Spark was founded in 2004 by a group of young women in San Francisco seeking to engage their peers in global issues that affect women.  President Maya Garcia envisioned an organization that would empower young professional women in local communities to address social, political and economic issues that women face globally by creating a local network and working with grassroots women’s groups worldwide.  Spark began as a way to provide young people the opportunity to channel their energy toward becoming involved in the local and global community.

In the two years since its inception, Spark has hosted two fundraising events, raising over $100,000 for grassroots women’s organizations in Rwanda, Mexico, Bangladesh, Jordan, Kenya and San Francisco.  It has garnered the support of high-profile local women including KPIX news reporter Dana King, whose Emmy-nominated story about the tenth anniversary of the Rwandan genocide inspired Spark to raise money for a grassroots women’s organization in the war-torn country; Senator Carole Migden; and Angela Mason, Special Advocate for Women and Children of World Vision, who was featured as the keynote speaker at Spark’s Membership Kickoff Event, among others.

In 2005, Spark spent a significant amount of time strengthening the foundation and message of the organization.  Spark diversified its events to incorporate educational events to raise awareness about issues that affect women around the world while further engaging young professionals in the process.  It increased its membership to over 100 individuals and the number of young professionals it has engaged to over 1000.  Spark also increased and diversified its Board of Directors, which is now made up of thirteen enthusiastic and accomplished young professional women committed to promoting Spark’s mission.

In 2006, Spark focused its efforts on seven areas: 1) to increase and diversify our membership base among young professionals; 2) to initiate a corporate sponsorship program; 3) to implement an advisory board made up of prominent women; 4) to develop relationships with local groups that are similarly aligned with Spark’s mission; 5)  to diversify events by expanding educational programs, fundraisers and events that engage our peers; 6) to raise money for three new grassroots women’s organizations; and 7) to participate in four advocacy activities.

This year, Spark will be hiring an executive director, in order to take the organization to the next level and establish a global network of philanthropists supporting women who are igniting change in their communities.