One Spark and Foundation Center Form Strategic Alliance, Offer New Benefits to Social Good Organizations

New Partnership Delivers Fundraising and Capacity-Building Resources

New York, NY — April 15, 2014. One Spark, Inc., a leader in the social entrepreneurship sector, and the Foundation Center, the leading authority on philanthropy, have announced a strategic alliance designed to connect people working on great ideas to the resources they need to make them a reality. Unveiled on the heels of One Spark’s premier five-day crowdfunding festival for creators, the partnership will help open up new funding pathways for nonprofit organizations affiliated with the One Spark community.

One Spark is a nonprofit organization working to foster an environment of creativity and innovation. Best known for its crowdfunding festival of the same name, One Spark serves as a platform for artists, entrepreneurs, and innovators to showcase their ideas and connect to both human and financial capital that can help them meet their goals. One Spark’s annual event in Jacksonville, Florida, which took place April 9-13, featured more than 632 projects from across the country and around the world, more than 100 of which were presented by nonprofit organizations. One Spark will host its first festival outside of the United States in Berlin, Germany this fall.

The Foundation Center strengthens the social sector by advancing knowledge about philanthropy in the U.S. and around the world. Recognized as a trusted resource in the field and a critical service provider for nonprofit organizations, the Center operates research, education, and training programs designed to grow capacity, foster collaboration, diversify funding, and increase impact. Tens of thousands of individuals and organizations access information through the Foundation Center’s online learning platforms, its five regional centers, and its network of more than 470 Funding Information Centers located in all 50 states and 13 countries. Its Foundation Center 2020 strategic plan acknowledges that collaboration and partnerships are vital to helping new audiences and meeting the data and knowledge needs of the sector.

“This partnership with One Spark builds a bridge between some of the field’s most remarkable innovators and the tools they need to make a difference in the world,” said Zohra Zori, vice president for social sector outreach at the Foundation Center. “These resources — these bridges — will help transform today’s aspirations into tomorrow’s solutions.”

The partnership will leverage the two organizations’ unique strengths and complementary missions to support the social sector in new and innovative ways. Several key priorities have been identified, including:

• To provide One Spark-affiliated nonprofit organizations with discounted access to Foundation Directory Online Professional, the Foundation Center’s premier fundraising research tool that helps organizations identify like-minded grantmaking foundations;
• To deliver education and training resources that help One Spark’s nonprofit organizations increase their knowledge, build their capacity, and scale their efforts; and
• To incubate and explore new ways to support a broad spectrum of social good organizations, whether they be part of Jacksonville’s hub of innovation or in global communities such as Berlin.

“One Spark is committed to supporting investable ideas of all kinds,” said Elton Rivas, co-founder of One Spark. “Partnering with the Foundation Center allows us to deliver that support to nonprofit organizations so that, together, we can spark new ways to create impact.”

Cheryl Loe
Communications Project Manager
The Foundation Center
(888) 356-0354 ext. 701
communications@foundationcenter.org

Meredith O'Malley Johnson
Public Relations & Volunteer Services Manager
One Spark
(904) 322-9233 
Meredith@beonespark.com

About the Foundation Center
Established in 1956, the Foundation Center is the leading source of information about philanthropy worldwide. Through data, analysis, and training, it connects people who want to change the world to the resources they need to succeed. The Center maintains the most comprehensive database on U.S. and, increasingly, global grantmakers and their grants — a robust, accessible knowledge bank for the sector. It also operates research, education, and training programs designed to advance knowledge of philanthropy at every level. Thousands of people visit the Center's web site each day and are served in its five regional library/learning centers and at more than 470 Funding Information Network locations nationwide and around the world. For more information, please visit foundationcenter.org or call (212) 620-4230.

About One Spark
One Spark is about connecting people with great ideas to the resources they need to make them a reality. During a 5-day crowdfunding festival, One Spark brings together artists, entrepreneurs and innovators who showcase their projects in a 20-square-block, multi-venue gallery in downtown Jacksonville, Florida, with the objective of securing the financial and human capital they need to succeed. It’s the community behind great ideas. It’s the opportunity to get involved, be inspired, connect and collaborate. Learn more at www.beonespark.com.

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