true false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false false true 11 0 true 7 true false false false false false false false 0 false false false false false false false X 16 14 false false false false false false false true false false false true true true true false true true true false MA X MICHELLE MAJOR 5082691127 PO BOX 823 NATICK MA 01760 MICHELE MAROTTA ASSOC. EX. DIR. 40.00 0.00 X 56060 0 0 CHRISTINE FORTUNE GUTHERY Executive Dir. 20.00 0.00 X 43834 0 0 HEATHER ROSENZWEIG-CLARK Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 NIRA MAHESH CHAIR 2.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 ADIEL GUTIERREZ Director 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 MICHELLE MAJOR Director 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 RICHARD KADISON MD Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 BETHANY SHAW Clerk 2.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 REBECCA MOSS Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 FUMA IWAKURA DIRECTOR 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 JEAN HOSKINS Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 ELIZABETH MONTEMAYOR Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 JESSICA COLLINS Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 MONICA GONZALEZ WULFF TREASURER 1.00 0.00 X X 0 0 0 SWATI DAVE DIRECTOR 2.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 RACHEL FORTUNE Director 1.00 0.00 X 0 0 0 99894 0 false false false NONE 0 85424 258421 7265 343845 PROGRAM REVENUE 24170 24170 24170 6274 6274 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 374289 24170 6274 0 0 0 0 99894 60120 12181 27593 0 85184 77701 7483 0 0 17982 13390 1911 2681 0 0 5020 5020 0 0 0 10500 10500 4620 4620 6340 6340 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1311 1311 2783 1246 1288 249 PROGRAM COSTS 50253 50253 POSTAGE AND SHIPPING 1956 265 1691 MISCELLANEOUS 1400 653 747 BANK FEES 956 956 280 81 199 288479 227436 28082 32961 39129 107717 0 0 4000 34011 0 0 0 0 3560 1000 6681 3721 2772 2960 0 0 0 0 0 49461 145688 9698 20115 2500 2500 12198 22615 X 10165 73717 27098 49356 37263 123073 49461 145688 85810 X X true X false false false X 209393 190123 217353 276068 343845 1236782 0 0 209393 190123 217353 276068 343845 1236782 0 1236782 91 86 57 30 6274 6538 0 0 1243320 0.99470 0.99970 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 6681 3721 2960 2960 X Part X : FIN48 Footnote THE FOLLOWING IS INCLUDED IN THE FOOTNOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF SPARK KINDNESS, INC. FOR THE YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2023:THE ORGANIZATION IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION AS DESCRIBED IN SECTION 501(C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE AND IS EXEMPT FROM FEDERAL AND STATE INCOME TAXES. THE ORGANIZATION IS NOT A PRIVATE FOUNDATION.THE ORGANIZATION REPORTS UNCERTAIN TAX POSITIONS, RELATED INTEREST AND PENALTIES, AND RECORDS UNRECOGNIZED TAX LIABILITIES AND ACCRUES INTEREST AND PENALITES ACCORDING TO GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES (GAAP). AS OF SEPTEMBER 30, 2023, THE ORGANIZATION DETERMINED THAT THERE WERE NO MATERIAL UNRECOGNIZED TAX LIABILITIES TO REPORT.INFORMATION RETURNS FILED FOR THE YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2023, 2022, 2021 AND 2020, REMAIN SUBJECT TO EXAMINATION BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE AND MASSACHUSETTS. THE ORGANIZATION DOES NOT EXPECT TO RECOGNIZE ANY TAX LIABILITIES WITHIN THE NEXT TWELVE MONTHS. Form 990, Part VI, Section A, Line 8b THERE ARE NO COMMITTEES WITH AUTHORITY TO ACT ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNING BODY. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 11b FORM 990 IS REVIEWED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS PRIOR TO FILING. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 12c EACH DIRECTOR, PRINCIPAL OFFICER AND MEMBER OF A COMMITTEE WITH GOVERNING BOARD DELEGATED POWERS MUST SIGN ANNUALLY THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED, REVIEWED, UNDERSTOOD AND COMPLIED WITH THE POLICY. ADDITIONALLY, THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ALSO CONSIDERS ANY POTENTIAL CONFLICTS IN PLANNING BOARD MEETINGS AND STRUCTURE CONFLICT DISCLOSURE AND BOARD DISCUSSION, VOTING AND RECUSAL TO COMPLY WITH THE POLICY. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15a THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS REVIEWS ANNUAL GOALS AND PERFORMANCE OF ORGANIZATION'S OFFICERS IN CONJUNCTION WITH REVIEW OF COMPARABLE AGENCY COMPENSATION DATA. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, Line 15b THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS REVIEWS ANNUAL GOALS AND PERFORMANCE OF ORGANIZATION'S OFFICERS IN CONJUNCTION WITH REVIEW OF COMPARABLE AGENCY COMPENSATION DATA. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, Line 19 No documents available to the public. Form 990, Part XII, Line 2c THERE IS NOT A SEPARATE AUDIT COMMITTEE. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OVERSEES THE AUDIT, THE SELECTION OF AN INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTING FIRM AND IMPLEMENTS ANY AUDITOR RECOMMENDATIONS IF DEEMED BENEFICIAL TO THE ORGANIZATION.