NET WORTH: Unknown
SOURCE OF WEALTH: SuNOVA Capital
FUNDING AREAS: Music, Education, Community Organizing
OVERVIEW: Felice and Yoram Gelman move their philanthropy through the Sparkplug Foundation, a family foundation that funds start-up organizations and new projects of established organizations in music, education and community organizing. Available tax filings indicate that Sparkplug awarded around $500,000 in grants in 2018.
BACKGROUND: Felice Gelman attended University of Chicago and graduated from Boston University with a B.A. in philosophy in 1969. She received an M.A. from Tufts University and an MBA from New York University in 1984. She began her career as a buyside analyst for Schroder Capital Management, following financial services, software and processing companies, healthcare and consumer durables. Gelman later worked as a senior analyst at Keefe Managers, Inc. She cofounded SuNOVA Capital in New York.
SPARKPLUG FOUNDATION: The Gelmans established the Sparkplug Foundation, a "family foundation that funds start-up organizations and new projects of established organizations in music, education and community organizing." The foundation supports “the development of emerging democratic movements and communities working on issues of local democracy, justice, and sustainable energy in the rebuilding of the U.S. and global economies."
Sparkplug makes grants across the United States, and in Israel/Palestine. Gelman sits on the board of Friends of Jenin Freedom Theatre, which supports Jenin Freedom Theatre, a Palestinian community-based theatre and cultural center. The foundation is particularly interested in supporting organizations that are sustainable, and in supporting small projects.
Grantees have included Connecticut Bail Fund, LGBTQ Black Immigrant Justice, Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network, and Undeterred, a border justice documentary film.
LOOKING FORWARD: Expect the Sparkplug Foundation to hold steady. Given the current climate, perhaps the foundation's progressive interests will deepen further.
LINK: Sparkplug Foundation