Urban Sparks

“Urban Sparks General Mission Work: We continued our mission of facilitating and leading community projects as well as acting as a resource for those wanting to accomplish public projects and charitable work. We help new associations plan their growth from a group with a cookie jar of cash, to one with a checking account, to a state nonprofit with a fiscal sponsor, to a federally recognized 501c3. We coach many projects without ever doing monetary business, helping project leaders find resources - community and government contacts, past project leaders as mentors, vendors, etc. to build their organizations or to complete their projects. We keep a website and database of resources and readily share them. We also share templates for a variety of documents needed by organizations to manage and fund their projects.”

“TRU - Transit Riders Union and MASS - Move All Seattle Sustainably: We are fiscal sponsor for TRU which helps lead MASS. TRU focuses on public education and civic engagement around issues including public transit affordability and access, multimodal transportation, climate change, affordable housing, homelessness, tax policy, and other issues that impact the quality of life in Seattle and King County. TRU plays a leadership role in convening the MASS coalition, which brings together transportation, climate, and disability rights organizations to advocate for a sustainable and equitable transportation system. In 2020 TRU adjusted its work to include safety and affordability needs brought on by COVID-19. They worked for eviction protection, preservation of medical benefits, prevention of utility shut-off, and providing income assistance.”

“Complete Streets Bellevue: We are fiscal sponsor for Complete Streets Bellevue which inspires and organizes public participation in transportation decision making. Complete Streets Bellevue is creating meaningful relationships with residents, businesses, and organizations to advance the construction of comprehensive & accessible pedestrian, bicycle, and transit networks in Bellevue. Through direct action, community events, engagement with public officials, and education, we seek to effect meaningful changes to our transportation system that bring our city closer to becoming an antiracist, equitable, and sustainable community. We acknowledge that transportation is only one piece of a larger progressive & intersectional mosaic required to achieve this goal, so we provide support & authentic partnerships with organizations working towards this future through other policy spheres.”

“Seattle AmeriCorps Collaborative: Urban Sparks is fiscal sponsor for Seattle AmeriCorps Collaborative (SAC) whose mission is "to ensure that every AmeriCorps member's year of service is as fulfilling and impactful as possible; leveraging the talents, knowledge and resources of a connected and service minded community." Urban Sparks' executive director serves on SAC's advisory board. SAC is an important ally in demonstrating the need and backing for Service House.”

“Service House: Urban Sparks is developing a philanthropic living/learning center to provide full-time volunteers like AmeriCorps members with affordable housing and a welcoming and enriching program so that they learn from their elders in service and philanthropy while they serve. Our goal is for the residents to choose to continue to play important roles in philanthropic society as life-long donors, nonprofit managers, direct service providers, social entrepreneurs or civil servants.”

“Seattle CoderDojo: Seattle CoderDojo went online in early 2020 to keep the kids and volunteers safe. Hackathons and CoderDojos were held online throughout the year and the Facebook page disseminated information about internships and scholarships to keep the kids engaged and moving toward future opportunities. Midyear, when it appeared that in-person learning would resume, Seattle CoderDojo purchased materials for planned events. Those time-insensitive materials await the resumption of in-person learning.”

“Greenways: We collaborate on greenways advocacy and planning with various greenways groups in Seattle and we are fiscal sponsor for Kirkland Greenways. We encourage small high-impact projects in Seattle which we can support with coaching, modest grants, and our tool library.”

“Transit Program; Grantmaking; Transit Riders Union: P.O. Box 20723, Seattle, WA, 98102; Grantee, 34500.”

“Project Expenses; Grantmaking; Caring Coders LLC: 4104 161st ST SE, Bothell, WA, 98012; Grantee, 2822.”

“Telephone 1580.”

“Conferences/Travel 47.”

“Computer/Technical 445.”

“Bank and Credit Card Fees 202.”

“Other 428.”