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THE SPARK OF HUDSON FOUNDATION
HUDSON, NY · EIN 853003076 · Form 990 · FY2024 · NTEE B60 · Education · Micro (<$100K) · sparkofhudson.org
revenue
$42K
expenses
$199K
net assets
$-111K
employees
4
program ratio
32%
mission · from form 990

THE SPARK OF HUDSON FOUNDATION IS FORMED FOR THE CHARITABLE AND EDUCATIONAL PURPOSE OF PROMOTING LEARNING, PROECTING THE ENVIRONMENT, AND BUILDING A STRONG LOCAL COMMUNITY.

profile · synthesized from sources

The Spark of Hudson Foundation is a nonprofit community learning hub in Hudson, NY, fostering education, connection, and innovation. It offers free and paid workshops, youth apprenticeships, and community programs while supporting local initiatives through grants and shared space. The organization operates through a hybrid model, combining earned revenue from private events with community-driven programming to sustain its mission of inclusive learning and local development.

irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024

What they reported doing

  1. #1 primary $165
    TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE TO LOCAL RESIDENTS IN OBTAINING PASSPORTS
  2. #2 $5K
    EPIC GRANTS PROGRAM PROVIDING FUNDS FOR INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS AND IDEAS IN COLUMBIA COUNTY
named programs · 6 · from sources

What they call their work

Community Access Program
Provides space for personal and community gatherings such as birthday parties, reunions, and events in The Spark Building.
EPIC Grants
Supports bold and creative projects in Hudson through funding, with a focus on innovation in education, ecology, and community arts.
HudsonNEST
Supportive communal housing program for healthcare students in Hudson, providing affordable living environments.
Non-Profit Grant for CoLab Memberships
Subsidizes coworking space membership fees for local nonprofit organizations to reduce financial barriers.
Spark Conversations
Community-led workshops and classes in the Learning Lab where residents share skills and knowledge on diverse topics.
Youth Apprenticeship Program
Partnership with Friends of Hudson Youth offering skill-building opportunities in leadership, communication, and project management for youth aged 14–18, with placements in local businesses.
activities · 12 groups

What they do

  • Community Festival & Event Production 1 activity
    • Arts and creative community programming
      Hosts drop-in singing gatherings, improv sessions, poetry slams, concerts, solstice parties, sewing circles, and craft workshops open to participants of all experience levels; also includes casual, no-audition events to build community through creative expression.
  • Community Space Provision 1 activity
    • Community space and event support
      Provides complimentary access to event spaces, AV equipment, and marketing support for community-led workshops and events; hosts corporate retreats and private celebrations, with proceeds supporting free community programs and building operations.
  • Tech Skills Training for Underserved Groups 1 activity
    • Community workshops and skill-sharing programs
      Offers free and paid workshops, classes, and skill-sharing events for individuals of all ages on topics including AI, entrepreneurship, arts, sustainability, neurodiversity, psychology, wellness, storytelling, coding, and crafts; includes community-led workshops hosted in the Learning Lab space.
  • Community Foundation & United Way Support 1 activity
    • Funding innovative community projects through EPIC Grants
      Funds creative and innovative projects benefiting Hudson residents through the Eutopia Program for Innovation in our Community (EPIC Grants), supporting local ideas and nonprofit initiatives in Columbia County.
  • Shared Kitchen Incubator for Food Entrepreneurs 1 activity
    • Incubating and supporting community-based enterprises
      Incubated Circles Bagels, a breakfast restaurant that has received national acclaim, as part of efforts to support local entrepreneurship and community economic development.
  • Facility-Based Service Delivery 1 activity
    • Operating a multi-use community center
      Operates a four-story community center at the corner of 5th and Union in Hudson, serving as a hub for workshops, events, coworking, performances, and youth programs.
  • Nonprofit Capacity Building Services 1 activity
    • Organizational development and program infrastructure
      Developed organizational infrastructure and a team to support ongoing community programming, including the launch and management of youth apprenticeships and other initiatives.
  • Notary and Document Services 1 activity
    • Passport assistance for local residents
      Provides direct support to local residents in obtaining passports.
  • Flexible Grants to Grassroots Organizations 1 activity
    • Subsidizing nonprofit access to coworking space
      Offers a Non-Profit Grant to subsidize CoLab coworking space membership fees for local nonprofit organizations.
  • 12-Step Recovery Support Services 1 activity
    • Support groups and peer-led mental health programming
      Provides free support groups for caregivers of individuals with substance use or compulsive behaviors, and hosts weekly peer-facilitated support groups led by individuals who have completed a 27-hour training program.
  • Youth Workforce Readiness Programs 1 activity
    • Youth apprenticeship and workforce development programs
      Offers paid youth apprenticeships for high school students and young people aged 14–18, providing hands-on experience in hospitality, media, customer service, leadership, communication, and project management; includes job placement assistance and six months of post-placement mentoring for program graduates.
  • Uncategorized 1 activity
    • Community art exhibition and portrait reconnection project
      Hosted the "Hudson: 1997–2003" art exhibition featuring portrait paintings by Phyllis Hjorth and led a community-driven effort to identify subjects in the portraits and reunite them with their artworks or their families.
financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$42K
Contributions & grants$42K100%
Program service revenue$00%
Investment income$1000%
Other revenue$0
expenses
Total expenses$199K
Program expenses32%
Admin / overhead68%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$120K
Grants paid out$5K
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$36K
Cash$25K
Investments$0
Liabilities$147K
Net assets$-111K
Liquid reserves1.5 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -82.8%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024

Who runs it

board members · 2
  • ALBERT WENGER — DIRECTOR
  • SUSAN DANZIGER — PRESIDENT
relationships · 14

Who they work with

  • Circles Bagels Partner — Incubated and supported the development of Circles Bagels, a breakfast restaurant.
  • Columbia County Habitat for Humanity ReStore Partner — Collaborated to present an exhibition of portrait paintings and identify subjects for reunification with their artworks.
  • Columbia County Habitat for Humanity ReStore Partner — Partnered to present the "Hudson: 1997–2003" art exhibition at The Spark Building.
  • Columbia County Players Partner — Co-hosts weekly improv sessions with The Spark of Hudson.
  • Greater Hudson Promise Neighborhood Partner — Nests some of its initiatives within this community organization.
  • Hudson Community Choir Partner — Co-hosts drop-in singing gatherings on the Spark of Hudson Skydeck.
  • Mary Garcia Partner — Facilitates the monthly poetry slam at The Spark of Hudson.
  • Peter Frank and Friends of Hudson Youth Partner — Collaborated to launch an apprenticeship program for youth aged 14–18 in July 2024.
  • Sydney Jarrard Partner — Workshop facilitator and attendee hosted by The Spark of Hudson
  • The Spark of Hudson Network — Refers to itself as a model intended for replication in other communities.
  • Toastmasters Partner — Toastmasters lead the youth leadership workshop series.
  • Zoe Wohlfeld Partner — Clowning workshop facilitator hosted by The Spark of Hudson
  • cmcffc.org Partner — Collaborates on support group facilitation and communication, as indicated by shared contact email domain.
  • hello@sparkofhudson.org Partner — Primary contact point for community members interested in teaching or sharing skills.
strategies · 5

How they approach the work

Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.

  • Community-Powered Learning Model
    methodology: community-powered_learning
    By democratizing access to knowledge and valuing diverse forms of expertise, including lived experience, the organization increases participation and learning outcomes because it removes institutional and financial barriers that traditionally exclude marginalized voices.
  • Cross-Subsidized Programming
    methodology: cross-subsidized programming
    By using revenue from paid private events to fund free community programs, the organization sustains equitable access to education and services because it creates a financially resilient model that does not rely on donations or grants alone.
  • Experiential Learning with Peer Feedback
    methodology: experiential learning with peer feedback
    By combining guided practice, real-world presentations, and structured peer feedback, the organization builds communication and leadership skills more effectively than traditional instruction because authentic performance and iterative feedback deepen skill retention and confidence.
  • Invitation to Change (ITC) Approach
    methodology: ITC Approach
    By equipping families and caregivers with practical, evidence-based tools to support individuals with substance use, the organization improves engagement and recovery outcomes because compassionate, family-informed support increases the likelihood of positive behavioral change.
  • Work-Based Apprenticeships for Youth
    methodology: work-based learning
    By placing youth in paid, hands-on apprenticeships within community-based settings, the organization builds professional skills and self-efficacy because real-world work experience in supportive environments fosters both competence and long-term career orientation.