SparkWell Project Leads who want to see the whole path from joining the program to launching as an independent nonprofit, and find the right milestone article for where they are now.
Introduction to the SparkWell Checklist
The SparkWell checklist covers everything that your project completes throughout the program. We've split it into 12 topical checklists, and each one lists milestones: outcomes to complete that are marked as required or optional.
Projects begin with onboarding and finish with graduation. In between, many projects work on the checklists in any order, based on what the project needs. Most projects have more than one checklist open at a time.
How to use this section
- Start with onboarding. It explains how SparkWell works and what the fiscal sponsor handles for you.
- Choose your next checklist with your Program Manager. Base it on what your project needs now: some may focus on defining a theory of change, while others may focus on board development or data-privacy infrastructure.
- Complete the required milestones. Each checklist marks what's required and what's optional, and links to resources that help.
- Work on more than one checklist at a time. Most projects do, and many come back to earlier checklists as they grow.
- Check progress with your Program Manager. Together you'll confirm what's done and decide what to focus on next.
Your board, two-year budget, final theory of change, drafted formation documents and operations lead all feed into your graduation paperwork. Entity formation can't start until they're done. Work on them throughout the program so graduation isn't held up at the end.
Start here
Learn how SparkWell works, what the fiscal sponsor handles for you and what to expect from the program. Most projects spend their first few months getting set up.
Checklists you can complete in any order
Strategy & impact
Define your mission, the long-term outcome you're working toward and how you'll measure your impact. Revisit it once your work has produced real evidence.
- Mission, theory of change & impact evaluation
- Revisited: Mission, theory of change & impact evaluation
Money & risk
Set up the systems that keep your funds, data and organization safe and compliant.
- Fundraising strategy & donor management
- Financial management & budgeting
- Legal compliance & risk management
- Infosec & GDPR
Identity & resilience
Build how the world sees you, and make sure your work isn't dependent on a single person.
Governance
Form a working board and test your theory of change against real evidence.
Finish with graduation
Form your new entity, move your funds, assets and data across, and launch as your own 501(c)(3).
Key terms
- Fiscal sponsor: a nonprofit with tax-exempt status that provides financial management, oversight and admin services for projects that don't have their own legal entity. Read more about fiscal sponsorship.
- Milestone: one thing you complete during the program, such as a mission statement or a two-year budget. Each is marked required or optional.
- 501(c)(3): the IRS status that makes a US nonprofit exempt from federal income tax and makes donations to it tax-deductible.
- Spin-out date: the target date your new entity takes over from the fiscal sponsor.