The Sparks Foundation is a very small, Houston-based private foundation whose giving is narrowly focused: both recorded grants went to a single individual for educational purposes. The foundation appears to fund direct support for an individual (likely a scholarship, tuition, or education-related award) rather than institutions or programs. With only two grants on record, its activity is highly concentrated and idiosyncratic.
Highly concentrated: very small total giving directed to a single repeat grantee (two grants), suggesting ad hoc or person-specific support rather than broad programmatic funding.
Manuel Damian Petzey
The Sparks Foundation’s recent record is built around direct educational support in Santiago, Guatemala: the same individual, Manuel Damian Petzey, received the foundation’s three largest grants across 2023, 2024, and 2025. That repeated pattern points to a relationship-based approach rather than broad institutional grantmaking. The foundation’s grant list is dominated by education-coded awards to people in Santiago, with many smaller grants also recurring to named individuals across the same community. The foundation’s giving is closely tied to student support at different stages of schooling. The active program descriptions show scholarships that cover tuition, supplies, uniforms, and fees for students from partner schools at basic, secondary, and university levels, along with reading circles, library access, arts education, and school-based health and nutrition services. Those program areas fit the grant list’s individual educational awards, which appear to support learners rather than organizations. Across the recent grants data, the pattern is consistent: small grants, repeated beneficiaries, and a narrow geographic concentration in Santiago. The foundation also operates programs that reach children and teenagers through schools and community learning spaces, including book circles and a traveling library.
In scholarship support, the foundation gives awards tied to school participation in Santiago Atitlán, with program descriptions showing tuition, supplies, uniforms, and fees for students from partnering schools at basic, high school, and university levels. The recent grant list includes Manuel Damian Petzey and Juana Marcelina Sol Tuiz among individual education recipients. Literacy is another clear thread. The Reading Circles / Book Circle Program brings preteens and teenagers into facilitated reading groups, and the Traveling Library Program visits partner schools to promote reading and library access. Both programs connect to a broader learning environment that also includes story hours and radio readings. The foundation also supports arts and school enrichment. Its Creative Arts Program funds art classes, music classes, and instruments in partner schools, while La Puerta Abierta operates as a learning center with library and primary education activities, including preschool, elementary, Saturday story hours, and teen reading circles.
$188K
$366K
$547K
$329K
Most grants fall between $462 and $747, with a median of $543.
25th Percentile
$462
Median
$543
75th Percentile
$747
About 0% of grants go to recipients in TX.
Top 1 recipient countries by grant volume for Sparks Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guatemala | 246 | $188K | 100.0% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
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The Sparks Foundation’s typical grant size is small: the 25th percentile is $462, the median is $543, and the 75th percentile is $746. That distribution sits well below the largest individual awards in the recent list, which suggests a mix of modest ongoing support and a few larger education grants. The recent grants also show repetition. Manuel Damian Petzey appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and several other recipients reappear across multiple years, indicating continued support rather than one-off gifts. The foundation is a private foundation, does not fund individuals according to the profile flag, and does not make program-related investments. Unsolicited applications are accepted in some active programs, including Health & Nutrition, Traveling Library, Reading Circles, and La Puerta Abierta.
The grant record is geographically concentrated in Guatemala. Recipient-country data show 246 grants, all in GT. Within the recent grants list, the recipient city is Santiago, which appears on every named grant entry. The active program descriptions also place the foundation’s work in Santiago Atitlán, Sololá Department, with nearby partner schools included in the Traveling Library Program. The foundation’s HQ is Houston, TX, but its grantmaking lands in Guatemala rather than its home state.
Its active scholarship program covers tuition, supplies, uniforms, and fees for students from partnering schools in Santiago Atitlán. The grant list shows repeated education awards to individuals in Santiago, including Manuel Damian Petzey and Juana Marcelina Sol Tuiz.
Yes. It runs Reading Circles / Book Circle Program and a Traveling Library Program. The reading circles serve preteens and teenagers, and the traveling library visits partner schools; the foundation says the library visits ten schools.
The grant-size distribution is tightly clustered: p25 is $462, median is $543, and p75 is $746. That indicates most grants are relatively small, even though a few education awards in the recent list are larger.
Some programs do. Health & Nutrition, Traveling Library, Reading Circles, and La Puerta Abierta are marked as accepting unsolicited requests, while the Scholarship Program and Creative Arts Program are not.
Its grantmaking is concentrated in Guatemala, with 246 grants there and 100% of recipient-country grants in GT. Named recipients in the recent grants list are all in Santiago.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MANUEL DAMIAN PETZEY | SANTIAGO | $7,700 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| ELENA SOJUEL CULAN | SANTIAGO | $1,494 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| JUANA MARCELINA SOL TUIZ | SANTIAGO | $1,424 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| CANDELARIA RAQUEL PABLO QUIEJU | SANTIAGO | $1,253 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| MARIA CHIVILU AJTUJAL | SANTIAGO | $1,169 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| SAMUEL REANDA RABINAL | SANTIAGO | $1,130 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| MARIA ELIZABETH COCHE PETZEY | SANTIAGO | $1,110 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| DOLORES CHIYAL COSIGUA | SANTIAGO | $1,072 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| TOMAS ALVARO SIMAJ SOSOF | SANTIAGO | $1,071 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| NICOLASA CHIYAL COSIGUA | SANTIAGO | $1,071 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| JUAN PABLO RAMIREZ MENDOZA | SANTIAGO | $1,065 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| JUANA MARIA ISABEL QUIEJU SOSOF | SANTIAGO | $1,065 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| FABIOLA CONCEPCION RAMIREZ AJUCHAN | SANTIAGO | $1,052 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| JUANA JEMIMA RAMIREZ AJUCHAN | SANTIAGO | $1,052 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| SOFIA MAGDALENA COO LACAM | SANTIAGO | $1,052 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| MARIA RUTH PABLO REANDA | SANTIAGO | $1,052 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| ERIKA JUANITA GONZALES CAC | SANTIAGO | $1,052 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| HEBER COO PABLO | SANTIAGO | $1,052 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| ANA BAQUIN RECINOS | SANTIAGO | $1,052 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| HENRY ELIEZAR SAJVIN CHIVILIU | SANTIAGO | $1,052 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| LESLY SOFIA CULAN MENDOZA | SANTIAGO | $1,052 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| JUANA ESTEFANY POP IACAM | SANTIAGO | $1,051 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| JOSE MANUEL CHIVILIU | SANTIAGO | $1,051 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| DULCE MARIA GARCIA BOTAN | SANTIAGO | $1,051 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| DOLORES GUADALUPE CHIQUIVAL COQUIX | SANTIAGO | $1,051 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| ANDREA ARACELY SAPALU DAMIAN | SANTIAGO | $1,051 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| DOLORES ANGELICA TOJ PABLO | SANTIAGO | $1,051 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| JUANA LUCIA POP TINEY | SANTIAGO | $1,051 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| JILMEN MARIELA MISHEL AMBROCIO | SANTIAGO | $1,006 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| JENNIFER CONCEPCION AJCHOMAJAY PABL | SANTIAGO | $974 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| PEDRO MISAEL AJCABUL RUIZ | SANTIAGO | $974 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| LESLY MICAYLA REANDA SOJUEL | SANTIAGO | $974 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| ANTONIO VICENTE SOL | SANTIAGO | $922 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| RUTH ESTER COO PABLO | SANTIAGO | $922 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| JUAN NEHEMIAS SOJUEL RAMIREZ | SANTIAGO | $889 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| ANIBAL ISMAEL SALVADOR PETZEY COCHE | SANTIAGO | $889 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| MARIA FERNANDA PABLO CHOY | SANTIAGO | $857 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| JESSICA MARISOL AJTZIP AJUCHAN | SANTIAGO | $857 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| FELIX MOISES TUIZ CHOY | SANTIAGO | $857 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| SARA JACQUELINE AJCHOMAJAY PABLO | SANTIAGO | $853 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| MARTHA MARIA ELIZABETH SAPALU DAMIA | SANTIAGO | $844 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| MARIA SUCELY SOSOF COQUIX | SANTIAGO | $814 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| SILVIA EVELYN PORON PETZEY | SANTIAGO | $783 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| ANGELA MERCEDES SAPALU DAMIAM | SANTIAGO | $783 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| TONIA BALBINA SIMAJ SOSOF | SANTIAGO | $783 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| RUTH EVELYN MISHEL AJCHOMAJAY PABLO | SANTIAGO | $783 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| DIEGO GIOVANI DAMIAN CALI | SANTIAGO | $783 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| CONCEPCION MARIBEL COCHE PABLO | SANTIAGO | $783 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| DOLORES MICAELA QUIEJU SOSOF | SANTIAGO | $783 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
| JUANA CECELIA RAMIREZ MENDOZA | SANTIAGO | $769 | 2025 | EDUCATIONAL |
MANUEL DAMIAN PETZEY
$7,700EDUCATIONAL
ELENA SOJUEL CULAN
$1,494EDUCATIONAL
JUANA MARCELINA SOL TUIZ
$1,424EDUCATIONAL
CANDELARIA RAQUEL PABLO QUIEJU
$1,253EDUCATIONAL
MARIA CHIVILU AJTUJAL
$1,169EDUCATIONAL
SAMUEL REANDA RABINAL
$1,130EDUCATIONAL
MARIA ELIZABETH COCHE PETZEY
EDUCATIONAL
DOLORES CHIYAL COSIGUA
$1,072EDUCATIONAL
TOMAS ALVARO SIMAJ SOSOF
$1,071EDUCATIONAL
NICOLASA CHIYAL COSIGUA
$1,071EDUCATIONAL
JUAN PABLO RAMIREZ MENDOZA
$1,065EDUCATIONAL
JUANA MARIA ISABEL QUIEJU SOSOF
$1,065EDUCATIONAL
FABIOLA CONCEPCION RAMIREZ AJUCHAN
$1,052EDUCATIONAL
JUANA JEMIMA RAMIREZ AJUCHAN
$1,052EDUCATIONAL
SOFIA MAGDALENA COO LACAM
$1,052EDUCATIONAL
MARIA RUTH PABLO REANDA
$1,052EDUCATIONAL
ERIKA JUANITA GONZALES CAC
$1,052EDUCATIONAL
HEBER COO PABLO
$1,052EDUCATIONAL
ANA BAQUIN RECINOS
$1,052EDUCATIONAL
HENRY ELIEZAR SAJVIN CHIVILIU
$1,052EDUCATIONAL
LESLY SOFIA CULAN MENDOZA
$1,052EDUCATIONAL
JUANA ESTEFANY POP IACAM
$1,051EDUCATIONAL
JOSE MANUEL CHIVILIU
$1,051EDUCATIONAL
DULCE MARIA GARCIA BOTAN
$1,051EDUCATIONAL
DOLORES GUADALUPE CHIQUIVAL COQUIX
$1,051EDUCATIONAL
ANDREA ARACELY SAPALU DAMIAN
$1,051EDUCATIONAL
DOLORES ANGELICA TOJ PABLO
$1,051EDUCATIONAL
JUANA LUCIA POP TINEY
$1,051EDUCATIONAL
JILMEN MARIELA MISHEL AMBROCIO
$1,006EDUCATIONAL
JENNIFER CONCEPCION AJCHOMAJAY PABL
$974EDUCATIONAL
PEDRO MISAEL AJCABUL RUIZ
$974EDUCATIONAL
LESLY MICAYLA REANDA SOJUEL
$974EDUCATIONAL
ANTONIO VICENTE SOL
$922EDUCATIONAL
RUTH ESTER COO PABLO
$922EDUCATIONAL
JUAN NEHEMIAS SOJUEL RAMIREZ
$889EDUCATIONAL
ANIBAL ISMAEL SALVADOR PETZEY COCHE
$889EDUCATIONAL
MARIA FERNANDA PABLO CHOY
$857EDUCATIONAL
JESSICA MARISOL AJTZIP AJUCHAN
$857EDUCATIONAL
FELIX MOISES TUIZ CHOY
$857EDUCATIONAL
SARA JACQUELINE AJCHOMAJAY PABLO
$853EDUCATIONAL
MARTHA MARIA ELIZABETH SAPALU DAMIA
$844EDUCATIONAL
MARIA SUCELY SOSOF COQUIX
$814EDUCATIONAL
SILVIA EVELYN PORON PETZEY
$783EDUCATIONAL
ANGELA MERCEDES SAPALU DAMIAM
$783EDUCATIONAL
TONIA BALBINA SIMAJ SOSOF
$783EDUCATIONAL
RUTH EVELYN MISHEL AJCHOMAJAY PABLO
$783EDUCATIONAL
DIEGO GIOVANI DAMIAN CALI
$783EDUCATIONAL
CONCEPCION MARIBEL COCHE PABLO
$783EDUCATIONAL
DOLORES MICAELA QUIEJU SOSOF
$783EDUCATIONAL
JUANA CECELIA RAMIREZ MENDOZA
$769EDUCATIONAL