Please scroll down to learn more about this campaign, why your support is needed, and special gifts for minimum donation amounts.
Swipe through to see our students in action
Our Campaign will run from November 17, 2025 through January 5, 2026 (seven weeks)
$1,490 of $30,000 raised
Campaign Details:
One Spark Academy (OSA) has been a lifeline to many families whose children need a small, flexible, and nurturing place to learn. Like many small businesses, our journey through the pandemic challenged us, with three successive years of reduced enrollment, as well as pivoting in numerous ways and across multiple locations. In December 2021, we had the opportunity to settle at the Conejo Valley YMCA. Our move was expensive, but we thoroughly enjoy this beautiful space, and will continue to for however long we can! The GREAT news is that this year, 2025-2026, our numbers have exceeded pre-pandemic levels. In fact, this was the first year we started Session 1 at capacity. However, running OSA costs more than our registration fees cover, and it will also take time to pay down the debts we incurred through COVID.
Our goal for this year’s Giving Campaign is $30,000, raised between November 17, 2025, and January 6, 2026. Scroll down to see how we will use those funds.
Last year’s campaign was a success, and we hope for another successful campaign this year. (You can view our list of donors from our 2024-2025 Giving Campaign here.) Because of YOU, our students continue to receive the exceptional education that One Spark Academy provides.
As a non-profit, we continue to need your support. Whether by way of a small or large tax-deductible* gift, every single donor helps us by giving what they can. If you donated last year, we hope you consider your investment money well spent, and that you’ll consider donating again this year.
All donors will be listed at the bottom of this page (unless they request to remain anonymous). Listed donors will include our Friends of One Spark, who contribute monthly. No contribution amounts will be listed.
*One Spark Academy is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation: One Spark Foundation, Inc. (EIN #46-1210961)
About Us, and Why We Fundraise
One Spark Academy was founded in 2011 with one mission in mind: to give kids who need something different a path to a great education. We’re a small learning center for middle-school students (and some who are older) who, for a variety of reasons, benefit from a non-traditional setting. Although we are a vendor and partner with several public charter schools, we receive no state funding. We rely on registration fees and donations to do what we love to do: teach kids well!
We have never charged families what it actually costs to run OSA. Many families cannot afford a private education, so staying accessible to more families is a priority. That is why we became a 501(c)(3) non-profit, and that is why we ask for YOUR help. Consider your tax-deductible donation an investment in the future of our community. You never know who will need us– your child, a neighbor’s, a friend’s, a co-worker’s. Many companies also match donations to a non-profit.
Learn more about us: For the details about our program, go here. To see some of the awesome classes we offer, go here. To watch our home page video, go here.
Make it monthly! You can become a “Friend of One Spark” with a monthly contribution of any amount. Huge thanks to those who already contribute monthly.
How Your Donations Will Support Us in 2025-2026
- Support important upgrades and maintenance costs. As a tradeoff for relatively low rent, OSA takes care of maintenance for the interior and some exterior spaces we use. Although we don’t know how long we can stay, maintenance and upgrades not only keep the campus safe and comfortable, but also ensure a safe, comfortable space for our students and enhance our programming NOW. This year, our needs include:
- Continuing maintenance costs for AC and heating, with old units in need of TLC
- Tenting at least one building for termites
- New materials and lab equipment for our classes
- Converting an empty shipping container into a workable space
- Provide scholarships for students-in-need to take additional classes they couldn’t afford otherwise. That need continues to be great for many families.
- We’d like to provide at least five current students with scholarships ranging from $250 (single class) to $500 per session (two classes).
- Our Flex Plan (full-time) rate is discounted an average of $450 per month, per full-time student, from what our operational costs would require.
- It’s our mission to remain accessible to families with limited budgets.
- Support the added expenditures for our 2026 Outdoor Adventure. The cost per student only partially covers our chaperones.
- Funds raised in excess of our goal can help 1-3 students-in-need attend the trip.
- Supplement our payroll budget.
- Our teachers work hard! Success in this campaign will provide for added hours for teachers, which are much-needed based on rising costs everywhere.
- With more students, more support is needed. We are expanding our team in Session 3 and into next year.
PERK #1: OSA Family Donation
For a donation of $300 or more, your current student will receive a copy of our beautiful, full-color 2025-2026 yearbook. (Value: $49)
PERK #2: Community Donation
For a donation of $300 or more, you will receive a hand-written card from a student or staff member, sharing what your support means.
Perk #3: Community Donation
For a donation of $500 or more, you will receive a lovely gift made for you by an OSA student. You’ll be contacted to confirm.
Thank You to Our Donors!
We are incredibly grateful for every single gift, small or large, that comes our way. Every person listed here made a big difference One Spark Academy.
Isabel Syder
Carolyn Corwin
Robyn & Seth Brady
Margaret Geist
Kathy & Rod Leard
Jack & Lori Saunders
Lori Peters & Todd Geist
Russ & Joyce Colletta
Keri Kraft
Kitty Brown
Jenni Buchanan
Lisa Henningsen Carmona
Ron & Connie Peters
James Moynihan