About Us, and Why We Fundraise

If you’re here, then you already know the value of One Spark Academy, or you know someone who does. But to give you some background, 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 older) who, for a variety of reasons, will benefit from a non-traditional setting. We receive no state funding. We rely on registration fees and donations to do what we love to do: teach kids well!

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.

We have never charged families what it actually costs to run OSA. That is why we became a 501(c)(3) non-profit, and that is why we are asking 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 your donation to a non-profit. Great news for charitable giving in 2020: Taxpayers who itemize may deduct donations to charitable groups. This basic tax rule wasn’t altered. What changed is a special donation deduction of up to $300 for people who don’t itemize.

Make it monthly! You can become a “Friend of One Spark” with a monthly contribution of any amount.

How Your Donations Will Support Us in 2021

• Support the funds needed to relocate. In November 2020, we moved out of the Thousand Oaks Teen Center after nine wonderful years. Due to the pandemic, it is unlikely we’d use the building in any meaningful capacity before Fall 2021. Although we may continue to rent space there (as we do with other locations), by Fall 2021, we hope to have a permanent space to call our own.
• Provide scholarships for students-in-need to take additional classes they couldn’t afford otherwise, as well as participate in enriching activities. That need is much greater this year!
  • We aim to provide at least 5 current students with scholarships ranging from $200 per session (single class) to $400 per session (two classes).
• Supplement the expenditures for our unique courses and our unique pivot.
  • Educational materials cost us, on average, $120 per month in a normal year. Since being remote, we have spent, on average, $390/month.
• Help us continue to grow while remaining accessible. Our Flex Plan (full-time) rate is discounted an average of $400 per month, per full-time student, from what our operational costs should require.