Frequently Asked Questions

Below are some common questions about SPARC. For further information, please email [email protected].

► What is SPARC?

Founded in 1998, SPARC is a nonprofit advocacy organization that supports open systems for research and education that enable everyone, everywhere to access, contribute to, and benefit from the knowledge that shapes our world. SPARC is a nonprofit organization with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status pending.
About SPARC

► How does SPARC achieve its mission?

As a catalyst for action, SPARC’s pragmatic agenda focuses on driving policy change, supporting member action, and cultivating communities that advance our vision of knowledge as a public good.
What We Do

► Who are SPARC’s members?

SPARC’s membership includes about 250 libraries and academic organizations across North America. This membership is complemented by affiliated SPARC coalitions in Africa, Europe, and Japan as well as individual member organizations elsewhere around the world.
Join SPARC

► How is SPARC funded?

SPARC’s core work is primarily funded by our members. We also receive grants and donations from philanthropic organizations that are restricted to specific programs or initiatives. A list of grants and donations received since 2014 is available on our website.
SPARC Finances

► What is SPARC’s fiscal operating structure?

SPARC is incorporated as a charitable nonprofit organization in Washington, DC. We have filed for our 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, and we expect that an IRS determination will take ~6 to 8 months. However, while we wait for final approval, SPARC can fully operate as a nonprofit organization with our tax-exempt status pending.
SPARC has contracted with XcelHR, a professional employment organization (PEO), to provide our HR, payroll, benefits, and compliance services. Pending IRS approval, some funders require that grant funds be held by an organization with a current tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status. We have contracted with the Global Fairness Initiative (GFI) to hold this subset of our funds. This is GFI’s only role with SPARC; once our tax-exempt status is approved, we will terminate the contract with GFI and all funds will be moved to SPARC.

► Why did SPARC transition from a fiscal sponsor to become an independent non-profit?

In 2024, SPARC conducted a thorough assessment of our operating model. In close coordination with SPARC’s Steering Committee and a member-based Subcommittee, we determined that moving to an independent nonprofit structure would allow us to deliver on our mission as effectively and cost-efficiently as possible.
SPARC transitioned to its current operating structure in June 2025. Prior to that, SPARC operated as an independent, fiscally sponsored project of the New Venture Fund from 2014-2025 and of the Association of Research Libraries from 1998-2014.

► How is SPARC governed?

As an independent nonprofit, we are required to have a fiscal Board of Directors. An inaugural Board (Emily Gore, Yasmeen Shorish, April Hathcock, and Heather Joseph) has been established to fulfill this role. The Steering Committee, elected by SPARC members, will continue with its current remit to shape SPARC’s strategies and priorities SPARC operates under our Articles of Governance, which the inaugural Board adopted to serve as our provisional Bylaws.
Over the next few months, in consultation with the Steering Committee, SPARC will revise the Bylaws to further ensure that they reflect best practices for community-led transparency and good governance and serve SPARC’s needs as an independent nonprofit organization. The revised Bylaws will be submitted to the Steering Committee for ratification this fall.SPARC Governance

► Does SPARC engage in lobbying activities?

Most of SPARC’s advocacy activities – including broader issue-area awareness, education, and calls for action to advance the issues central to our work – do not constitute lobbying. Like many non-profit projects, a small amount of SPARC’s advocacy work does involve lobbying, which the IRS defines as directly seeking to influence specific legislation. SPARC fully complies with all relevant federal, state, and IRS regulations for 501(c)(3) non-profits.
Advocacy vs. Lobbying

► What does “SPARC” stand for?

SPARC goes by its acronym, which stands for the Scholarly Publishing and Academic Resources Coalition.
About SPARC

► How can I get involved in supporting SPARC’s work?