About Keep the Spark Alive
Prevent teen suicide and support those affected by suicide by funding school- and community-based mental health and suicide-prevention programs, providing scholarships and survivor support, and honoring the legacy of Chad Nathan Harrell.
Focus Areas
suicide preventionmental healthyouth servicesschool-based programsscholarships
Who They Fund
individuals at risk of suicidecommunity members/general publicnonprofit organizations and service providers focused on suicide prevention
Funding Style
direct funding to organizationsprogram/project-specific grantsprevention and education emphasis
About Keep the Spark Alive
Keep The Spark Alive Inc centers its giving on preventing teen suicide and supporting people affected by suicide through school- and community-based mental health programs, scholarships, and survivor support. The foundation’s work is tied to the legacy of Chad Nathan Harrell, and its active programs show a consistent emphasis on youth-facing prevention and education. A large share of the foundation’s recent support has gone to Kansas City-area intermediaries and school partners that help deliver suicide-prevention programming. In 2024, it gave $200,000 to Greater KC Community Found in Kansas City, MO, and $48,875 to Friends of JCMHC in Shawnee, KS. It also funds school-based initiatives in Blue Valley and Johnson County, including peer-leadership, resiliency, and staff-training efforts. Scholarship support is part of the model as well, with annual awards tied to Blue Valley lacrosse players. Across these activities, the foundation works through direct grants to organizations rather than individual aid, with a focus on programs that can be implemented in schools and local communities.
What Keep the Spark Alive Funds
In school-based prevention, the foundation backs Sources of Strength implementation in Blue Valley and Johnson County middle and high schools. That work is described as funding peer-leader and adult advisor training to support suicide prevention. It also supports broader school mental health efforts through the Blue Valley School District partnership. Those grants fund social and emotional learning initiatives, Youth Mental Health First Aid training for staff, and other resiliency and coping-skills programming across grade levels. Scholarships are another recurring topic. The annual Blue Valley lacrosse scholarship program provides awards to graduating players, including Blue Valley Timberwolves and Blue Valley Eastside lacrosse players, and the program is presented as part of Chad Harrell’s legacy. The foundation also supports crisis-prevention resources through #GiveMe20, a KTSA-developed program built around resilience and coping during crises.
How Keep the Spark Alive Gives
Typical grant sizes are substantial: the 25th percentile is $46,712, the median is $124,438, and the 75th percentile is $205,000. Recent activity shows both large anchor grants and smaller program awards. The grant history also suggests repeated support for school and mental-health partners rather than one-off experiments, with multiple active programs tied to the same local districts and organizations. Keep The Spark Alive Inc does not fund individuals, and it does not make program-related investments. The grantmaking pattern is direct, program-specific support through organizations.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$509K
Total Assets
$20K
Total Revenue
$303K
Total Expenses
$320K
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $47K and $205K, with a median of $124K.
25th Percentile
$47K
Median
$124K
75th Percentile
$205K
Geographic Reach
Regional2 states funded
About 50% of grants go to recipients in KS.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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