Brooklyn Community Foundation Announces 5 Winners of Annual Spark Prize
The Brooklyn Community Foundation announced the five Brooklyn nonprofit organizations selected to receive its annual Spark Prize, the only honor of its kind celebrating excellence and impact in the borough's thriving nonprofit sector. The winners are Cave Canem Foundation, the Center for Law and Social Justice at Medgar Evers College, Exalt Youth (exalt), GRIOT Circle, and Red Hook Initiative.
Brooklyn Community Foundation launched the Spark Prize in 2016 to recognize outstanding pioneering nonprofit organizations rooted in the borough that have demonstrated a deep commitment to advancing racial and social justice.
Each of the five Spark Prize recipients will be awarded $100,000 in general operating support from Brooklyn Community Foundation. The organizations were selected from a competitive pool of over 130 applicants by a distinguished committee of 30 members representing Brooklyn’s civic, business, and philanthropic communities.
“As Brooklyn's community foundation, we take immense pride in lifting up longstanding local nonprofits that exemplify our borough's creativity and innovation as well as deep commitment to justice and social change," said Brooklyn Community Foundation President and CEO Cecilia Clarke. "Our hope is that the Spark Prize not only fuels the growth and success of these five powerful organizations, but also attracts much needed attention and additional investment in their work."
Brooklyn is home to over 2,000 nonprofits, yet less than 5% of New York City’s philanthropic giving goes to organizations based in the borough. Brooklyn Community Foundation created the Spark Prize to drive increased support to Brooklyn’s nonprofit sector and showcase local solutions to local challenges...