The SPARK Initiative

What The SPARK Initiative does

The SPARK Initiative (legally The Cypress Initiative) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2007 and headquartered in Valrico, Florida, that develops and delivers evidence-based mental health, mentoring, and leadership programs. Its portfolio centers on two core product lines: the age-tiered SPARK Mentoring Programs (Young Child K-2, Child 3-5, Pre-Teen Middle School, Teen High School) and the Insight to Wellbeing Program, a 10-week mental health education and intervention curriculum for adults in systems of care including behavioral health, criminal justice, substance abuse, and foster care. Supporting offerings include the SPARKing Change Youth Leadership internship (launched 2021), self-study online programs (SPARK Online Parenting, SPARK PD Online for Adults), and professional development training (Foundations, Implementation, Train the Trainer at $2,000 for up to 4 people).

The underlying methodology is grounded in an "understanding of the mind" framework derived from corporate leadership and wellness training originally used in British Aeronautical Engineers, Tradewinds Resorts, and Risser Oil companies, developed in partnership with The Insight Alliance (Oregon) and Wild Inspired Life (UK). The curriculum holds a CASEL SELect designation and has been published in four academic journals, with documented outcomes including a 47% decrease in emotional ups and downs and a 17% decrease in trauma symptoms among Insight to Wellbeing participants.

The organization operates a hybrid go-to-market model: direct service delivery at no cost in the Tampa Bay community (serving youth, incarcerated men and women, sex trafficking survivors, and US military veterans) and a licensing model that sells Individual and Site-wide Program Licenses to schools, districts, after-school programs, and social service organizations worldwide. Revenue is generated through donations and recurring sponsorships (including $2,500 classroom sponsorships), licensing fees, professional development training (with CEUs through the Florida Certification Board), event tickets for the annual National Wellbeing & Resilience Summit ($175), and online shop sales. The organization is led by President & CEO Brooke Wheeldon-Reece and a team of 8 staff, with the curriculum licensed in 42 US states and 36 countries reaching over 200,000 youth.

Name

The SPARK Initiative

Legal name

The Cypress Initiative

Website

https://thesparkinitiative.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The SPARK Initiative is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that develops and licenses evidence-based mental health and mentoring curricula (CASEL SELect) to schools and systems-of-care organizations across 42 US states and 36 countries, while delivering free direct-service programs in the Tampa Bay community to youth, incarcerated individuals, and sex trafficking survivors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Mental Health Education and Mentoring Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Child and Youth Services (62411), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Behavioral Intervention & PBIS Supports (Tiered, Gen Ed) (EDAJAGAL), Peer Support, Mentoring & Student Leadership (SEL) (EDAKAMAO), Youth Mentoring & Positive Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAD)

Keywords

• Mental health education
• Youth mentoring programs
• Social emotional learning
• Resilience training
• Professional development training

Headquarters

HQ city

Valrico

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Licensing: Schools and organizations purchase licenses to implement SPARK Mentoring Programs and Insight to Wellbeing Programs. License options include Individual Program License (one facilitator) and Site-wide Program License (up to 5 staff).
2. Donations and Fundraising: The organization is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that relies on one-time donations, recurring monthly/annual donations, and sponsorship support. EIN: 20-8378337.
3. Professional Development Training: Revenue generated from implementation training, train-the-trainer sessions, and continuing education units (CEUs). Train the Trainer costs $2000 for up to 4 people.
4. Classroom/Program Sponsorship: Organizations and donors can sponsor a school or classroom for $2,500.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The SPARK Initiative develops and delivers evidence-based mental health education, mentoring, leadership, and professional development programs centered on an understanding of the mind. Its portfolio includes the K-12 SPARK Mentoring Programs, the Insight to Wellbeing Program for adults in systems of care (behavioral health, criminal justice, substance abuse, foster care), the SPARKing Change Youth Leadership Program, professional development training (Foundations, Implementation, Train the Trainer), self-study online programs, and the annual National Wellbeing & Resilience Summit. Programs are provided free of charge to direct community participants and licensed to schools, districts, after-school programs, and social service organizations worldwide.

Product overview

The SPARK Initiative offers a comprehensive portfolio of evidence-based mentoring and mental health education programs. At its core are the SPARK Mentoring Programs (Young Child K-2, Child 3-5, Pre-Teen Middle School, and Teen High School) and the Insight to Wellbeing Program. Supporting programs include the SPARKing Change Youth Leadership internship, Professional Development Training (Foundations, Implementation, and Train the Trainer), and Self-Study Programs (SPARK Online Parenting and SPARK PD Online). The organization also hosts the annual National Wellbeing & Resilience Summit and produces the Find Your SPARK Podcast. All programs are grounded in an understanding of the mind and focus on cultivating resilience, mental health, and potential in youth and adults. The organization operates on a licensing model for schools and organizations and is identified by CASEL as a SELect program.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SPARK Mentoring Program: Evidence-based K-12th grade mentoring programs focused on promoting mental health, wellness, and resiliency in youth, with age-specific tracks for Young Child (K-2nd), Child (3rd-5th), Pre-Teen (Middle School), and Teen (High School).
• Insight to Wellbeing Program
• SPARKING Change Youth Leadership Program
• National Wellbeing & Resilience Summit
• Find Your Spark (Podcast)

Quantifiable outcome

• Emotional ups and downs decreased by 47% in participants who completed the Insight to Wellbeing Program
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPwC is listed as a partner organization, acknowledging collaboration and support for The SPARK Initiative's mission.
• United Way SuncoastcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic Community Partner, listed as a key partner organization collaborating with and supporting The SPARK Initiative.
• Hillsborough County Sheriff's OfficecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaw enforcement partner that has collaborated with SPARK on programs for incarcerated individuals and community initiatives.
• Rebels for PeaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization acknowledged for collaboration and support.
• One Solution GlobalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization acknowledged for collaboration and support.
• Selah FreedomcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnti-human trafficking organization that partners with SPARK to provide the Insight to Wellbeing Program to sex trafficking survivors at their safe house. Over 100 women reached through donated support group sessions.
• The Insight AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBased in Oregon, The Insight Alliance is a key development partner for the Insight to Wellbeing Program, contributing to the evidence-based curriculum design.
• Wild Inspired Life (formerly Beyond Recovery)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK-based partner involved in the development of the Insight to Wellbeing Program curriculum.
• EPSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization acknowledged for collaboration and support.
• RotaryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRotary club partner acknowledged for collaboration and support.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Committee for Children (Second Step): Committee for Children is the developer of the Second Step program, one of the most widely adopted K-12 SEL curricula in the US. It competes directly with SPARK Mentoring Programs in the same school district procurement channels and shares the evidence-based, age-banded (K-12) model.
• CharacterStrong: CharacterStrong delivers SEL and character education curriculum and training to K-12 schools and districts, with a similar licensing-plus-PD revenue model. Comparable in program scope (Tier 1/2/3 supports) and buyer (district administrators, school counselors).
• Rethink Ed: Rethink Ed provides SEL, mental health, and behavioral resources to K-12 schools and districts through a digital platform with curriculum and professional learning. Directly comparable to SPARK in serving district SEL/mental health buyers and bundling curriculum with PD.
• Aperture Education: Aperture Education offers the DESSA SEL assessment and curriculum ecosystem for K-12 schools. Comparable to SPARK in targeting district SEL coordinators and providing both instruction and measurement tools within an evidence-based framework.
• EVERFI: EVERFI provides digital K-12 SEL, mental health, and prevention education to schools and districts, often at no cost via sponsorships. It shares SPARK's evidence-based, school-licensed delivery model and competes for the same district SEL budgets.
• Move This World: Move This World provides K-12 SEL curriculum via video-based daily lessons and educator training. Directly comparable to SPARK Mentoring Programs in buyer (schools/districts), delivery (curriculum licensing), and outcome claim (resilience, emotional regulation).

Broad incumbents

• Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence (RULER): Yale's RULER approach is a research-validated SEL framework widely adopted by K-12 schools, including through university partnerships. Comparable to SPARK as a leading evidence-based SEL brand, though anchored in a different theoretical model and embedded in a broader academic institution.

Emerging players

• Inner Explorer: Inner Explorer delivers daily mindfulness and SEL practices to K-12 schools with a similar evidence-based and trauma-informed positioning. Comparable as a smaller, mission-aligned SEL curriculum provider, though narrower in content scope than SPARK.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sparkcurriculum
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@TheSparkInitiative
• Facebookfacebook.com/sparkmentoringprograms
• Instagraminstagram.com/sparkinitiative

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 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 The SPARK Initiative