GOLD2023

School of the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community (SPARC)

Discover your shine.

aka SPARC   |   Richmond, VA   |  www.SPARCrichmond.org

Mission

To profoundly influence young people’s lives through exceptional performing arts education.

Ruling year info

1985

Executive Director

Mr. John Tong

Main address

2106 North Hamilton Street

Richmond, VA 23230 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

54-1271758

NTEE code info

Arts Education/Schools (A25)

Performing Arts (A60)

Theater (A65)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

Sign in or create an account to view Form(s) 990 for 2022, 2021 and 2019.
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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Since its founding in 1981, SPARC has grown into one of the more substantial providers of community-based theater arts education for young people in the nation. Today, we provide performing arts education for over 2,000 local young people annually, giving students the opportunity to explore their creative potential and to develop their own voice. We know, and research supports our position, that a strong correlation exists between arts education and social and emotional development, higher graduation rates, stronger scores on achievement tests, and, ultimately, community engagement. Through our innovative approaches to arts education and creative youth development, SPARC is poised to help the Richmond community address issues of inequity, social injustice, discrimination, and other negative societal forces that challenge every community.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Stages

SPARC’s in-school enrichment classes serve over 400 students each year in 5 schools (primarily Title 1 schools) and community centers. Classes allow area children throughout Richmond the opportunity to try their hand at performing arts. These readiness classes allow young people to develop oral language and socialization skills while learning basic performance skills. Thanks to generous foundation, corporate, government and individual support, Stages programs are offered free to participants in underserved neighborhoods.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth
At-risk youth

The acclaimed New Voices for the Theater program expands SPARC’s reach statewide. This program accepts submissions of one-act plays from high school students throughout Virginia, providing them professional adjudication and inviting the top eight student playwrights to Richmond for a two-week residency. During the residency, the students work with a professional playwright to hone their skills and then work with a professional team of directors and actors to have their plays read in front of a live audience. Note: during the pandemic, the New Voices for the Theater program is being conducted virtually.

Population(s) Served
Students

Live Art is a groundbreaking performing arts education program that unites students with and without disabilities in inclusive classroom experiences.  The program culminates with a major public performance featuring all students performing alongside renowned professional musicians. During the pandemic, Live Art's final performance has been featured as a film rather than in-person performance.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth
People with disabilities

Spectrum is a theater arts education program for middle & high school LGBTQ+ youth, in partnership with Richmond Triangle Players and The Conciliation Lab. Modeled after True Colors, a program of The Theater Offensive in Boston, MA, Spectrum is the only program of its kind in Virginia, and one of only 24 in the United States.

Spectrum leverages the power of theater to eradicate isolation & fear caused by bigotry and discrimination. The program creates a safe haven where LGBTQ+ youth & their straight allies are supported and challenged to engage fully in their own personal, social & artistic development.

Population(s) Served
Sexual identity
LGBTQ people

Where we work

Awards

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

SPARC's long-term goal is that youth in elementary, middle, and high school in our region will have had the opportunity to learn, grow, and “discover their shine” through SPARC classes, camps, productions, and any of the multitude of SPARC program offerings.

In fulfillment of its mission, SPARC has historically committed itself to overcoming barriers for young people, making sure our programs are open to everyone: young people with disabilities, young people of color, LGBTQ+ youth, English language learners, and those living in low-wealth/low-access communities.

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We demonstrated a willingness to learn more by reviewing resources about feedback practice.
done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To identify where we are less inclusive or equitable across demographic groups, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    We don't have any major challenges to collecting feedback

Financials

School of the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community (SPARC)
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

School of the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community (SPARC)

Board of directors
as of 03/16/2023
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Marc Greenberg

Blackwood Development Company

Term: 2022 - 2024

Marc Greenberg

Blackwood Development Company

Fred Wood

Retired, Dominion Energy

Pamela Belleman

Troutman Pepper

Kathryn Fessler

Altria

Sara Griebel

Capital One

Anne-Marie Irani

Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU

Susan Craven Johnson

WKH Solutions

Lisa Sims

Venture Richmond

Linda Warren

Retired, Altria

Ann Ramage

Keiter

Sidney Koerin

Retired

Clara Pettus

Collegiate School

Christie-Jo Adams

Richmond Public Schools

Zachary Branch

Mending Fences LLC

Sheila Hill-Christian

Fahrenheit Advisors

Robert Sauer

Dominion Energy

Shawn Moore

University of Virginia Athletics

Lynn Greer

BrownGreer PLC

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 3/15/2023
info Candid has made improvements to the race and ethnicity options.

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
Asian/Asian American
Gender identity
Male, Not transgender

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

Transgender Identity

Sexual orientation

Disability

No data