Sparks

What Sparks does

SPARKS (legally SPARKS PPD Inc., EIN 26-0794276) is a New York City-based 501(c)(3) public charity founded in 2007 by Esther Kenigsberg to support women and families affected by perinatal and hormonal disorders, including postpartum depression (PPD). The organization targets the approximately 1-in-5 mothers it cites as suffering from these conditions, offering a free confidential helpline (phone, text, and WhatsApp), one-on-one therapy with licensed clinicians (covered by insurance or free of charge), peer support, support groups, monthly teleconferences, family in-home and outpatient care, Mommy & Me classes, nutritional counseling, life coaching, and a curated 24-hour audio resource library. SPARKS also distributes new mom kits and runs training for medical professionals (doctors, doulas, nurses) to promote early detection.

The business model is a hybrid of donation-funded services and a Medicaid-covered managed-services program. The core helpline, therapy, support groups, and educational services are free to beneficiaries and funded by donations accepted via credit card, PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle. The newer Free Meals Program (SPARKS Kitchen) delivers fresh food and groceries to eligible expecting and postpartum families and households with children facing chronic or mental health conditions, reimbursed through Medicaid — giving SPARKS a billable revenue stream alongside its donor base. Marketing and community outreach are executed through a content-marketing blog, a founder-hosted podcast ("Birthing Conversations"), annual galas and community events, and educational seminars, with clinical credibility anchored by a Clinical Advisory Board that includes Dr. Shoshana Bennett and Dr. James Foster.

Operationally, SPARKS reports a 251–500 employee base and serves beneficiaries from a New York City headquarters with a claimed global reach for its helpline. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and a Clinical Advisory Board, with no parent company, subsidiaries, or external equity funding — consistent with a mature, mission-driven nonprofit whose growth is tied to donations, Medicaid reimbursement, and program expansion rather than capital markets.

Name

Sparks

Legal name

SPARKS PPD Inc.

Website

https://sparkscenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

SPARKS is a NYC-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2007 that provides free helpline, therapy, support groups, and a Medicaid-covered meal delivery program to mothers and families affected by postpartum depression and other perinatal disorders, funded primarily by donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Maternal Mental Health Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Other Individual and Family Services (62419), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Maternal Mental Health Telehealth (perinatal anxiety/depression, support programs) (HLALAHAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Postpartum Family Helper (Non-Medical) (HSAAAGAJ), Newborn/Infant Mother’s Helper Support (HSAAAGAB)

Keywords

• Maternal mental health
• Postpartum depression support
• Perinatal care services
• Nonprofit health support
• Mental health helpline

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: SPARKS is a nonprofit organization relying solely on generous donations from the public to fund operations. The organization accepts credit card, PayPal, Venmo, and Zelle donations.
2. Medicaid Meal Services: Full meal support program for expecting and postpartum families, as well as households with children facing chronic or mental health conditions. Available to eligible Medicaid recipients.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

SPARKS is a nonprofit organization providing free, comprehensive maternal mental health support services for women and families suffering from perinatal and hormonal disorders, including postpartum depression. The organization operates a confidential 24/7 helpline that connects callers with licensed therapists for one-on-one evaluations, therapy sessions, support groups, Mommy & Me classes, and a Medicaid-covered meal delivery program. Additional services include a 24-hour audio resource library, training for medical professionals, and distribution of New Mom Kits for early detection.

Product overview

SPARKS is a nonprofit organization offering a comprehensive suite of maternal mental health support services. The core offering includes a confidential helpline, one-on-one therapy sessions, and support groups. Additional services include a Free Meals Program (Medicaid-covered meal delivery), Mommy & Me classes, a 24-hour Audio Library, and training programs for medical professionals. The organization also distributes New Mom Kits for early detection and provides community resources support. These services work together to address the educational, psycho-social, and psychiatric needs of women suffering from perinatal disorders, with the goal of keeping mothers at home and empowering them with tools for recovery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Birthing Conversations: A podcast hosted by SPARKS' founder Esther Kenigsberg

Products and services

• SPARKS Helpline

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Yaacov Yedgar PhotographyminorOthers · 12 May 2026Yaacov Yedgar Photography sponsored SPARKS's annual musical event for women in Staten Island on May 12, 2026, providing event photography services.
• Postpartum Support InternationalminorOthersPostpartum Support International is listed as a resource on SPARKS website. SPARKS references their website (www.postpartum.net) for additional articles and popular news on maternal mental health topics.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Motherly: Digital media and commerce platform serving expectant and new mothers, with growing content, classes, and community around maternal mental wellness. Comparable to SPARKS' content and education efforts (podcast, blog, seminars) but as a digital-first, consumer brand rather than a service provider.
• Expectful: App-based maternal mental health platform offering meditation, therapy, and content for pregnancy and postpartum. Comparable to SPARKS' mental health and audio library offerings but delivered through a technology platform rather than a helpline-based service model.

Direct peers

• Postpartum Support International: The largest global nonprofit dedicated to perinatal mental health, providing support, education, and provider referrals for postpartum depression and related disorders. Directly comparable to SPARKS in mission and target population; SPARKS already references PSI as a resource partner.
• Seleni Institute: New York-based nonprofit providing mental health care, support, and education for women and families during pregnancy and postpartum. Directly comparable to SPARKS in mission, location, and service mix (therapy, support groups, education).
• The Motherhood Center: NYC-based treatment center specializing in postpartum depression and maternal mental health, offering therapy, support groups, and intensive outpatient programs. Closest geographic and service-model competitor to SPARKS in the NYC market.

Broad incumbents

• March of Dimes: Large established nonprofit focused on maternal and infant health, including maternal mental health awareness and support programs. Comparable to SPARKS as a nonprofit maternal health organization but with a much broader mandate (premature birth, birth defects, advocacy).
• Talkspace: Large online therapy platform with dedicated maternal and postpartum mental health programs covered by insurance. Comparable to SPARKS' insurance-covered therapy arm but as a national, technology-led incumbent with employer and payer contracts.
• Maven Clinic: Largest virtual clinic for women's and family health, covering preconception, pregnancy, postpartum, and mental health via telehealth. Comparable to SPARKS in addressing perinatal mental health but as a well-capitalized, technology-led platform with national employer-sponsored reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SparksWomensHealth

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sparks