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College Spark

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uuid000zqnl

Namestring
College Spark
Legal namestring
College Spark Washington
Websiteurl
WWW.COLLEGESPARK.ORG
Company typeenum
Private
Founded yearint
2005
Operating statusenum
Operating
Ownership categoryenum
Headcount rangeband
1–10
akta.pro rankint
HeadquartersSeattle, United States
HQ citystring
Seattle
HQ countrystring
United States
HQ regionstring
North America
Markets served

Serves global market

Offices1 record

Each record includes

City, Country, Type, Description, Source

Keyword5 values
education grantmaking, educational equity funding, nonprofit foundation grants, postsecondary support programs, community education grants
Industry4 codes
1Education Grantmaking Foundations
CodeBPAGAKAKPrimaryYes
2Grantmaking Agencies & Education Program Grants Administration
CodeEDADAHADPrimaryNo
3Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts
CodeEDADAHACPrimaryNo
4College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits
CodeBPAGADAEPrimaryNo
NAICS code2 codes
  • Grantmaking and Giving Services81321
  • Other Grantmaking and Giving Services813219
SIC code1 code
  • Services-Social Services8300
Product category
Education Grantmaking Foundation
Social media profiles2 records
Marketing channels3 records

Each record includes

Title, Type, Stage, Description, Source

Distribution channels1 record

Each record includes

Title, Type, Scope, Target buyer, Description, Source

Cost components3 values
Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
GTM typeB2B
B2B
Offering typeServices
Services
Core offering1 text field

College Spark Washington is a nonprofit grantmaking foundation that awards grants to K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and community-based organizations in Washington state. Its grantmaking focuses on dismantling racism in education systems and supporting the postsecondary success of young people of color, with the foundation having distributed over $83 million in grants since 2005.

Differentiator
Functional benefit
Problem solved
Quantifiable outcome1 value
  • Over $83 million awarded since 2005 to support educational equity
Product overview1 text field

College Spark is a grantmaking foundation focused on dismantling racism in education systems in Washington state. The organization operates through multiple named grant programs and initiatives including the Education Equity Fund (supporting schools and organizations working toward antiracist practices), the LEADER Initiative (focused on equitable educator preparation and community representation in teaching), and the Evolve Initiative. Additionally, College Spark funds and supports external programs such as the College Readiness Initiative, College Bound Scholarship Program, Achieving the Dream network, and Guided Pathways framework. Over $83 million has been awarded since 2005.

Product and service1 record
1Education Equity Fund
Scale indicator2 records

Each record includes

Type, Value, Description, Source

Recent move6 records

Each record includes

Date, Type, Title, Description, Source

Expansion highlight4 records

Each record includes

Type, Description

Peers10 records
1Bezos Family Foundation
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

Seattle-based family foundation funding equitable education from early childhood through postsecondary. Comparable as a fellow Washington-headquartered education equity funder, though with substantially larger assets.

2Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

The world's largest private foundation, with major education portfolio focused on postsecondary completion and college readiness for low-income and minority students. Highly relevant as a co-funder operating in Washington and as a broader incumbent in the same grantmaking niche.

3Nellie Mae Education Foundation
TypeDirect peer
Description

New England-based private foundation focused on student-centered approaches and equity in K-12 and postsecondary education. Directly comparable as an education grantmaker with an explicit equity and learner-centered mission.

4Education Trust
TypeEmerging player
Description

National nonprofit that promotes high academic achievement for students of color and low-income learners through research, advocacy, and grantmaking-aligned work. Comparable in mission focus on educational equity for students of color, though operating primarily via advocacy and research rather than direct grantmaking.

5Lumina Foundation
TypeDirect peer
Description

Indianapolis-based private foundation focused exclusively on postsecondary education access, completion, and equity through grantmaking. Highly comparable to College Spark given the overlapping focus on postsecondary attainment and equity for underserved learners, but operating at significantly larger national scale.

6Washington State Opportunity Scholarship
TypeRegional player
Description

Washington-state public-private scholarship and career-launch program supporting low-income students pursuing high-demand postsecondary credentials. Comparable as a Washington-based funder supporting postsecondary access for underrepresented students, complementary rather than directly competitive.

7Schott Foundation for Public Education
TypeDirect peer
Description

National private foundation working to advance equitable and just public education with an explicit racial equity lens. Comparable to College Spark in its anti-racism-centered education grantmaking and policy advocacy approach.

8Marguerite Casey Foundation
TypeDirect peer
Description

National grantmaking foundation explicitly focused on equity and racial justice, including education access, for low-income communities of color. Comparable to College Spark in the explicit centering of anti-racism in grantmaking strategy and constituency.

9Kresge Foundation
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

National private foundation with a substantial education program focused on equity and postsecondary success for low-income and underrepresented students. Comparable as a peer grantmaking foundation operating at larger scale across similar equity-oriented strategies.

10Raikes Foundation
TypeBroad incumbent
Description

Seattle-based family foundation funding youth development and education equity initiatives. Comparable as a fellow Seattle-headquartered education grantmaker, though it operates with a broader youth-development lens and larger asset base than College Spark.

Market position
Strengths4 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Weaknesses4 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Competitive moat3 records

Each record includes

Type, Details

Key risks4 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Key highlights5 records

Each record includes

Headline, Details, Source

Customer concentration

Classification, Details

Segment3 records

Each record includes

Title, Type, Primary, Description, Pain point addressed, Use case, Source

Ideal customer profile1 record

Each record includes

Profile, Firmographic size, Sales motion, Sales cycle length, Buying structure, Purchase trigger, Buyer persona, Geography, Industry vertical, Primary use case, Description, Pain points, Evidence proof points, Target buyer

Technology focused
No
API detail
Has APIbool
No

Docs URL, Description

AI maturity
App detail

Has app

Core technology
Revenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Number of profiles
No data
No data
Funding overview

Funding stage, Last funding date, Total funding USD

Funding rounds

Each record includes

Round, Amount USD, Date, Pre money valuation, Total investors, Investors, News

Investors

Each record includes

Name, Type, Date of entry, Rounds participated, Website

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

M&A

Each record includes

Name, Acquisition type, Announced date, Completed date, Status, Website, News

Investment

Each record includes

Name, Round, Announced date, Lead investor, Website, News

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

College Spark

Education Grantmaking FoundationWWW.COLLEGESPARK.ORG

College Spark firmographics

Firmographics
Name
College Spark
Legal name
College Spark Washington
Website
https://WWW.COLLEGESPARK.ORG
Company type
Private
Founded year
2005
Operating status
Operating
Headcount range
1–10 employees
Ownership category
akta.pro rank

College Spark industry classification

Industry
Product category
Education Grantmaking Foundation
NAICS
Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)
SIC
Services-Social Services (8300)
akta.pro primary industry
Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)
akta.pro secondary industries
Grantmaking Agencies & Education Program Grants Administration (EDADAHAD), Scholarship & Fellowship Foundations and Trusts (EDADAHAC), College Access, Scholarships & Student Success Nonprofits (BPAGADAE)

Keywords

  • Education grantmaking
  • Educational equity funding
  • Nonprofit foundation grants
  • Postsecondary support programs
  • Community education grants

Where College Spark is headquartered

Location

Headquarters

HQ city
Seattle
HQ country
United States
HQ region
North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

College Spark business model

Business model
GTM type
B2B
Offering type
Services
Cost components
Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

College Spark product offering

Product offering

Core offering

College Spark Washington is a nonprofit grantmaking foundation that awards grants to K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and community-based organizations in Washington state. Its grantmaking focuses on dismantling racism in education systems and supporting the postsecondary success of young people of color, with the foundation having distributed over $83 million in grants since 2005.

Product overview

College Spark is a grantmaking foundation focused on dismantling racism in education systems in Washington state. The organization operates through multiple named grant programs and initiatives including the Education Equity Fund (supporting schools and organizations working toward antiracist practices), the LEADER Initiative (focused on equitable educator preparation and community representation in teaching), and the Evolve Initiative. Additionally, College Spark funds and supports external programs such as the College Readiness Initiative, College Bound Scholarship Program, Achieving the Dream network, and Guided Pathways framework. Over $83 million has been awarded since 2005.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

  • Education Equity Fund

Quantifiable outcome

  • Over $83 million awarded since 2005 to support educational equity

Companies that use College Spark

Customer profile

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

College Spark technology and API

Technology

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API
No
API docs
API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

College Spark partnerships and signals

Strategic signal

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

College Spark competitors and assessment

Company assessment

Broad incumbents

  • Bezos Family Foundation: Seattle-based family foundation funding equitable education from early childhood through postsecondary. Comparable as a fellow Washington-headquartered education equity funder, though with substantially larger assets.
  • Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation: The world's largest private foundation, with major education portfolio focused on postsecondary completion and college readiness for low-income and minority students. Highly relevant as a co-funder operating in Washington and as a broader incumbent in the same grantmaking niche.
  • Kresge Foundation: National private foundation with a substantial education program focused on equity and postsecondary success for low-income and underrepresented students. Comparable as a peer grantmaking foundation operating at larger scale across similar equity-oriented strategies.
  • Raikes Foundation: Seattle-based family foundation funding youth development and education equity initiatives. Comparable as a fellow Seattle-headquartered education grantmaker, though it operates with a broader youth-development lens and larger asset base than College Spark.

Direct peers

  • Nellie Mae Education Foundation: New England-based private foundation focused on student-centered approaches and equity in K-12 and postsecondary education. Directly comparable as an education grantmaker with an explicit equity and learner-centered mission.
  • Lumina Foundation: Indianapolis-based private foundation focused exclusively on postsecondary education access, completion, and equity through grantmaking. Highly comparable to College Spark given the overlapping focus on postsecondary attainment and equity for underserved learners, but operating at significantly larger national scale.
  • Schott Foundation for Public Education: National private foundation working to advance equitable and just public education with an explicit racial equity lens. Comparable to College Spark in its anti-racism-centered education grantmaking and policy advocacy approach.
  • Marguerite Casey Foundation: National grantmaking foundation explicitly focused on equity and racial justice, including education access, for low-income communities of color. Comparable to College Spark in the explicit centering of anti-racism in grantmaking strategy and constituency.

Emerging players

  • Education Trust: National nonprofit that promotes high academic achievement for students of color and low-income learners through research, advocacy, and grantmaking-aligned work. Comparable in mission focus on educational equity for students of color, though operating primarily via advocacy and research rather than direct grantmaking.

Regional players

  • Washington State Opportunity Scholarship: Washington-state public-private scholarship and career-launch program supporting low-income students pursuing high-demand postsecondary credentials. Comparable as a Washington-based funder supporting postsecondary access for underrepresented students, complementary rather than directly competitive.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

College Spark social profiles

Digital presence

College Spark financial estimates

Financial estimate

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

College Spark leadership team

Management profile

Number of profiles

College Spark funding detail

Funding detail

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

College Spark M&A and investment

M&A and investment

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about College Spark

What does College Spark do?

College Spark Washington is a nonprofit grantmaking foundation that awards grants to K-12 schools, higher education institutions, and community-based organizations in Washington state. Its grantmaking focuses on dismantling racism in education systems and supporting the postsecondary success of young people of color, with the foundation having distributed over $83 million in grants since 2005.

Is College Spark a public or private company?

College Spark is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.

When was College Spark founded?

College Spark was founded in 2005. It employs 1 to 10 people.

Where is College Spark based?

College Spark is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.

Who are College Spark's main competitors?

Broad incumbents on record are Bezos Family Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Kresge Foundation and Raikes Foundation. Direct peers are Nellie Mae Education Foundation, Lumina Foundation, Schott Foundation for Public Education and Marguerite Casey Foundation. Education Trust is listed as an emerging player. Washington State Opportunity Scholarship is listed as a regional player.

Does College Spark have an API?

No public API is recorded for College Spark.

What industry is College Spark in?

College Spark's product category is Education Grantmaking Foundation. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAK, Education Grantmaking Foundations, with a secondary code of EDADAHAD, Grantmaking Agencies & Education Program Grants Administration. Its NAICS code is 81321 and its SIC code is 8300.

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Live signals
PR NewswireCollege Spark Washington Announces $1.3 Million in Community Grants to Help Low-income Students Become College-ready and Successfully Transition to CollegeCollege Spark Washington announced $1.3 million in Community Grants to 10 organizations including schools and colleges across Washington state to help low-income students become college-ready. The grants focus on specific outcomes including middle school math achievement, reducing early warning indicators like absences and course failures, redesigning remedial education at two-year colleges, and increasing the percentage of students earning first college-level credits in English and math. Recipients include Glover Middle School in Spokane, Yakima School District, Bellingham Technical College, Clark College, and Everett Community College, among others.PR NewswireFive Washington Colleges Awarded $2.5 Million in Grants to Implement Guided PathwaysCollege Spark Washington and the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges have selected five Washington colleges to receive Guided Pathways implementation grants totaling $2.5 million over five years. Each college will receive $500,000 in funding to streamline the student experience from enrollment through degree completion, with the goal of improving college completion rates and closing equity gaps for low-income students and students of color. The selected colleges will create implementation plans during the first year, while a second cohort of five additional colleges will be selected to receive grants in 2018.PR NewswireCollege Spark Washington Announces $1.4 Million in Community Grants to Help Low-Income Students Become College-Ready and Successfully Transition to CollegeCollege Spark Washington announced $1.4 million in Community Grants to ten educational organizations across Washington state, funding programs that help low-income students become college-ready and successfully transition to postsecondary education. The grants focus on innovative practices including early warning indicators, reducing remedial education needs, and increasing college-level math and English completion rates. Since 2005, College Spark has awarded over 100 Community Grants totaling more than $15 million to improve postsecondary persistence and completion for low-income students in Washington.