History and Testimonials of the Sparking Change Mini-Grant Program

Written by Lexi Locke-Vincent

For two years, the Community Foundation of Louisville’s Sparking Change Mini‑Grant (SCMG) program served as a beacon of possibility for Kentuckiana’s grassroots nonprofits. Built on a simple premise — that small sparks of funding can ignite transformative work — the program was supported by the Foundation’s Fund for Louisville Action Areas.  It distributed $1,000 grants to three organizations each month from 2024–2025 to organizations with operating budgets under $250,000. In total, 72 community‑based organizations received support, each one using their spark to bring energy, imagination, and meaningful change to the region.

Though the program closed in 2026, the stories it leaves behind highlight its extraordinary impact.

Testimonials and Impact of Recipient Organizations

Ace Project

Ace Project was able to host a Peaceful Pool Party, a community-centered event that provided a safe and uplifting environment for survivors and families impacted by gun violence. In addition to the pool party, the event incorporated a Back-to-School Giveaway, distributing backpacks, school uniforms, and hygiene essentials to children and families in need.

The Black Appraisers of Louisville

The Black Appraisers of Louisville was able to provide increased resources and education to minorities aspiring to a career in the Appraisal industry.

Books for Babes

Books for Babes was supported in its mission to inspire families to begin their reading aloud journey at birth.

Breakthrough Louisville

Breakthrough Louisville (previously Summerbridge Louisville) has been able to continue its 30+ year mission of serving under-resourced middle school students as well as training young college students for the teaching profession.

The Chamber Theatre

Pictured: Actors from The Stronger Project hosted by The Chamber Theatre. Photo Credit: The Chamber Theatre.

The Chamber Theatre was able to host The Stronger Project, allowing a small group of actors to play lead in a short play, develop skills and profiles locally, and bring theatre performance closer to audiences.

Claycomb ACCAdemy Inc.

Claycomb Academy Inc. hosted their annual teen financial literacy conference in April 2024 in honor of financial literacy month. The funds helped them have a larger audience reach by helping with advertising the event and offer free lunch to attendees.​

Coalition for Workforce Diversity

Pictured: A client working with staff and volunteers at the Coalition for Workforce Diversity career fair. Photo Credit: Community Foundation of Louisville.

Coalition for Workforce Diversity was able to host a career fair with committed employers who supported their mission, hiring consumers, and sponsorships.

Coleman Preparatory Academy

Pictured: Students at play in Coleman Preparatory Academy. Photo Credit: Community Foundation of Louisville.

Coleman Preparatory Academy used the mini-grant to cover our food purchases for our summer program. We were able to provide breakfast, lunch, and snack for our attendees. This allowed us to offset the cost for two students to attend our camp.

Elevate Louisville

Pictured: Students and staff involved with Elevate Louisville;  Photo Credit: Community Foundation of Louisville.

Elevate Louisville Executive Director D’Andrea Williams applied for funding to support the promotion of education and awareness of conflict resolution and effective communication with over 150 students at The Academy at Shawnee. Through Elevate Louisville’s program, the organization partnered with The Academy at Shawnee to provide character and leadership development, mentoring, and more. Elevate Louisville’s mission is to build long-term, life-changing relationships with urban youth, equipping them to thrive and contribute to their community. Through their collaboration with StageOne Family Theatre, Elevate Louisville provided resources and workshops through arts education focusing on respect and showing empathy to equip our students with the necessary skills to resolve conflicts peacefully.

Feed the City Inc.

Feed the City Inc. was able to continue their mission in providing daily warm meals, food baskets, clothing and other resources to assist less fortunate families. ​

Joyous Singers, Inc.

Joyous Singers Inc. was able to purchase new sheet music for their concerts and had advertising dollars to promote their concerts and recruit new members.

Kentucky Nurses Foundation

Kentucky Nurses Foundation used its funding to provide grocery gift cards to nurses who are facing food insecurity. ​

Kerith Family Recovery

Kerith Family Recovery was able to purchase supplies to create STEM and Emotional Regulation stations for Kerith Kids, a program dedicated to children who have experienced parental incarceration and substance addiction in the family.

Mama to Mama Inc.

Mama to Mama Inc. used the funds granted to purchase car seats for expectant families who otherwise would not have been able to afford them. With the $1,000, they were able to provide 10 new infant car seats to our clients. ​

More Than a Smile Foundation

Pictured: Foundation staff with the staff of More Than a Smile Foundation. Photo Credit: Community Foundation of Louisville.

More Than a Smile Foundation was able to provide transportation to refugee and immigrant students for an after-school YMCA program. This opportunity eventually led the Executive Director and CEO of More Than a Smile Foundation to be awarded an Alden Fellow grant provided by the Community Foundation of Louisville.

NABA Greater Louisville

Pictured: Students involved with NABA Greater Louisville’s programming. Photo Credit: Community Foundation of Louisville.

NABA Greater Louisville was supported in its annual to summer ACAP program, which hosted high school students from throughout the state of Kentucky and southern Indiana to teach them about personal finance and possible careers in business and accounting.

National Parkinson’s Institute

Pictured: Clients with Parkinson’s participating in the Ready Set Boxing program. Photo Credit: Community Foundation of Louisville.

The National Parkinson’s Institute used its Mini‑Grant to purchase specialized equipment needed for a now-popular program, Pickleball for Parkinson’s, serving the local Parkinson’s community. With this additional support, the Institute expanded its programming to reach 40–100 more individuals every week, ultimately serving over 5,000 people annually through exercise, education, and wellness classes.

Network Theory Applied Research Institute (NTARI)

Nerd Louisville

Nerd Louisville launched a “Young Questors” event series, offering young people creative, educational opportunities through role-playing games. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and planned to expand events further in 2025.

New American Business Association

New American Business Associate utilized the $1,000 grant to organize meetings with legislators and city officials to advocate for our initiatives. Additionally, the funds were instrumental in developing and presenting our magazine project, which aims to highlight the stories and successes of immigrant entrepreneurs and communities.

Noir Black Chamber of Commerce, Inc.

Noir Black Chamber of Commerce, Inc. engaged Black youth through its support in business education, professional skills development, and trauma therapy education, with the goal of increasing the number of successful Black entrepreneurs and corporate professionals over time.​

Robert Jamison Ministries

Pictured: Robert Jamison Ministries staff and Foundation staff. Photo Credit: Community Foundation of Louisville.

Robert Jamison Ministries (RJM) stands as one of the program’s most powerful success stories. Focused on job readiness and youth empowerment, RJM used its grant to offer career assessments, goal‑setting workshops, value identification, and long‑term planning to dozens of young people. Executive Director Yvette Goodwin‑Jamison emphasized their vision:
“We wanted to see these young folks use leadership training to impact their lives and the community in which they reside. Without the Sparking Change Mini‑Grant, RJM would not have been able to start this initiative.”

That spark soon grew into a flame: RJM went on to secure an additional $50,000 in funding and eventually received support from the Community Safety & Healing Fund. Their journey embodied the program’s purpose — not simply to fund a project, but to set organizations on a trajectory of growth and community leadership.

Side-by-Side Studio

Pictured: Families creating art at Side-by-Side Studio’s Family Party in the Park. Photo Credit: Community Foundation of Louisville.

Side-by-Side Studio kicked off its summer Art in the Park series in 2024 with a Family Party in the Park. With assistance from the Sparking Change Mini-Grant, they were able to improve community safety by bringing full art studios and food directly to youth and families in our community.

Society for the Prevention of Aggressiveness and Violence Among Adolescents (SPAVA)

SPAVA used the grant funding to cover the cost of staff visiting businesses for stewardship efforts, sponsorship and stewardship materials, and the meeting-associated mileage.

Spay Away

Spay Away used these funds to help spay/neuter 28 cats for two different overwhelmed households who were facing animal control violations. ​

West End Business Association

West End Business Association held a highly successful Launch Event, benefitting 28 business owners, entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, and community business advocates.

Young Hearts Theatre Inc

Young Hearts Theatre Inc. was able to continue educating and encouraging ​senior citizens to stay active by providing retired performers the opportunity to ​contribute to the community and satisfy their desire to be active in the performing ​arts.​

Full List of Awarded Organizations 

2025 Recipients of Sparking Change Mini-Grants

2024 Recipients of Sparking Change Mini-Grants