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, 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.

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 2021-2022

• Support the funds needed to relocate. The Thousand Oaks Teen Center will undergo a series of delayed renovations this year. We have been given the incredible opportunity to relocate to the Conejo YMCA for the duration of the school year, beginning in January 2022! This move will require about $15,000, to include:
  • Upgrades to the existing YMCA kitchen
  • New carpeting in two bungalows
  • A handrail for the wooden staircase leading to the activity room
  • Classroom furniture and technology needs
  • Various other needs, from paint, to backpack racks, to cleaning supplies.
• Provide scholarships for students-in-need to take additional classes they couldn’t afford otherwise. That need continues to be great for several families.
  • We aim to provide at least 5 current students with scholarships ranging from $200 per session (single class) to $400 per session (two classes).
• Support the added expenditures (such as chaperones) of our 2022 Yosemite Adventure. This trip was cancelled in 2020 and 2021. We can’t wait to take our students in 2022!
• Supplement the expenditures for our unique courses and our unique pivot.
  • Educational materials cost us, on average, $120 per month in a normal year. A relocation, however temporary, will require necessary equipment and new materials. We expect to spend at least $5000 on materials/equipment in the coming months.
• 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.