Sparkle Foundation Incorporated

What Sparkle Foundation Incorporated does

Sparkle Foundation Incorporated is an IRS-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Novato, California, that delivers direct-assistance programs to single mothers and their children. The organization operates four chapters across the San Francisco Bay Area, Sacramento, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, Arizona, and was officially incorporated in 2016 after operating informally since 2003. It is led by Founding Director Samantha Tradelius and governed by a seven-member Board of Directors, with no paid staff — operations are carried out by hundreds of volunteers.

The foundation's core programs include the Holiday Gift Drive (annual gift-giving to nominated families), Enrichment Scholarships (one-time scholarships for children to participate in sports, arts, music, tutoring, and camps), SparkleBiz MicroLoans (small-business loans to single mothers), and the Back to School Backpack Drive (school supply distribution in partnership with local law enforcement and school districts). Fundraising is driven by annual events including the Sparkle Brunch, Night To Sparkle, BFF Night, and the new Sparkle In The Garden celebration. Technology use is limited to DonorView for donation processing, volunteer sign-ups, and program applications; there is no proprietary technology platform.

The business model is donation- and event-driven, with 100% of donations passed through to beneficiaries and no fees charged for programs. Revenue streams include individual donations, event-based fundraising (Sparkle Brunch 2025 alone raised $150,000+), corporate sponsorships (Platinum/Gold/Silver/Bronze tiers with partners such as Bank of Marin, Brighton Jones, Beauty Heroes, and Aprio), and grant funding as a registered 501(c)(3). Cumulative donations raised exceed $3.5 million over the past 10 years, with $500,000+ raised in 2023 and 5,500 single mothers served to date. The go-to-market motion is community-led, relying on volunteer recruitment, nomination-based beneficiary selection, word-of-mouth referrals, and event-driven donor engagement.

Name

Sparkle Foundation Incorporated

Legal name

Sparkle Foundation, Inc.

Website

https://sparklenow.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sparkle Foundation Incorporated is a 100% volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating four chapters in California and Arizona that delivers holiday gifts, enrichment scholarships, backpacks, and microloans to single mothers and their children.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Services Nonprofit

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Child and Youth Services (62411)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ), Community Fundraisers & Charity Events (Gala/Walks excluded) (MPAGAEAK)

Keywords

• Nonprofit charitable services
• Social services nonprofit
• Family assistance programs
• Community philanthropy
• Microloan programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Novato

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Supply Chain, Personnel

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: Individual donors contribute directly to the organization. The foundation emphasizes that 100% of donations go directly to women and children served. The organization has raised over $3.5 million in donations over 10 years.
2. Event-Based Fundraising: Major annual events including Sparkle Brunch (annual fundraiser), Night To Sparkle gala, BFF Night events, and Sparkle In The Garden celebration generate significant revenue. Sparkle Brunch 2025 raised over $150,000.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Event sponsorships from companies including Bank of Marin, Brighton Jones, Beauty Heroes, and others at various tiers (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze) provide funding and in-kind support.
4. Grant Funding: As a 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit, the organization is eligible to receive grant funding from foundations and government entities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sparkle Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides direct assistance to single mothers and their children through four core programs: the Holiday Gift Drive (annual gift-giving for nominated families), Enrichment Scholarships (one-time scholarships funding children's sports, arts, music, tutoring, and camp activities), SparkleBiz MicroLoans (small business loans for single-mother entrepreneurs), and the Back To School Backpack Drive (annual backpack distribution to youth in need). The organization also produces fundraising events including the Sparkle Brunch, Night To Sparkle gala, and BFF Night, and operates a Chapter Program enabling expansion into new communities.

Product overview

The Sparkle Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization operating as a 100% volunteer-run charity, not a technology product company. The organization offers a suite of social impact programs serving single mothers and their children: the Holiday Gift Drive (annual gift-giving program), Enrichment Scholarships (one-time scholarships for children's extracurricular activities), SparkleBiz MicroLoans (micro-lending for mothers' businesses), and the Back To School Backpack Drive. The organization also hosts fundraising events including Sparkle Brunch, Night To Sparkle, and BFF Night. Additionally, the Chapter Program enables expansion to new geographic areas. All programs are unified by the mission to provide direct assistance to single mothers and children, with 100% of donations going to recipients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SparkleBiz: A micro-loan program helping single mothers build thriving businesses. Launched in 2021 to provide small business loans to women with business ideas.

Products and services

• Holiday Gift Drive Annual program that nominates single mothers and their families to receive holiday gifts, goods, and celebration during the holiday season. The organization sources, wraps, and delivers presents to recipient families, bearing the burden of the holidays for them. Served 700+ families since inception and 287 mothers and children in 2024.
• Enrichment Scholarships

Quantifiable outcome

• $3.5 million+ raised and 100% passed through to recipients over 10 years
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.

• Dominican University of CaliforniacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Sparkle In The Garden events. Dominican University of California in San Rafael provides the garden venue for the annual celebration event.
• Bank of MarinflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor for Sparkle In The Garden 2026. Major financial supporter of the annual fundraiser.
• Beauty HeroesflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPremier gifting suite partner for Sparkle Brunch events. Provides curated gift collections valued at $462 per guest. Clean beauty brand partnering for event gifting experiences.
• Urban OrganicsflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerChef-driven catering partner for Sparkle Brunch events. Provides plated brunch designed to delight, featuring lemon-themed menu. Bay Area's go-to for unforgettable events.
• Confections by JoshuacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerArtisan sweets partner providing confections for Sparkle Brunch. Crowd favorite and perfect holiday treat provider.
• Brighton JonesflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor for Sparkle Brunch 2025. Women's wealth advisory firm serving as sponsor for the annual fundraiser.
• Zenni EyewearcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGifting suite sponsor providing fashion-forward optical products for event gift bags.
• Radiant SpacescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGifting suite sponsor providing curated home and life products for event gift experiences.
• Local Law Enforcement OfficescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with local law enforcement offices for the Back To School Backpack Drive mission, working together to identify and serve youth in need.
• School DistrictscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorks with school districts for backpack distribution, ensuring supplies reach students who need them most.
• Dr. Karen HortoncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor for Sparkle Brunch 2025. Healthcare professional serving as sponsor.
• Ketcham EstatecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor providing support for Sparkle Brunch events.
• ApriocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGold sponsor for Sparkle Brunch 2025. Professional services firm providing financial sponsorship.
• Elevated GreencoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent design sponsor transforming venue into dreamscape of elegance and warmth for Sparkle Brunch.
• Al Di La SaloncoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPlatinum sponsor for Sparkle In The Garden 2026.
• Mercantile and Healing Arts Center & SpacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHost venue for BFF Night events. A portion of event proceeds benefits Sparkle Foundation.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dress for Success: Global nonprofit empowering women, particularly those re-entering the workforce, through professional attire, career tools, and micro-enterprise support; closely aligned with Sparkle's single-mother focus and SparkleBiz microloan program.
• Grameen America: Microfinance nonprofit providing small business loans, credit building, and peer-group support to women entrepreneurs in the U.S.; highly comparable borrower base and mission to SparkleBiz.
• Single Mothers Alliance: Nonprofit dedicated to supporting single mothers through direct financial assistance, holiday programs, and resource connections; a direct mission peer given Sparkle's exclusive focus on single mothers and their children.
• Baby2Baby: National nonprofit distributing essential goods (clothing, diapers, backpacks, holiday gifts) to children and mothers in poverty; directly comparable mission overlap with Sparkle's Holiday Gift Drive, Backpack Drive, and enrichment support for low-income children.
• Kiva: Global nonprofit enabling crowdfunded microloans to underserved entrepreneurs, including women; directly comparable to SparkleBiz in lending mechanics, target borrower profile (low-income single mothers), and microlending-plus-mentorship model.
• Good+Foundation (formerly Baby Buggy): Nonprofit providing gear, clothing, and early-childhood enrichment to families in need; similar distribution-of-goods and parent/child support model aligned with Sparkle's gift and backpack programs.
• Toys for Tots (Marine Toys for Tots Foundation): Long-standing charity that collects and distributes holiday toys to children in need; highly comparable to Sparkle's Holiday Gift Drive program in terms of donor model, volunteer activation, and holiday-season mechanics.

Broad incumbents

• YWCA USA: Large, established national network providing housing, childcare, women's empowerment, and youth programs; serves a similar beneficiary base of women and children but at much greater scale and with paid staff infrastructure.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline / NNEDV: National network supporting survivors of domestic violence, many of whom are single mothers and their children; comparable beneficiary population but with a broader violence-prevention mandate rather than direct aid.

Regional players

• Marin Community Foundation: Community foundation based in Marin County serving the Bay Area with grants, scholarships, and capacity-building for nonprofits; comparable as a regional grantmaker and community foundation with overlapping Bay Area geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SparkleNow
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@sparklefoundation
• Facebookfacebook.com/SparkleFoundationNow
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sparkle-foundation-incorporated
• Instagraminstagram.com/sparklenow

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Sparkle Foundation Incorporated