Give Today!




$500 $100 $50 $25 $ Other




 

Our Team

Spark’s Co-Founders

Richard Johnson

Richard Johnson
Cofounder

With a business background in marketing, Rich Johnson co-founded Spark Ventures after a 2006 trip to Zambia. As CEO during Spark’s first decade, Rich’s leadership helped to raise millions of dollars to fund partners and projects in Sub-Saharan Africa and Central America. Rich’s vision for business driven philanthropy and impact travel laid the foundation for the successful organization Spark Ventures is today and he continues to serve in a leadership role on the board of directors. He has spoken at SXSW’s entrepreneur’s conference, Chicago Ideas Week, Technori and other events. In his free time you’ll find him hiking, reading or running with his dogs, Zambezi and Kia.

Scott Barbeau

Scott Barbeau
Cofounder

Scott Barbeau is co-founder of Spark Ventures and has served on the board since its inception. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. He spent the first 15 years of his professional career working at Lucent Technologies, Parson Group, and Hyperion Solutions in sales and management roles. He is the founder of UpBeat Music and Arts, a Chicago-based non-profit music school that provides mentoring and music education.  Scott is employed as a professional musician, playing keyboards in the band Sixteen Candles and teaching music.

Daniel Marcus

Daniel Marcus
Cofounder

Daniel Marcus is co-founder of Spark Ventures and has served on the board since its inception. He was born in Santiago, Chile and immigrated to the United States at the age of 8 years old with his parents and two brothers. Dan attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison where he  received a BA in Economics.  He has worked in finance most of his career. He  worked at Bear Stearns and currently is an Investment Advisor at Marcus  Capital, LLC. Dan has been involved with various charities including 10 years as a Child Life Specialist at Children’s Memorial Hospital, Chicago and two years at The Night Ministry, working to serve homeless and runaway youth.

Staff

The current Spark Ventures staff works out of our Chicago office located on the 16th Floor of 208 South LaSalle Street. Coming from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, we are united in our commitment to Spark’s unique mission to help vulnerable children achieve their potential through grassroots partnerships around the world.

Kristin Schrepferman
Executive Director

Kristin Schrepferman
Executive Director

Kristin Schrepferman has been an enthusiastic supporter of Spark since 2014 and officially joined the Spark team in October 2017. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Miami University in Oxford, OH. She has over 28 years of experience in marketing, sales, and operations. She has a long history of dedication to children in need. Her most rewarding life experiences have come from foster parenting, adoption, volunteering, mentoring, and working in schools with students from some of Chicago’s most underserved neighborhoods. Kristin is driven by the belief that communities can be lifted out of poverty and individuals can be empowered to thrive if they have the opportunity to receive a quality education, healthcare, and nutrition in an environment that is safe and nurturing.

Stephanie Denzer
Strategic Communications Consultant

Stephanie Denzer
Strategic Communications Consultant

Stephanie is an expert in creative content that elevates the work of mission-driven organizations. With over 10 years of experience blending social impact with storytelling, she is experienced in leading projects from strategic visioning through execution. Stephanie joined the Spark Ventures team in 2012 and has worn a number of different hats since then – including leading Spark’s marketing/communications efforts, along with trips and events. She now supports key projects as a Strategic Communications Consultant based in San Francisco.

 

Stephanie’s experience includes work for ImpactAssets (an organization doing impact investing with philanthropic funds), the Grameen Foundation and Pro Mujer (microfinance institutions), as well as a number of other non-profit clients. She holds her BA in Hispanic Studies with a Specialization in Economics from Columbia University in New York City, a masters degree from the University of Chicago’s Committee on International Relations and is fluent in Spanish.
You can see more of Stephanie’s work at her website: stephaniedenzer.com.
Michelle Morin
Finance & CRM Manager

Michelle Morin
Finance & CRM Manager

Michelle Morin joined the Spark team as the Finance & CRM Manager in August 2018. She was raised in St. Petersburg, FL and resides in Tampa, FL. She received her Bachelor’s of Science in finance from the University of South Florida and her MBA from Tampa College. Michelle is a wife and a mother of two. She is currently a grade level coordinator at her son’s school, the same school in which her daughter graduated from last year. She was also a past treasurer for the PSA and served on the school gala and fashion show fund raiser committees for several years. Michelle enjoys spending time with her family, watching her son play baseball and guitar, and being outdoors at the beach. Michelle is so excited for the opportunity to be a part of the Spark team and hopes to visit our partner in Zambia soon!

Tobiah Agurkis
Freelance Marketing Consultant

Tobiah Agurkis
Freelance Marketing Consultant

Tobi Agurkis partnered with the Spark team in early August, 2022. A Massachusetts transplant, Tobi is currently a graduate student at DePaul University in Chicago, working towards her Master’s in English Literature and Publishing. She loves reading and writing, and her favorite book is Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell. Through all of Tobi’s work and personal history, she has found a way to combine her passion for literature and her deep love of connecting with people, and is excited to continue doing so with Spark Ventures.

Katie Gustafson
Event & Communications Manager

Katie Gustafson
Event & Communications Manager

Katie began as Spark’s nonprofit assistant in mid-August of 2021 and then transitioned to Spark’s Event and Communications Manager in October of 2021. She graduated from North Park University in May of 2021 with a Bachelor’s in Sociology. Throughout high school and college, she worked at a summer camp in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. These summers instilled in her a passion for working and growing with others. She has always known that she wanted a job that gave her purpose, which is what drew her to Spark. She is excited to work with a team of people who are passionate about helping others and doing good work in the world. Katie enjoys exploring new places and spending time outside and with her two Golden Retrievers.
Martha Vargas
Program Manager

Martha Vargas
Program Manager

Martha Vargas joined Spark Ventures in September 2022 as Program Manager. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Saint Olaf College. Martha has over 20 years of experience as a successful program and account manager providing strategic leadership and overseeing day-to-day operations and fiscal management with non-profit and for-profit organizations. She is passionate about empowering families to elevate their quality of life by helping them become economically self-sufficient and has provided assistance in food security and housing services. By providing access to opportunities in education and social services, Martha has assisted communities in San Diego and El Paso. She is a world traveler, is fluent in Spanish, and is excited about Spark’s global mission to provide sustainable solutions to lift communities out of poverty and empower future leaders.

Board of Directors

The Board of Directors provides broad oversight of the financial and organizational health of Spark Ventures. Specifically, the Board is involved in fundraising, setting policy and ensuring continued alignment to Spark’s mission, vision and goals. The Board meets quarterly and works closely with the Executive Director to accomplish these objectives.

Michael Campbell, Chair

Michael Campbell
Chair

Michael Campbell joined the Spark Board of Directors in 2018. He received a BS from Purdue University in Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering and spent the beginning of his professional career co-founding and developing several successful start-ups. Michael brings over 30 years of experience in enterprise technology, currently as the CEO of Fusion Risk Management, the leader in Business Continuity and Risk Management solutions. He also brings a unique global perspective and strategic insight to Spark’s board. Michael is a proud father to three beautiful and intelligent daughters and currently lives in Chicago.

Scott Barbeau, Cofounder

Scott Barbeau
Board of Directors

Scott Barbeau is co-founder of Spark Ventures and has served on the board since its inception. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration. He spent the first 15 years of his professional career working at Lucent Technologies, Parson Group, and Hyperion Solutions in sales and management roles. He is the founder of UpBeat Music and Arts, a Chicago-based non-profit music school that provides mentoring and music education.  Scott is employed as a professional musician, playing keyboards in the band Sixteen Candles and teaching music.

Constance Benrud

Constance Benrud
Board of Directors

Constance was first introduced to Spark Ventures in 2014 and traveled to Nicaragua with the organization shortly thereafter.  Since then she has been a huge fan of Spark and enthusiastically joined the board in 2018.  She holds a Bachelors Degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, and has 20 years of sales and marketing experience, with 15 of those years in the global market place.  She began her career in the hotel industry and transitioned into the publishing industry.  As an executive with World Book International, she oversaw the company’s marketing efforts in 30 countries throughout the world, in addition to developing and executing major events throughout Europe, Asia and Africa.  Since Constance’s departure from the corporate sector, she has worked with and supported a variety of philanthropic organizations in Kenya, Tanzania, China, Romania, Guatemala, Indonesia and Cameroon.  Currently she also serves on the Board of Directors of Prevent AIDS Africa, an organization that works to stem the spread of HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa through a sustainable program of education, prevention, and treatment in connection with local partners.  Constance resides in Chicago.

Sue Bernstein

Sue Bernstein
Board of Directors

 

Sue first learned about Spark through her daughter, Stephanie Denzer (Spark’s Strategic Communications Consultant), who invited Sue to join her in Zambia for a trip in 2013. Sue traveled with Spark to Zambia in January 2020 for her seventh visit there! Sue has also visited our partners in Nicaragua and Mexico. She has sponsored several Spark events in Kansas since her first trip to Zambia. When the pandemic made travel to our partner sites impossible, Sue spearheaded efforts to bring technology to all of our partners. She has spent countless hours “Zooming with Zambia,” connecting US volunteers with learners in Zambia to enhance their math and science curriculum and expose them to computer technology. She also leads professional development sessions with Hope Community School teachers as they gain proficiency with their new Chromebooks. She is focused on promoting partnerships between students, teachers and families in Zambia with their peers in the U.S. Sue started her professional career as an attorney in Los Angeles in the 1980’s, but quickly realized that wasn’t for her. She has enjoyed being involved in her kids’ education, including serving as a Girl Scout leader for 13 years, and as everything from room parent to “picture lady” to president of the school parents’ association. She has had leadership roles in several other nonprofits, including serving as Board Chair of a small private school in Kansas. Sue has also chaired several fundraising auctions and events. Spark is grateful to have Sue’s experience on our team.
Julie Cook

Julie Cook
Board of Directors

Julie is a graduate of Illinois State University with a degree in Accounting/Business Administration. After starting her professional career in the public accounting and consulting sector, she has spent the last 20 years in the healthcare software industry; primarily assisting clients with implementing electronic healthcare practice management records.  

Julie attended her first Spark event in 2010 and has been a supporter ever since, visiting Entreamigos in 2016 and again in 2020 before the pandemic shut down travel. She has also visited Hope Community School in 2019 and has participated in the Events Committee since 2016. Julie resides in Chicago with her husband and four-legged furball. She loves traveling, baseball, checking out new restaurants and live music.
Julie Tafel Klaus, Vice Chair

Julie Tafel Klaus
Vice Chair

Julie, the proud mother of twin girls, lives in Rancho Santa Fe, California but was born in Pittsburg, PA and raised outside of Chicago. She attended the University of the Pacific where she received her BFA in Commercial Design and Business. She also did her post-graduate studies at The Art Institute of Chicago. After a successful sales career in high-technology publishing, Julie has spent the past 15 years focused on philanthropic efforts. In addition to being on several non-profit Boards, she has chaired numerous fund raising events for a variety of organizations. Julie has traveled extensively through Europe, Asia, the Middle East, India and South America. Julie and her daughter first traveled with Spark to Nicaragua with Spark in 2016. Julie has traveled to Spark’s partners in Mexico and Zambia several times and can’t wait to visit them again soon.

Kathy Campbell Wolf, Secretary

Kathy Campbell Wolf
Secretary

Kathy Campbell Wolf’s passion for Spark first ignited when she first traveled to Zambia in January of 2014. Coming back to the states inspired, she joined Spark’s Board of Directors that same year as part of her transition to non profit work from a 20 year career in the fashion industry as an agent, producer and business owner. A proud mother of two, Kathy previously joined the Board of Directors for her daughter’s adoption agency – the Adoption Center of Illinois (formerly the Family Resource Center) and is currently on the Board of Directors for the Chicago based non-profit HelloBaby. Kathy has fully immersed herself and her family with Spark’s partners, traveling to Nicaragua and Mexico twice each, and back to Zambia seven more times. Kathy’s determination to help those in need has made her an indispensable addition to Spark Ventures’ leadership.

Richard Johnson, Cofounder

Richard Johnson
Cofounder

With a business background in marketing, Rich Johnson co-founded Spark Ventures after a 2006 trip to Zambia. As CEO during Spark’s first decade, Rich’s leadership helped to raise millions of dollars to fund partners and projects in Sub-Saharan Africa and Central America. Rich’s vision for business driven philanthropy and impact travel laid the foundation for the successful organization Spark Ventures is today and he continues to serve in a leadership role on the board of directors. He has spoken at SXSW’s entrepreneur’s conference, Chicago Ideas Week, Technori and other events. In his free time you’ll find him hiking, reading or running with his dogs, Zambezi and Kia.

Jennifer Kim

Jennifer Kim
Board of Directors

Board of Director member Jennifer Kim loves adventure and has traveled extensively around the world. In June 2016, she took her family to Nicaragua on their first Spark Ventures trip. Since then, they have traveled to both of our partners in Zambia and Mexico. After living abroad in London and more recently in New York City, Jennifer now resides in Chicago with her husband and two daughters. Jennifer holds a B.A. in Biology and Philosophy from Boston University and a Master’s in Public Health from Tulane University with a focus on Health Education and Maternal/Child Health.

 

Throughout her life, Jennifer has dedicated her time and efforts to a number of causes. As a student, she volunteered in Kenya building a school for children. Subsequently, she worked in the outreach program with the International Red Cross in London and traveled to Sri Lanka to aid in the recovery of the 2004 Tsunami. For the last 14 years, she has volunteered with the Junior League in a number of capacities including fundraising, event planning, leadership, and tutoring underprivileged children in London and Chicago. She has served as a co-chair of the Latin School of Chicago gala, as the Lower School Vice President of the Parent Association and continues to volunteer in many capacities at the school. She serves on the Events and Partners committees for Spark Ventures. It is a pleasure to have Jennifer on the Spark team.

Vicki Kraft

Vicki Kraft
Board of Directors

Vicki is passionate about helping families improve their quality of life through entrepreneurship. She is thrilled to support Spark Venture’s mission which aligns so perfectly with her personal mission. Several years ago, Sue Bernstein invited Vicki and her husband Jon to a dinner program to learn more about Spark. The global mission and dramatic impact of Spark Ventures impressed Vicki and Jon and they became involved as donors. Jon and Vicki enjoyed visiting Entreamigos with Spark and provided funding to establish a photography program as an entrepreneurial opportunity for the local women.

 

A lifelong resident of Kansas City, Missouri, Vicki earned a BS in Business Administration from William Jewell College and an MBA from Rockhurst University. One of her favorite career positions was as inventory manager for the Keepsakes Ornaments with Hallmark Cards, Inc., being an avid collector herself. She has been in sales management with Mary Kay Cosmetics, and has owned several small businesses including a financial services practice with Thrivent. She is currently self-employed as a business consultant and enjoys giving back through her volunteer activities as a mentor and leader.

 

Vicki’s experience as President and CEO of a domestic violence shelter in an inner city environment has given her insight into many issues affecting Spark’s partners, and she will be working with the Partners Committee to develop a program for Trauma Informed Care training as one of her first projects. Her experience with all aspects of fundraising will be put to good use on the Events Committee. She is excited to build awareness and support for Spark in the Kansas City area.

 

Vicki loves performance arts and is co-chair of the Independence Young Matrons Children’s Theater. She and Jon enjoy hiking in state and national parks. Vicki and Jon have one son who is a mechanical engineer in the Kansas City area. Vicki and her family look forward to traveling with Spark Ventures, making connections for good around the world.

Doak Elliott, Treasurer

Doak Elliott
Treasurer

Doak Elliott is a Spark board member and is currently serving as the Treasurer and Finance Committee Chair.  He began supporting Spark in 2013, as one of the founding members of the Associate Board. While on the Associate Board, he served in several leadership roles, including the Associate Board Chair.  He has traveled to all of Spark’s partner organizations.

 

Doak attended Oklahoma State University where he graduated with Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Accounting.  After moving to Chicago in 2005, he spent 11 years at Ernst and Young (EY) in the firm’s Advisory Services Practice, where he helped numerous clients maximize their Internal Audit and Internal Controls functions.  Doak also served as the Central Region Leader for the firm’s College Mentoring for Access and Persistence program.  In this role, he led hundreds of EY volunteers who mentored first-generation college students.

Doak is currently the Sr Manager of Revenue Accounting at CDW in Oaklahoma.

Lisa Madonia

Lisa Madonia
Board of Directors

Lisa was born in Portland, Oregon and spent her later childhood in Carmel, Indiana. She is a graduate of DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana where she earned a B.A. in Economics/Business Administration and Psychology.

 

Lisa has worked as a senior broker and founding member at @ properties, Chicago’s top ranking real estate brokerage, for over 16 years. She has consistently ranked as one of @ properties top producers and has been recognized by the Chicago Association of Realtors for her sales volume. Her expertise includes marketing and sales of new construction developments, selling individual property listings, and helping buyers find that special home. Before entering the world of real estate, Lisa spent ten years at The Northern Trust Company as a large corporate commercial banker and financial analyst.

 

Lisa has lived in the Bucktown neighborhood of Chicago since 1999 and has two daughters. She enjoys keeping busy with her girls’ activities and school functions. She also has volunteered with several not-for-profit organizations. Lisa traveled with Spark Ventures to Zambia in 2017 and is eager to go back with her family.

Daniel Marcus, Cofounder

Daniel Marcus
Director Emeritus

Daniel Marcus is co-founder of Spark Ventures and has served on the board since its inception. He was born in Santiago, Chile and immigrated to the United States at the age of 8 years old with his parents and two brothers. Dan attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison where he  received a BA in Economics.  He has worked in finance most of his career. He  worked at Bear Stearns and currently is an Investment Advisor at Marcus  Capital, LLC. Dan has been involved with various charities including 10 years as a Child Life Specialist at Children’s Memorial Hospital, Chicago and two years at The Night Ministry, working to serve homeless and runaway youth.

Patti O'Neil

Patti O’Neil
Board of Directors

Patti was born and raised outside Boston, Massachusetts and made Chicago her home in 1989. She has a BA in Mathematics and Economics from Mount Holyoke College and a Master’s in Applied Economics from The University of Michigan. She is currently the Chief Financial Officer at Rush University System for Health. Previous to joining Rush, she worked as a banker at both Bank of America and First National Bank of Chicago. She raised her three children in Chicago. Patti is involved in volunteer activities at church, Misericordia, and her children’s schools, and is on the Investment Committee of Saint Ignatius College Prep. Currently, Patti is a board member of an HIV/AIDS clinic located in Chicago. She traveled to our partner in Zambia with both of her daughters and has done a family trip to our partner in Nicaragua as well!

Kristin Schrepferman

Kristin Schrepferman
Executive Director

 

Kristin Schrepferman has been an enthusiastic supporter of Spark since 2014 and officially joined the Spark team in October 2017. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from Miami University in Oxford, OH. She has over 28 years of experience in marketing, sales, and operations. She has a long history of dedication to children in need. Her most rewarding life experiences have come from foster parenting, adoption, volunteering, mentoring, and working in schools with students from some of Chicago’s most underserved neighborhoods. Kristin is driven by the belief that communities can be lifted out of poverty and individuals can be empowered to thrive if they have the opportunity to receive a quality education, healthcare, and nutrition in an environment that is safe and nurturing.

Tumsheen Qureshi

Tumsheen Qureshi
Board of Directors

 

Tumsheen is a strategic, analytical, and results-driven Finance professional with over 15 years of audit, process improvement, and accounting experience in global Fortune 100 companies. She currently leads the Internal Audit and Finance Continuous Improvement teams at Grainger, Global Industrial Supplier. Passionate about giving back to the community, she’s been a Spark supporter for the last few years and excited to join the Board of Directors. She’s already had the pleasure of traveling to Mexico and visit the Entreamigos which provides incredible support to the local community.

Associate Board

The Spark Associate Board was founded in 2013 to provide support to Spark’s initiatives and goals. The Associate Board is made up of professionals from around Chicago who are committed to creating awareness and growth for Spark. The Associate Board meets bi-monthly and works with the Spark staff and the Board of Directors to assist in fundraising efforts and as well as various programs with our partners.

Ashley Bailey

Ashley Bailey

Associate Board

Ashley is a Chicago native who graduated from DePaul University in 2012 with a BA in Psychology: Human Development and in 2014 with an MA in Elementary and Special Education. In 2012 she began working at Lincoln Park Preschool and Kindergarten as an Assistant Teacher and in 2014 became a Lead Teacher within the school. With the help of Lincoln Park Preschool and their ties to Spark and their mission to provide quality education to children everywhere, she was able to visit Spark’s partner Hope Community School, in Zambia, in 2018. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her loved ones, reading, painting and listening to music.

Hailey Radakovitz

Hailey Radakovitz

Associate Board

Hailey Hofer

Hailey Hofer

Associate Board

Jason Kuker

Jason Kuker

Associate Board

Katie Gustafson

Katie Gustafson

Associate Board

Katie began as Spark’s nonprofit assistant in mid-August of 2021 and then transitioned to Spark’s Event and Communications Manager in October of 2021. She graduated from North Park University in May of 2021 with a Bachelors’s in Sociology. Throughout high school and college, she worked at a summer camp in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. These summers instilled in her a passion for working and growing with others. She has always known that she wanted a job that gave her purpose, which is what drew her to Spark. She is excited to work with a team of people who are passionate about helping others and doing good work in the world. Katie enjoys exploring new places and spending time outside and with her two Golden Retrievers.

Julie Cook

Julie Cook

Associate Board Advisor

Andrea Jacobson

Andrea Jacobson

Associate Board

Cassandra Wade

Cassandra Wade
Associate Board

Cassi was first introduced to Spark by cofounder Scott Barbeau in 2009 and never looked back. A southside Chicago native graduating from Governors State University with a BA in Business Management, her background is mainly focused in Customer Service, Hospitality, Special Events and Project Management. One of the early events committee members and a YPS (Young Professionals of Spark) supporter she joined the Associate Board in 2018. She has traveled with Spark to Las Tias in Nicaragua in 2014 and was lucky enough to make a short solo stop at Entreamigos in Mexico more recently. Hope School in Zambia is still on the list of places to visit when we can all safely travel again!

Aneil Baron

Aneil Baron

Associate Board

Harli Thompson

Harli Thompson

Associate Board

Parker Wight

Parker Wight

Associate Board

Volunteers, Interns and Pro-Bono Support

Spark Ventures is thankful to have the support of a number of talented individuals who dedicate their skills and time to help us move our organization forward.

Interested in interning? See our opportunities at the bottom of this page for more details on how to apply and join the team!

Advisory Council

We are grateful for our advisors who strengthen our organization through time, expertise and strategic input to the staff and leadership.
Heather Duncan

Heather Duncan
Advisory Council

Heather Duncan is a Nurse Practitioner, educator, volunteer, investor and close friend of Spark. She is an Assistant Professor of Nursing at North Park University as well as the Faculty Liaison for North Park University’s annual Zambia trip and clinic. She has traveled to Zambia at least 5 times to facilitate the medical clinic, and has continued to develop innovative ways to share knowledge with Hope and the community they serve. In May of 2013 she led a team of local staff to launch our first Nutrition Training. Not only has she made friends with the children at Hope, but she also got to meet the first round of chickens at the poultry farm!

Andrew Hastie

Andrew Hastie
Advisory Council

Andrew Hastie is originally from Boulder, Colorado, but has called Chicago home since 2007. He is a Salesforce functional architect with more than 5 years of professional services and implementation experience. He holds a bachelors in economics from the University of Chicago, a masters in accounting from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and held a record in the Guinness Book of World Records. He was hired into Salesforce Commerce Cloud to provide implementation guidance and engagement quality assessments for Salesforce Commerce clients. He has been involved with Spark’s mission since 2011 and is currently working with Spark to strengthen our technical roadmap and bring us closer to our donors through the Salesforce platform.

Open Positions

There are no open positions at this time

Spark Ventures is currently looking for talented interns to support our team in summer 2023. We accept intern applications on a rolling basis. When applying, please specify the time period during which you are looking to work with us (minimum 3-month commitment, 4+ month commitment preferred).

Marketing and Communications Intern
Marketing and Communications Intern

 

Description of the Internship

The Spark Ventures Marketing and Communications Intern will work with a small team and gain valuable insight into the marketing and communications and PR needs at a small and growing nonprofit. The majority of his/her responsibilities will include writing for print and web, managing Spark Ventures’ social media presence, identifying and pursuing new digital influencer/PR opportunities, and updating Spark Ventures’ website and blog.

 

Spark Ventures is a small team and values interns who are self-starters and can identify creative and achievable marketing opportunities for the organization. Interns are given guidance and training, but also entrusted with a fair amount of independence to take ownership over specific projects of interest during their time at Spark.

 

Responsibilities May Include

 

Creative Content Creation

  • Draft creative storytelling pieces to assist in sharing the impact of our work with our community – in the past this has included video projects, photo journals, blog articles, social media campaigns etc. Projects will vary based on intern skill sets.

 

Website/Online Presence

  • Draft copy for online communications to include: email newsletter articles, blog posts, web page, etc.
  • Perform regular site updates including written content, images and other document uploads.

 

Social Media

  • Maintain and promote the Spark Ventures online presence via: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, blogs and other online marketing vehicles.
  • Research strong nonprofit social media presences and implement new strategies to increase our reach.

Office Management

  • Support ongoing operational needs of a growing non-profit, including some light administrative work (less than 10% of the job).

 

Qualifications

 

  • Previous work experience in a marketing or communications position is preferred but not required
  • Strong writing and communication skills
  • The ability to work independently on projects
  • Ability to incorporate feedback from team into projects
  • A high level of computer proficiency
  • A familiarity with non-profit usage of social networks (specifically Facebook, Twitter & Instagram)
  • Basic familiarity with graphic design or video software preferred but not required

 

Start Date

Minimum 3 month commitment, 4+ month commitment preferred

 

Compensation

This is an unpaid internship

*Public transportation expenses to and from the office are covered

Time Commitment

10-15 hours per week (possibility to work fully remote or hybrid format)

 

Reports to

Katie Gustafson – Events & Communications Manager

 

To apply

Email resume, cover letter, and a writing sample (maximum 2 pages) to careers@sparkventures.org. Please put “Marketing and Communications Intern” in the subject of your email.

Events Management Intern
Events Management Intern

 

Description of the Internship

The Spark Ventures Events Management Intern will work with a small team and gain valuable non-profit management experience through direct involvement in the planning and coordination of fundraising events in Chicago. The majority of his/her responsibilities will include events planning and coordination, event related PR, and event related social media.

 

Spark Ventures is a small team and values interns who are self-starters and can identify creative and achievable marketing opportunities for the organization. Interns are given guidance and training, but also entrusted with a fair amount of independence to take ownership over specific projects of interest during their time at Spark.

 

Responsibilities May Include

 

Event Planning

  • Assist in event planning and execution
  • Coordinate event logistics
  • Support securing and preparation of live auction items for upcoming events
  • Manage volunteer recruitment and coordination for fundraising & education/awareness events
  • Coordinate event logistics with vendors (i.e. catering & event location)
  • Schedule permitting, assist on event day with event support (i.e. set up, communication with vendors and volunteers

 

Organizational Support

  • Maintain and update attendee information
  • Conduct research related to Spark’s events
  • Assist in the design and content development of marketing and promotional materials
  • Implement event promotion schedule and expand the reach of promotions
  • Manage tracking of tickets and correspondence event attendees
  • Expand existing organizational documentation

 

Organizational Support

  • Support ongoing operational needs of a growing non-profit, including some light administrative work (less than 10% of the job).

 

Qualifications

 

  • Exceptional organization skills and high attention to detail
  • The ability to work independently on projects
  • Ability to incorporate feedback from team into projects
  • Strong writing and communication skills
  • Previous international travel experience preferred but not required
  • A high level of computer proficiency

 

Start Date

Minimum 3 month commitment, 4+ month commitment preferred

 

Compensation

This is an unpaid internship

*Spark will cover transportation expenses to get to the office (public transportation) & event-related travel expenses with approval of the Communications and Events Coordinator.

Time Commitment

10-15 hours per week (possibility to work fully remote or hybrid format)

 

Reports to

Katie Gustafson – Events & Communications Manager

 

To apply

Email resume and cover letter to careers@sparkventures.org. Please put “Events Management Intern” in the subject of your email.