We are pleased to announce the members of our 2022-2023 Spark Prize Committee!

The committee hails from across Brooklyn and brings a wide range of professional and personal experience, with the 35 members including nonprofit leaders Diahann Billings-Burford​ (RISE) and Depelsha McGruder (Ford Foundation), immigrant rights advocate Melissa Johnson, diversity, equity, and inclusion professional Melanie Hart (The New School), and faith leader Reverend Adriene Thorne (First Presbyterian Church of Brooklyn).

Meet the 2022-2023 Spark Prize Committee

Each year, the Spark Prize Committee engages in a rigorous application review process, incorporating an equity lens in alignment with the Foundation's commitment to racial justice. The Foundation opens the Spark Prize application in the spring, and throughout the summer and fall the committee evaluates applications, narrowing submissions down to twenty finalists. The committee then conducts interviews with the finalists, and ultimately selects five nonprofits to receive the $100,000 prize. To date, the Spark Prize has awarded more than $3 million to Brooklyn nonprofits and continues to support organizations that are committed to racial and social justice. 

We are deeply thankful for the dedication of our Spark Prize Committee members, whose time, expertise, and partnership allow us to amplify organizations that are sparking critical change in our communities. We'll be announcing the next Spark Prize recipients in January 2023—stay tuned!