Spark Grants Ignite Seven New Community Projects

Earlier this year we hosted a Spark Grants Orientation & Reporting event where we awarded seven new grant awards and celebrated five successful projects. This innovative new event allowed seasoned Spark Grant participants to tell their stories and share their best practices and learning take-aways with a team of folks who are about to kick off their projects. Vice versa, the new grant awardees were able to share their enthusiasm and plans for their upcoming work and folks were able to find opportunities to connect in terms of future collaboration, promotion and support.

A great new opportunity for both past and present Spark Grant recipients is the chance to take part in a crowd-funding program that will help project leaders raise additional funds for their efforts in the community. The Foundation has partnered with ioby (in our back yard), a crowd-resourcing platform that not only allows neighbors to support locally created projects and initiatives with an online contribution, they also provide consulting support and expertise on how build a cause and gain support from other like-passioned individuals and organizations in the community. Spark grantees have the opportunity to apply and take part in this crowd-sourcing opportunity and later this spring six Spark grantees will be selected to take part in this initiative.

The seven new Spark Grant projects that were chosen for funding this period include:

1. Tacoma Transgender Social Support Project:
Targeted work to reduce isolation among transgender people in Pierce County.

2. VOICE253:
Increase community engagement among youth in Tacoma through digital storytelling.

3. Fathers of Tacoma:
An opportunity for dads to connect and mentor youth without a father figure.

4. Black Women Speak Rally:
The rally’s core goal is to empower black women in all aspects of their lives.

5. Tacoma Performing Showcase:
Rotating monthly performance showcase that will involve classical/modern dance, staged theatre readings, and short film screenings.

6. Flutivities:
Flute making to develop peaceful alternatives to violence.

7. Meaningful Movies Tacoma:
Bring thought provoking documentary film to a diverse audience in Tacoma to inspire community, conversation, and action

For more information and details, please contact Kathryn Zetzer. If you are a go-getter and grassroots community organizer and you have a great idea on how to make Pierce County a better place but just need a little fuel to get going, then be sure to apply for a Spark Grant before the Friday, March 18th deadline. The application is short, easy and grants can pay out at up to $1,500!