Spark

I absolutely adore being a part of the Spark community. One of the most amazing things to me about Spark members is how engaged and fabulous everyone is. Conversations are such a great balance between learning more about really important human rights issues impacting women around the globe and meeting fun interesting people. I am continually inspired by my fellow members to be more civically-​minded and fabulous.
One great thing about Spark is that it caters its events to a very diverse community. You want to donate $ 25 to a good cause and sip cocktails with fellow young professionals at a trendy bar? We do that. You want to get dressed to the 9s and dance all night at our annual Black & Pink Ball? We do that. You want to be involved in a 10 person discussion with a woman in India about the challenges her grassroots organization faces serving her community? We do that too. You want to be involved with Spark’s grantmaking committee and help allocate our funding to women’s organizations around the world? We do that too. And we have wine at those meetings :)
Also, it’s worth noting that about half of our membership is men. Love it.
Spark has recently also expanded to New York City, so if you’re out East come check out some of our events!

Spark has grown from a small grass-​roots organization run by an incredible bunch of young motivated women to a true bay area philanthropic institution.
I am honored to know some of the women who started this group, and I am constantly amazed by what they have accomplished in such a short amount of time. The amount of time and effort they put into furthering worthy causes is humbling.
The events these ladies put on range from the casual cocktail parties for a cause to all out galas that are worthy of the name. But they are always places to be seen. Why not have a night out on the town, help Spark, and in turn, help a great cause!!! It’s like win-​win-​win.
Bruce Wayne would totally be a member and so should you!

I am a proud Spark board member! We definitely celebrate women who ignite global change
And we look to ignite that Spark in our very own local community through networking events, Cocktails for a Cause, Speaker Series and even our annual Black and Pink Ball!
Built from the ground up by young women of vision and passion, Spark seeks to engage all y’all – Bay Area professionals who want to learn more about philanthropy and the lifestyle of giving.
You don’t have to be a 75-​year-​old billionaire to make a difference – just a few dollars RIGHT NOW can make all the difference to struggling women around the world.
What can you do?
–Visit our website!
–Volunteer!
–Join and become a member!
–Attend an event!
–Email us questions!
–AND…you are cordially invited to Nightlife Napa Valley at City Hall on Thursday, March 13.
Nightlife Napa Valley
Thursday, March 13, 2008
6:30 — 9:30 PM
City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place
San Francisco, CA 94 102
Website:
$ 40 for Members; $ 50 in advance for Non-​members; $ 60 door
*Ooooh, now’s a great time to join Spark and SAVE! :O
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If you worship our stunning annual Black and Pink Ball, then you will adore Nightlife Napa Valley on Thursday, March 13^th at San Francisco’s City Hall.
Join 500 Spark members as we enjoy an evening of sparkling conversation and wine tasting from over 80 premier wineries, while dancing the night away to 2006 Best of the Bay DJ Label on the turntables.
The Napa Valley Vintners are generously hosting this wine tasting event, and all ticket proceeds will benefit Spark programming. Spark is an exciting young nonprofit dedicated to supporting grassroots women’s organizations at home and around the world.

Spark’s motto is «celebrating women who ignite global change.»
A good friend of mine is on the board and convinced me to become a member after I attended one of their fundraisers at 111 Minna. The event was a photo exhibit/​auction with all proceeds going towards a Jordanian women’s organization.
It’s people like the founders of Spark that reinvigorate our collective senses of civic responsibility and inspire us to get involved. Spark is a non-​profit founded and comprised of professional women in the Bay Area who want to use their skills and resources to make a contribution to positive social change across the world.
They have so far raised over $ 250,000 for grassroots women’s organizations in Rwanda, Mexico, Bangladesh, Jordan, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Afghanistan, and San Francisco — amazing.
Their strategy is cut and pasted from their website below:
Community Building: Through its unique participatory membership, Spark cultivates a community of young professionals who are actively engaged in global women’s issues.
Education: Spark educates its community on issues that impact women and girls through educational forums, volunteer opportunities, and international delegation trips.
Advocacy: Spark engages our community to support policy initiatives which benefit women and girls both locally and globally.
Grant-​Making: Spark harnesses the philanthropic spirit of its community to raise money for and give capacity-​building grants to grassroots women’s organizations that create positive social change in their communities.