Zephyr Impact’s 2023 Spark Cohort

Applications for Zephyr’s 2023 Spark Cohort are now closed.

At Zephyr Impact, we believe that nonprofit social entrepreneurs and their nonprofit-school partnerships can have a transformative effect on youth wellbeing. Yet competing or restricted funding priorities limit so many nonprofits from reaching the level of capacity needed to expand their reach and accelerate their impact.  

In collaboration with Harbourton Foundation, Zephyr Impact seeks submissions for the 2023 Spark Cohort to support community-based organizations working to improve the mental and emotional wellness of students and contributing to a positive school climate and culture.  

Research by the National Academies has shown that healthy development of interpersonal and intrapersonal skills contributes to success in school, work, and life. Intrapersonal skills are those that relate to our inner selves, such as self-awareness, mindfulness, self-management, and self-regulation. Interpersonal skills are those that relate to our interactions with others, such as communication, teamwork, and conflict resolution. Both intrapersonal and interpersonal skills are important for social and emotional competence. Intrapersonal skills help us to understand our own emotions and how they affect our behavior. Interpersonal skills help us to understand the emotions of others and how to interact with them effectively. 

The 2023 Spark Cohort program will invest in nonprofit organizations leading innovative approaches that show strong capacity and potential for future impact, and effectively develop the social and emotional health of young people. Specifically, the Cohort is interested to fund in-school and out-of-school programs, social and emotional learning (SEL) solutions, and other innovative approaches that support intra- and inter-personal skill-building and the emotional wellbeing of all learners, particularly for those hailing from historically marginalized and economically disadvantaged communities.  

The Spark Cohort will advance dialogue and innovation supporting wider mental and behavioral health solutions for PK-12th grade school children. The aim is to find innovative leaders and solutions helping to build connected school supports and cultures, where all children feel safe, welcomed, valued, and believed in.  

The Spark Cohort will include select organizations that receive grants of $20,000 each, in-kind capacity-building support, and participation in a peer learning community over the course of one year, starting in October 2023.   

Zephyr Impact invites eligible nonprofits to apply below for our first-annual Spark Grant Cohort grants of $20,000.  

Grant Eligibility Requirements:  

• Grant funding is open to non-profits in the United States  

• Nonprofit organization must serve PK-12th grade students in United States schools through in-school/out-of-school partnerships or programs  

• Nonprofit organizations must be a legally registered charitable organization (501c3)  

• Funding is unrestricted  

• Nonprofits must have been in operation as a legally registered nonprofit for at least 3 years.   

Important Dates:  

• The grant program will be open from July 17th, 2023 until either 250 applications are received or upon close August 31st, 2023, at 11:45 MST.  

• All applicants will be notified by October 31st, 2023, of granting status.  

• Grant funds will be started by November 30, 2023, to the final Spark Cohort partners. 

• An information session webinar will be held on Wednesday, August 2, 2023, at 12:00 noon Eastern Standard Time. Details will be available by contacting info@zephyrimpact.org or via the contact submission form below.