SPORK!

What SPORK! does

SPORK! is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2013 and headquartered in Chicago, IL, that operates as a disability-led media and advocacy platform. The organization is led and managed by people with cognitive, physical, and non-apparent disabilities, and its core mission is to amplify authentic voices within the Disabled community by documenting lived experiences through original articles, audio narrations, documentaries, and video interviews. Its product portfolio spans content products (SPORK! Exclusive Original Documentaries, Audio Library, written articles, a Writers Directory, and video interviews) and service products (user access surveys, inclusive materials reviews, and hands-on workshops).

The organization operates with a lean team of 5 employees supplemented by volunteer writers, guest bloggers, and freelancers, and is supported by a leadership team comprising Whitney Hill (Founder & Director), Phyllis (Grant Writer Coordinator), and Matthew Burgos (Culture Correspondent). Its go-to-market is community-led, relying on partnerships with disability-focused organizations (Howard Brown Health Center, ADA 25 Chicago, Backbones, Scope, RNIB), cultural institutions (Art Institute of Chicago, National Gallery, Tate Modern, V&A Museum), and event platforms (ReelAbilities Film Festival). SPORK! distributes content through its website, YouTube, Instagram, Pinterest, email newsletter, and in-person events, with accessible formats including downloadable audio narrations and screen reader-friendly articles.

Revenue is generated primarily through tax-deductible donations via a Squarespace donation page, supplemented by a small consulting arm providing accessibility assessments to cultural institutions. The organization has no disclosed funding rounds, no parent company, no patents, and no known AI/ML or proprietary technology infrastructure. Operating geographies span the U.S. Midwest (with a Chicago base) and London (through UK cultural institution partnerships). No revenue figures, headcount growth trend, or institutional investor ownership is disclosed in the source material.

Name

SPORK!

Legal name

SPORK! NFP

Website

https://sporkability.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

SPORK! is a 501(c)(3) Chicago-based nonprofit disability-led media and advocacy platform that documents lived experiences through original articles, documentaries, video interviews, and audio narrations, while providing accessibility consulting to cultural institutions. Its offerings are funded by donations and volunteer contributions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability Advocacy and Media

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Voluntary Health Organizations (813212)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829)

akta.pro primary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Accessible Media Production (Alt Formats, Captioning, Audio Description) (EDALAGAC)

Keywords

• Disability advocacy
• Accessibility consulting
• Inclusive content publishing
• Disability media
• Community storytelling

Headquarters

HQ city

Chicago

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: SPORK! is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that relies on donations from supporters and volunteers. The organization states that all donations are greatly appreciated and are currently tax-deductible.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SPORK! is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that publishes original documentaries, articles, audio narrations, and video interviews documenting the lived experiences of people with cognitive, physical, and non-apparent disabilities. It supplements this media output with paid accessibility consulting services for organizations (user access surveys and inclusive materials reviews) and free community workshops. All content is offered in accessible formats and free of charge to the disability community.

Product overview

SPORK! is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates as a content and advocacy platform led by people with cognitive, physical, and non-apparent disabilities. The organization's product portfolio centers on amplifying authentic voices within the Disabled community through documentary filmmaking (SPORK! Exclusive Original Documentaries), accessible written content (SPORK! Exclusive Articles with an Audio Library), and community engagement services (workshops, accessibility consultations). The core offering documents lived experiences and highlights disability rights advocacy, with projects spanning video interviews, written prose and poetry, audio narrations, and inclusive materials consulting. The organization serves as both a media publisher and community advocate, providing accessible content formats including screen reader-friendly articles and downloadable audio narrations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Howard Brown Health CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborated on the 3rd Annual QUEER, ILL & OKAY showcase, supporting LGBTQ+ individuals with disabilities and chronic illness through performance and storytelling events.
• Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special EventsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on the QUEER, ILL & OKAY showcase and other cultural programming supporting disability visibility in Chicago arts scene.
• Art Institute of ChicagominorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSPORK! provided user access surveys and inclusive materials reviews for the museum as part of accessibility consulting services.
• National GalleryminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLondon market and user research consultations provided to assess accessibility needs.
• Tate ModernminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUser research consultations conducted for accessibility assessment.
• Victoria & Albert MuseumminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUser research and accessibility consulting services provided.
• Royal National Institute of Blind PeopleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on accessibility initiatives and content related to blindness and visual impairment.
• ScopeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-based disability organization collaborated on accessibility projects.
• Still Point Theatre CollectiveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDocumentary coverage and support for theater programming serving adults with disabilities in Chicago.
• Blind Service AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on Pathways Summer Youth Program for blind and visually impaired students; collaboration on tactile art programming with James E. Williams.
• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Health)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPORK! supported NAMIWalk 2014, documenting participant stories and raising awareness for mental health.
• Healing Moments Alzheimer's MinistryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDocumentary coverage of 'The Forgiving and The Forgetting' theater production about Alzheimer's disease, presented by Second Unitarian Church of Chicago.
• ReelAbilities Film FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPORK! provided coverage and documentation of the ReelAbilities Film Festival, the nation's largest film festival dedicated to the differently able community, introduced to Chicago by Backbones founder Reveca Torres.
• BackbonesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal organization supporting individuals with spinal cord injury/disease; collaborated on ReelAbilities Film Festival Chicago launch.
• ADA 25 ChicagominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered on disability pride events and ADA 25 anniversary celebrations honoring the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Access Living: Chicago-based disability-led nonprofit providing independent living services, advocacy, and disability culture programming — a regional direct peer sharing both mission and geography with SPORK!.
• Inclusion Films: Disability-led film training and production programs that create media by and with disabled creators — closely aligned with SPORK!'s documentary production and skills-building workshop offerings.
• RespectAbility: Disability-led advocacy and media organization fighting stigmas and advancing inclusion through storytelling, talent pipelines, and policy work — comparable to SPORK! in producing disability-led content while also engaging institutional partners.
• Disability Visibility Project: Founded by disabled activist Alice Wong, this is an online community dedicated to sharing disability culture and creating oral histories — directly comparable to SPORK!'s focus on documenting lived experiences through interviews and written content.
• ReelAbilities Film Festival: Nation's largest film festival dedicated to the disability community. SPORK! partnered with ReelAbilities to bring the festival to Chicago, making it a direct peer in disability-focused film/media programming and a collaborator in the same content niche.
• Rooted in Rights: Disability-led media organization that creates original video content, campaigns, and storytelling by and for disabled people — directly parallel to SPORK!'s mission of amplifying authentic disability voices through video interviews and documentaries.
• Sins Invalid: San Francisco-based disability-led performance and media arts organization that centers queer disabled artists of color. Closely comparable as a disability-led nonprofit producing media, performance, and cultural programming by disabled creators.

Broad incumbents

• National Disability Rights Network (NDRN): Federally funded network of protection and advocacy organizations representing people with disabilities nationwide. A broader incumbent in disability social services and advocacy, operating at a scale SPORK! could conceivably grow into.
• American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD): Largest national cross-disability civil rights and advocacy organization; a broader incumbent operating at federal policy scale while sharing SPORK!'s mission of amplifying disability voices and advancing inclusion.
• National Council on Independent Living (NCIL): National membership organization of Centers for Independent Living and individuals advocating for independent living philosophy and disability rights — overlapping SPORK!'s mission in disability community advocacy and visibility work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SPORKblog/playlists
• Instagraminstagram.com/sporkability
• Pinterestpinterest.com/SPORKability
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spork-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 SPORK!