SetFire Quarterly Impact Report

A Note from Ted

Founder & Chairman

Friend,

When you give to SetFire Foundation, you are not funding a line item in a budget. You are funding a first conversation between a student who doesn't yet know what's possible and a professional who does. This report is about what those conversations added up to in the first three months of 2026.

Q1 was a turning point. In late February, SetFire Foundation officially received 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status — a milestone years in the making that unlocks grants, major gifts, and partnerships we could not pursue before. In early March, our partnership with the Institute of Management Accountants went national, putting the Sparks Mentorship Program in front of over 100,000 accounting and finance professionals across the country.

Meanwhile, on the ground, 59 new students applied to the program this quarter, and 49 new mentors stepped forward to guide them. The Sparks Mentorship Program now has 103 students enrolled, 88 in active mentorships, and 120 active mentors across 57 colleges nationwide. Every one of those matches exists because someone — often you — decided this was worth paying for.

This is the first edition of our Quarterly Impact Report. It will land in your inbox four times a year. It is short on corporate language and long on the people whose lives you are changing. Thank you for reading it. Thank you, more, for making it possible.

— Ted

In This Report

Impact By the Numbers

The Sparks Mentorship Program at a glance — cumulative through Q1 2026.

103

Enrolled

Students in the program

Active

15 awaiting match

151

Capacity

Slots across 120 mentors

596

Sessions

One-on-one, lifetime

Alumni

Program completers

82%

Completion

Best in class

Colleges

Nationwide

$212k

Value Delivered

Mentoring + Platform

For every dollar donated to SetFire, the Sparks Mentorship Program delivers roughly $125 in mentor time at professional market rates. That's the leverage of a volunteer-powered model with strong operational infrastructure.

A Student Story

Meet Dillon — a junior studying business analytics who came into the Sparks Mentorship Program with two goals: grow his knowledge of the field, and land an internship that would help him launch a real career.

Dillon C.

Data Analytics · Sparks Student

"I was paired with Kevin King, an amazing mentor who has provided invaluable support in all the areas I aimed to improve and more. He understands my current position as a student and has deep knowledge of what it takes to be a successful business analyst."

Dillon's mentor didn't just provide theoretical career advice. He helped Dillon understand what it actually takes to break into business analytics — which tools to master, which skills employers want, and how to position himself competitively. The result wasn't abstract "personal growth." It was a concrete outcome that shows up on a résumé.

"This program has had a significant impact on my career, helping me secure a summer internship that will further develop my skills in business analytics."

An internship changes a college student's trajectory. It's the difference between applying cold for entry-level jobs at graduation and walking in with relevant experience, a professional network, and a mentor in your corner who can vouch for you. Dillon's story is why SetFire exists — and multiply it by the 103 students currently enrolled in the program, and you begin to see the scale of what your support makes possible.

Mentor Spotlight

Mentors are the heart of the Sparks Mentorship Program. Every student matched depends on a professional willing to give an hour a month for twelve consecutive months — and the resume reviews, LinkedIn introductions, and real-world advice that come with it. We asked one of our mentors to share what keeps him coming back.

Todd McLean

Sparks Mentor · Two Students Guided

"Mentoring through the Sparks Mentorship Program has been one of the most meaningful and energizing parts of my year. I've had the honor of working with two students, and watching them grow — both in confidence and clarity — has been incredible."

"There's something powerful about showing up consistently, asking the right questions, and watching someone begin to believe in themselves a little more each time. That's what this program allows. It's not just about career guidance — it's about helping people tap into who they are and where they're headed."

Todd has mentored two students through the program, and his reflection captures exactly why SetFire is worth building. The work isn't glamorous — it's a monthly conversation, an occasional email, a few thoughtful questions. But over twelve months, those small acts compound into something transformative. For both sides.

"I've grown from this experience just as much as my mentees have, and I'm genuinely grateful to be part of it."

When you donate to SetFire, you're not paying mentors — they volunteer their time freely. You're funding the infrastructure, tools, and operational support that make it possible for professionals like Todd to show up consistently for a student who needs them. Your dollars unlock their hours.

Quarter Milestones

Three moments from Q1 that changed what's possible for SetFire.

501(c)(3) Status Granted

In late February, the IRS officially recognized SetFire Foundation as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity. Donations are now fully tax-deductible. More importantly, this status unlocks foundation grants, corporate matching programs, donor-advised funds, and major-gift planning tools that were off the table before.

National Partnership with IMA

In early March, our partnership with the Institute of Management Accountants went national. IMA — which represents over 100,000 accounting and finance professionals and students across the United States — is now actively promoting the Sparks Mentorship Program to its membership. This is the single largest distribution channel we've ever had.

Spring Forward Campaign Launched

In February we launched Spring Forward: Plant 100 Seeds, an ambitious mentor-recruitment campaign targeting 100 new mentors by April 30 in our three focus domains — Business, Information Technology, and Engineering. The campaign is running now and includes a referral contest for current mentors.

The Work You Don't See

The numbers and stories in this report represent the visible part of SetFire. Beneath them is an enormous amount of invisible work — hundreds of hours this quarter alone — spent designing, building, and evolving the platform that makes it all possible.

SetFire isn't just a matching service. It's a purpose-built mentorship operating system. Every feature exists because a mentor needed it to show up better, or a student needed it to stay on track, or a volunteer administrator needed it to scale the program without burning out. Here's a sample of what went into the platform this quarter:

Lumen AI Coaching

AI-powered guidance system that generates personalized coaching for mentors and students based on their mentorship plans, session history, and current goals.

Mentor Chat Community

Real-time messaging platform with channels, reactions, and threaded conversations — giving mentors a place to connect, share advice, and build community.

Matching Recommendations

Decision-support tools that surface potential mentor-student pairings for human review — evaluating expertise, goals, and career paths so the final match is always made by a person, not an algorithm.

Sparky AI Assistant

Role-aware chatbot integrated throughout the platform, answering questions about the program, Lumen, meetings, and policies — reducing friction for every user.

Special Events System

Full event management with registration, multi-interval reminders, and attendee tracking — enabling us to host huddles, trainings, and community events at scale.

Handshake Event Automation

Automated posting of Sparks events to Handshake across 160+ partner colleges — dramatically expanding our reach and putting the program in front of far more students at far more schools.

Marketing Manager

A full-scale marketing calendar app built in-house — planning, scheduling, and coordinating social media posts, campaigns, and donor communications across channels so our outreach runs like a proper marketing operation.

Automated Operations

40+ scheduled jobs handling onboarding, reminders, surveys, health checks, and recognition — so volunteer administrators stay focused on what matters.

This is why a small quarterly budget still delivers six figures of value. The vast majority of SetFire's operational value comes from volunteered expertise — mentor time, engineering time, board time — multiplied by a platform built to scale it. Your donated dollars fund the tools that make that volunteer leverage possible.

When you see "76% to program" in the allocation below, understand that those dollars are the enabling layer beneath a much larger invisible investment. It's the tip of the iceberg — and donors who see the whole thing understand why Sparks can deliver the outcomes it does on a budget most nonprofits would consider impossible.

A Foundational Quarter

Q1 2026 was the quarter we laid the fundraising foundation — not the quarter we harvested it. That distinction matters when you read the numbers below.

For the first six weeks of Q1, SetFire Foundation was still a pre-tax-exempt organization. Most donors reasonably wait for 501(c)(3) status before giving anything significant — and that approval didn't come through until late February. This is the quarter we crossed the line; Q2 will be the quarter it starts showing up in the numbers.

Financial Summary

$905

Raised in Q1 2026

$10,906

Raised Since Inception

Figures reflect activity posted to our books through Q1 close. A corporate commitment received in early April will appear in the Q2 report.

How Every Dollar Spent Was Allocated

SetFire currently runs the Sparks Mentorship Program with AI-powered infrastructure in place of full-time staff. Over time, we expect to add staff focused on relationship management, mentor and student support, and program growth. For now, our lean operating model means total operating costs are a fraction of what comparable nonprofits spend — so small dollar changes can move percentages noticeably quarter to quarter. What stays consistent is our commitment: the vast majority of every dollar goes to the program.

78% Program

14%

Program delivery (78%)

Management & Admin (14%)

Fundraising (8%)

Charity Navigator's highest rating requires at least 75% of spending on programs. Sparks clears that bar.

Program delivery covers the technology platform that runs the Sparks Mentorship Program — email and SMS delivery, AI-powered mentorship tools, hosting, and mentor recruitment. Every dollar here directly touches students and mentors.

Management and administration covers accounting services and other costs required to operate as a 501(c)(3).

Fundraising covers donor strategy, outreach, and consulting — investments that help SetFire scale revenue in the quarters ahead.

Thank You, Donors

Every donor who gave during Q1 2026 gave before SetFire had fully settled into its 501(c)(3) identity — and several gave before the tax-exempt approval even came through. That's not just generosity; that's belief. You didn't wait for the certificate. You gave because you trusted where this was going.

We are deeply grateful for every gift, and especially for those who have been with us since the beginning. You are the kindling that keeps the fire burning.

Want to be recognized by name? Drop us a line at info@setfirefoundation.org and we'll include you in the next Quarterly Impact Report. Prefer to stay anonymous? That's the default — we never publish donor names without permission.

What's Next

Three things we're focused on in Q2 2026.

Begin serious grant pursuit

With 501(c)(3) status in hand, Q2 is the first quarter we can credibly apply for foundation grants. We're prioritizing three specific funder relationships and targeting a first grant submission by the end of June.

Expand the IMA partnership beyond awareness

Now that IMA is actively promoting Sparks to its national membership, we're working on the next layer — co-branded chapter events, scholarship referrals, and a potential IMA-specific matching track. This is how a partnership becomes a pipeline.

Keep the Fire Burning

Every dollar goes further than you think. Help us match the next student waiting for their first real mentor.

Give Now

Learn about our mission & vision →

SetFire Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

A Note from Ted

Founder & Chairman

Friend,

Last quarter we became a 501(c)(3). This quarter we built the machine to make the most of it. Most of our spring work happened beneath the surface — the systems that let a volunteer-run program reach, match, and support students at national scale without adding a single staff member. It was our least visible quarter, and quietly one of our most important.

On the ground, the Sparks Mentorship Program now has 128 students enrolled, 104 in active mentorships, and 121 active mentors across 74 colleges nationwide — together logging more than 800 one-on-one mentoring sessions to date. And in April, a gracious supporter stepped forward with a second $10,000 major gift. We are deeply grateful.

But a healthy organization cannot rest on a handful of generous checks. Our task now is to diversify how SetFire is funded — and to build a broad, durable base of individual donors, who in most thriving nonprofits account for roughly 70% of all giving. That base is the foundation everything else stands on, and building it starts today.

So we're moving on two fronts at once. We've begun applying for foundation and corporate grants — the larger, transformational funding that can take many months, even years, to realize. And in parallel, we're launching Fuel the Fire: a focused campaign to build the runway that carries the program until those grants land. On August 1, that first-ever campaign begins — and it's the centerpiece of this report. I hope you'll be part of it.

— Ted

In This Report

Impact By the Numbers

The Sparks Mentorship Program at a glance — cumulative through Q2 2026.

128

Enrolled

Currently in the program

104

Active

In active mentorships

154

Capacity

Slots from 121 mentors

814

Sessions

One-on-one, and counting

Alumni

Program completers

83.4%

Completion

Full 12-month mentorship

Colleges

Nationwide

$249k

Value Delivered

Mentoring + Platform

Since Q1, the program has grown on every axis — +25 students, +17 colleges, +13 alumni, +218 mentoring sessions, and $37k more in value delivered — all on a volunteer-powered model. That's the leverage your support makes possible.

Where Your Money Goes

Q1 was the quarter we laid the fundraising foundation. Q2 — our first full quarter as a 501(c)(3) — is the quarter it began to show up in the numbers.

Financial Summary

$16,541

Raised in Q2 2026

$27,447

Raised Since Inception

Figures reflect activity posted to our books through Q2 close, including a $10,000 corporate gift received in April. Fuel the Fire, launching August 1, is our push to build on this base.

How Every Dollar Was Allocated

SetFire runs the Sparks Mentorship Program on AI-powered infrastructure in place of full-time staff. That lean model keeps our total operating costs a fraction of what comparable nonprofits spend — and it's why the vast majority of every dollar goes straight to the program. Because the budget is small, a single expense can move these percentages noticeably from one quarter to the next.

85% Program

15%

Program delivery (85%)

Management & Admin (15%)

Charity Navigator's highest rating requires at least 75% of spending on programs. Sparks clears that bar with room to spare.

Program delivery covers the technology platform that runs the Sparks Mentorship Program — software and hosting, email and SMS delivery, participant mailings, and the persona-targeted advertising that recruits mentors and students. Every dollar here directly touches the program.

Management and administration covers accounting, legal, and the other costs of operating as a 501(c)(3). This quarter carried no dedicated fundraising expense — our donor outreach runs through the same automated platform that powers the program.

Fuel the Fire

This fall, we're asking our community to do something we've never asked before: come together, all at once, for a single five-week push to fund the next wave of mentorships. One goal, one window, one fire to build together.

$21,600

Campaign Goal

Aug 1 – Sep 7

$4,000

Matching Gift

Dollar-for-dollar

Thanks to our board of directors, the first $4,000 in new gifts will be matched dollar-for-dollar — so every dollar you give this fall does the work of two. The earliest gifts unlock the match.

And many employers match charitable gifts too — through Benevity, YourCause, or Deed. If yours does, searching "SetFire Foundation" when you give could stretch your impact even further.

Why now? Because the larger funding we're pursuing — foundation and corporate grants — can take many months, even years, to come through. Fuel the Fire builds the financial runway that carries the Sparks Mentorship Program until then, keeping mentorships going and growing while those bigger efforts develop. And because the program runs lean and volunteer-powered, every dollar you give this fall goes further than it ever has.

Be Ready on August 1

A Student Story

Meet Samuel — a finance student at Virginia Tech who came into the Sparks Mentorship Program facing a common problem: a field so broad and competitive that he wasn't sure where to aim. He was paired with his mentor, Lara, and they began meeting every month.

Samuel S.

Finance · Virginia Tech

"Being paired with Lara has been incredibly rewarding. Finance is a broad field, and talking with her helped me figure out which areas to target and which to avoid. She refined my recruitment strategy — which led to better networking calls, a higher response rate on résumé drops, and more interviews."

"She gave me internship and interview advice and connected me with other professionals across the industry. If you're a student who feels uncertain about your future and wants guidance, this program will help you."

Samuel's story is why SetFire exists — a student with drive but no map, paired with a professional who has walked the path. It isn't abstract "personal growth"; it's more interviews, real connections, and a concrete plan. Multiply it by the 128 students enrolled today, and you begin to see the scale of what your support makes possible.

A Mentor Story

Mentors are the heart of the Sparks Mentorship Program. Every match depends on a professional willing to give an hour a month for twelve consecutive months — and the résumé reviews, introductions, and real-world advice that come with it. We asked one of our mentors to share what keeps her coming back.

Debbie Lueker

Sparks Mentor

"My goal as a mentor was simply to help students succeed academically and transition to the workplace. I soon realized that while I was 'giving' to the students, I was actually 'receiving' even more in return."

"Mentoring students from different backgrounds, parts of the country, universities, and fields of study, it became clear that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn't work — every session was adapted to each student's needs. Although the goal was to benefit the students, I've gained insights and skills that benefit me. Every student 'thank you' makes it worthwhile."

When you give to SetFire, you're not paying mentors — they volunteer their time freely. You're funding the platform, tools, and support that make it possible for professionals like Debbie to show up, month after month, for a student who needs them. Your dollars unlock their hours.

Pour Decisions Meets the Real World

This quarter, our new Supply Chain & Finance simulation — Pour Decisions — ran live for the first time, with 30 summer interns at Coca-Cola Consolidated, our founding workplace partner. Teams took charge of a beverage supply chain, from supplier to store, where every ordering decision rippled through cost, service, and inventory — competing head-to-head on net profit, fill rate, and inventory, and tracking their standings on a live leaderboard.

Coca-Cola Consolidated interns competing in Pour Decisions — Thirty Coca-Cola Consolidated interns during the first live run of Pour Decisions.

It turned a classic business lesson into a fast, competitive morning — and gave a room full of early-career talent a hands-on feel for the trade-offs that run a real supply chain. (Congratulations to the Lead Time Legends, who took the top spot.)

This is exactly what our workplace partnerships are built to deliver: experiential learning that employers value for their talent, powered by a platform SetFire already owns — at no added cost to the program. The first run of many.

Quarter Milestones

Five moments from Q2 that set up the fall.

A Second $10,000 Major Gift

In April, a single supporter stepped forward with a second $10,000 major gift — the second five-figure commitment in under a year. Two major gifts in twelve months is the clearest signal yet that people believe in what we're building — momentum we carry straight into Fuel the Fire.

Marketing Went Automatic

We brought our marketing fully in-house and on autopilot. Using more than 45 distinct audience personas across every constituency we serve — students, mentors, affiliate partners, workplace partners, and donors — LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook now publish targeted, scheduled advertising with zero manual effort. One person can now run the outreach of a full marketing team.

New Platform Listings

We expanded where SetFire shows up — and where donors can find us. We earned Candid's 2026 Gold Seal of Transparency, listed the program on Idealist and on Handshake across more than 140 colleges, and got verified on the major workplace-giving platforms — so many donors can now have their gifts matched by their employer simply by searching "SetFire Foundation."

Two New Affiliate Partners

We welcomed two new affiliate partners this quarter, each opening a pipeline of mentors in a high-demand field. NC Tech connects us with technology professionals across North Carolina to grow our information-technology mentor bench, and Industrial Designers International brings a network of design professionals to our creative-field students. Affiliate partners are how a volunteer-run program keeps a steady flow of qualified mentors coming in.

Opening the Grant Door

With our 501(c)(3) status secured, we submitted our first foundation and corporate grant applications this quarter — the beginning of the durable, institutional funding that lets a volunteer-run program become a lasting one.

Thank You, Donors

Q2 was our first full quarter as a 501(c)(3) — and our strongest quarter of giving yet: more than $16,000, led by a single $10,000 corporate gift and a growing base of individual donors. Every one of those gifts moves a student closer to a mentor.

We are deeply grateful for each of you — the corporate donor who made a five-figure gift, and every individual who gave because they believe in what we're building. You are the kindling that keeps the fire burning.

What's Next

Three things we're focused on this fall.

Run Fuel the Fire to a strong finish

Our first-ever campaign runs August 1 through September 7. Hitting the $21,600 goal builds the financial runway that keeps mentorships going and growing while the larger grant funding develops.

Advance the grant pipeline

We submitted our first foundation and corporate grant applications in Q2. Q3 is about advancing those conversations, adding new funders, and turning early interest into committed, institutional support.

Grow the mentor bench

With NC Tech and Industrial Designers International now on board, we're focused on converting those partnerships into a steady flow of information-technology and design mentors — so the students waiting today are matched sooner.

Keep the Fire Burning

This quarter we built the engine. On August 1, with you beside us, we light it. Be ready for Fuel the Fire.

Give Now

Learn about our mission & vision →

SetFire Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

A Note from Ted

Founder & Chairman

Friend,

Last quarter I wrote that SetFire could not rest on a handful of generous checks — that our future depends on a broad base of individual donors. This quarter, you started building it.

In Q2, eight donors gave to SetFire. In Q3, 43 people and organizations gave — 36 of them for the very first time. Most of them came through Fuel the Fire, our first-ever campaign, which raised $11,816 in total impact including our board's $4,000 match. It did not reach its full goal, and I won't dress that up. But it did something no check could: it proved that a community of individuals will show up for these students.

Demand showed up too. Students submitted 145 applications this quarter, up from 83 in Q2 — and today 106 students are waiting for a mentor. The Sparks Mentorship Program now has 228 students enrolled, 125 in active mentorships, and 127 active mentors across 76 colleges — with 1,002 one-on-one mentoring sessions logged to date.

And in September, we moved the entire program onto our own platform — the site, every application, every mentorship, and every donor tool — built and run by SetFire. More on that below.

The next step is the hardest and most important one: turning first gifts into lasting support. Thank you for being part of the first chapter.

— Ted

In This Report

Impact By the Numbers

The Sparks Mentorship Program at a glance — cumulative through Q3 2026.

228

Enrolled

Currently in the program

125

Active

In active mentorships

161

Capacity

Slots from 127 mentors

1,002

Sessions

One-on-one, and counting

Alumni

Program completers

81.8%

Completion

Full 12-month mentorship

Colleges

Nationwide

$314k

Value Delivered

Mentoring + Platform

A Milestone, Just Reached

1,000

mentoring sessions delivered to students

As this report went out, the Sparks Mentorship Program logged its 1,000th one-on-one mentoring session — a thousand hours a volunteer gave and a student took a step forward. Session 1,001 is already on someone's calendar, and your support keeps the platform behind every one of them running.

Q3 was our biggest quarter of demand yet — 145 student applications (up from 83 in Q2), 184 more mentoring sessions, six more active mentors, and $65k more in value delivered — all on a volunteer-powered model. 106 students are waiting for a mentor right now, which is exactly why building mentor capacity is at the top of our list for the fall.

Fuel the Fire

From August 1 through Labor Day, we asked our community to do something we had never asked before: come together, all at once, to fund the next year of mentorships. Here is what you built.

$11,816

Total Impact

Gifts + board match

$4,000

Match Unlocked

Every dollar of it

Donors

31 giving for the first time

Founding Sponsors

Seats claimed

Community gifts reached $7,816 — about a third of our $21,600 goal — and unlocked the board's full $4,000 match. We didn't reach the goal. What we did build matters more over time: 31 people who had never given to SetFire before chose to back these students.

That is the foundation of individual giving we set out to lay. Together, those gifts added several months of operating runway — time that keeps mentorships going while the larger foundation and corporate funding develops. The goal behind the campaign hasn't changed: to reduce our waiting list and build meaningful mentor capacity to fuel our next stage of growth. Every gift made today goes to that same work.

Keep It Going

Where Your Money Goes

Q2's giving was led by a single corporate gift. Q3's came from dozens of individuals — smaller gifts, from far more people. That is the shift we set out to make.

Financial Summary

$9,138

Raised in Q3 2026

$36,596

Raised Since Inception

Figures reflect gifts received through Q3, including gifts made through donor-advised funds and employer matching programs.

How Every Dollar Was Allocated

SetFire runs the Sparks Mentorship Program on AI-powered infrastructure in place of full-time staff, so our total spending is a fraction of what comparable nonprofits spend. That is exactly why the 24% looks large. Every 501(c)(3) pays the same fixed costs just to exist — accounting, insurance, state and federal filings — whether its budget is fifty thousand dollars or five million. At most nonprofits those costs disappear inside a large payroll. At SetFire there is no payroll, so a small, fixed bill becomes a big share of a very small budget. In dollars, that 24% is about $2,700 for the first nine months of the year. The percentage is high because our total spending is low — not because our overhead is high. (We show the full year to date because one once-a-year bill, like the liability insurance premium that landed in Q3, can swing a single quarter on its own.)

76% Program

24%

Program delivery (76%)

Management & Admin (24%)

2026 year to date, January through September. Charity Navigator gives full marks for program spending to charities that put 70% or more of their spending into programs.

Program delivery covers the technology platform that runs the Sparks Mentorship Program — software and hosting, email and SMS delivery, participant mailings, and the persona-targeted advertising that reaches mentors and students. Every dollar here directly touches the program.

Management and administration covers accounting, insurance, and the other costs of operating as a 501(c)(3). None of it is payroll or personnel expense. No one at SetFire is paid — not the founder, not the board, not anyone else. Every mentor, board member, and officer volunteers their time.

A Student Story

Meet Gregory — an accounting student at Colorado State University who came to the Sparks Mentorship Program by an unconventional road: a background in journalism, a law degree, and years of government accounting experience, now working toward the CPA.

Gregory F.

Accounting · Colorado State University

"Participating in the Sparks Mentorship Program has been one of the most valuable parts of my professional development. My mentor, Angela Pulley, helped me see possibilities I might otherwise have overlooked. Our conversations about tax, public accounting, graduate school, and the CPA helped me think more strategically about my goals."

"Most importantly, Angela challenged me not to self-select out of opportunities because my path looks different from that of a traditional accounting student. Her experience, encouragement, and willingness to share her professional network have been invaluable. Sparks gave me something a classroom cannot: an accomplished professional who took my goals seriously, challenged my assumptions, and helped me see a clearer path forward."

That is the part no textbook can give — someone who has walked the road telling a student not to count themselves out, and opening their own network to prove it. Multiply that by the 125 students in active mentorships today, and you begin to see what your support makes possible.

A Mentor Story

Many of our mentors come to the Sparks Mentorship Program after long careers, ready to give back what others once gave them. Lisa O'Dell became a Sparks mentor after a 32-year corporate career.

Lisa O'Dell

Sparks Mentor

"The Sparks Mentorship program has been a rewarding experience for me as a mentor. I had many people make an impact on me over my career and I'm grateful to pay it forward to my mentees."

"The user friendly platform and many resources that are available to both mentors and mentees allows for both accountability and rich discussion during the monthly calls. The quality of this program has exceeded my expectations and I am thrilled to see how it continues to grow."

Lisa names the two things your gifts pay for: the platform and the resources. Mentors give their time freely — you fund the tools that turn a monthly call into a structured, accountable year for a student. Your dollars unlock their hours.

Our Own Platform

On September 11, the Sparks Mentorship Program moved entirely onto a platform SetFire owns and runs — our website, every student and mentor application, every mentorship record, and every tool behind them. Our giving and donor tools made the same move in August, in the middle of Fuel the Fire.

Why it matters to you as a donor: we no longer rent the foundation the program stands on. We control its cost, its security, and how fast it improves — and every improvement now reaches students and mentors directly. This quarter alone, that meant:

Video Call — mentoring sessions held right inside the platform, with optional notes both people agree to.
Apps students and mentors can install on their phones, with reminders delivered straight to them.
New coaching tools for students — a Mentoring Styles assessment, interview practice, a Career Explorer, and a Values Explorer.
An internship feed of more than 1,000 listings, matched to each student's field.

A program serving 228 students across 76 colleges, running on its own technology, with no full-time staff. That is the lean model your gifts sustain.

Quarter Milestones

Three moments from Q3 that set up the year ahead.

Our Largest Wave of Applications

In just under two weeks this summer, 79 students from New Jersey Institute of Technology applied to the Sparks Mentorship Program — part of 145 student applications in the quarter. It's the clearest sign yet of how many students are looking for a professional in their corner.

A Handwritten Thank-You

Every donor who gives $100 or more now receives a handwritten thank-you card in the mail — sent automatically by the same platform that runs the program, so gratitude never waits on a to-do list.

Two Advisory Board Meetings

Our advisory board met in July and again in September, reviewing the campaign, the program's growth, and where future revenue will come from.

Thank You, Donors

Q3 was the quarter SetFire stopped depending on a few and started being carried by many. Forty-three donors gave, and thirty-six of them had never given before. Twenty-nine of you claimed a Founding Sponsor seat. Every one of those gifts moves a student closer to a mentor.

To each of you — the first-time donors, the returning supporters, the board members who put up the match, and the employer who matched an employee's gift — thank you. You are the kindling that keeps the fire burning.

Q3 2026 Honor Roll

With gratitude to the donors who allowed us to recognize them by name.

Baird & Warner, Inc.
The 20-20 Group
Michael Antonetti
Marty & Carol Anne Bozarth
Rachel Bozarth
Steve Brooks
Will Bryan
Tony & Laney Caspio
Nancy Crenna
Nancy Hartman
Renee & John Howard
Debra L. Katz
Chad Kozuch
Bridgette Lahens
Debbie Lueker
Ben Manny
Joan O’Brien
Angela Pulley
Jeton Sabanovski
Dimple Shah
Patricia Sharpnack
James Small
John Thaler
Darrell Thompson
John Thompson
Donna Tuttle
Steve Weinstein
David Westphal
Scott Westphal
George Wofford

And to the donors who chose to remain anonymous: you are every bit as much a part of this. Thank you.

Want to be recognized by name? When you give, answer "Yes, recognize me" and we'll list you in the next Quarterly Impact Report — or drop us a line at info@setfirefoundation.org. Prefer to stay anonymous? That's the default — we never publish a donor's name without permission.

What's Next

Three things we're focused on through the end of the year.

Turn first gifts into lasting support

Most of this quarter’s donors were giving to SetFire for the first time. Our work now is to keep them close — through reports like this one, real stories from students and mentors, and an easy path to monthly giving, which gives the program steady, predictable support.

Build meaningful mentor capacity

106 students are waiting for a mentor today, and 145 more applied this quarter alone — 84 of those 145 applicants are studying engineering or information technology. We're actively seeking new affiliate partners in engineering and IT: professional associations whose members can become mentors in the fields where student demand is growing fastest. Affiliate partners are how a volunteer-run program keeps qualified mentors coming in, so students are matched sooner.

Advance the grant pipeline

Foundation and corporate grants remain the larger, slower funding that lets a volunteer-run program become a lasting one. The runway Fuel the Fire added gives those efforts the time they need.

Keep the Fire Burning

This quarter, you lit the fire. A monthly gift keeps it burning — steady support a student can count on all year.

Give Now

Giving through a donor-advised fund? Recommend a grant to SetFire Foundation (EIN 33-5058150). Many employers also match charitable gifts through Benevity, YourCause, or Deed — search "SetFire Foundation" to double your impact.

Learn about our mission & vision →

SetFire Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.