Q: How do I qualify/ am I eligible for SparkPoint Services?
Sparkpoint™
You can achieve your financial goals.
WHAT IS SPARKPOINT?
SparkPoint centers work with families to meet their basic needs, increase their income, build their credit, increase their savings, and reduce their debt. Financial coaches work one-on-one with clients to recognize behavioral outcomes, set goals, brainstorm strategies, and set realistic action plans. They value strengths, build motivation, and provide monitoring and accountability. SparkPoint serves low-income families seeking to improve their financial situation. Services are provided at no cost to community members.
Financial
- Financial Coaching
- Credit and debt counseling/repair
- Budgeting/savings plan
- Financial Planning
- Banking/financial products
- Tax Preparation
- Peer lending circle
Employment
- Job search assistance
- Vocational skills training
- Career development
- Education counseling
Food & Housing
- Food pantry
- Benefits screening and enrollment assistance (i.e. CalFresh, EBT assistance)
- Cash assistance
- Rental assistance
- Connection to housing resources
- Homeownership assistance
*Services may vary by location and be limited due to COVID-19
Long-Term Goals
- Earn an income that is enough to meet your needs
- Raise your credit score to access good interest rates and banking products
- Build enough savings to fall back on when times are tough
- Reduce your debt to a manageable amount
FIND A LOCAL SPARKPOINT NEAR YOU
Meet Apple – SparkPoint Client & Ambassador
Apple found support to build a stronger financial future for her family at a United Way Bay Area SparkPoint® Center
PROGRAM FACTS + IMPACT
Based on the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Center for Working Families, SparkPoint Centers were developed in 2009 to work with low-income individuals and families long-term, looking at all aspects of their financial health, with the goal of achieving financial prosperity. Although each center looks different, all are a collaborative of multiple nonprofit and government entities that work together in a single location to seamlessly provide integrated services to assist families in increasing their income, building their credit, and accumulating their assets.
SparkPoint coaches utilize a family-centered coaching model. Coaches work with clients to identify the goals and needs of their entire families and to build strong community networks. It is a trauma-informed and equity-centered approach rooted in an understanding of the persistent effects of systemic racism and poverty.
SparkPoint is also a data-driven program that rigorously tracks client progress toward key financial goals. The program has impacted low-income families across the Bay Area through intensive one-on-one coaching.
Results to Date
29152
29,152 low-income families served across the Bay Area
80
80% improved income, credit, debt, or savings after enrolling in SparkPoint
62
62% achieved their own financial goals
Research and Publications
Family-Centered Coaching at SparkPoint Centers
Read ArticleHealth and Wealth Connection During COVID-19
Read ArticleUWBA’s SparkPoint Improves Student Persistence at Community Colleges (
Read (PDF)The Magic Bundle: Financial and Career Coaching
Read Report (PDF)MEET OUR SPARKPOINT AMBASSADORS
Meet these amazing community members who are helping United Way Bay Area improve our programming, make funding decisions, engage with donors, and advocate for policies that improve the financial well-being of Bay Area residents. SparkPoint Ambassadors are a community of clients who share their expertise with one another and collaborate with UWBA on issues important to the SparkPoint program or the broader community. They build leadership skills, participate in professional development opportunities, and represent the interests of SparkPoint and UWBA
MEET OUR SPARKPOINT AMBASSADORS
Meet these amazing community members who are helping United Way Bay Area improve our programming, make funding decisions, engage with donors, and advocate for policies that improve the financial well-being of Bay Area residents. SparkPoint Ambassadors are a community of clients who share their expertise with one another and collaborate with UWBA on issues important to the SparkPoint program or the broader community. They build leadership skills, participate in professional development opportunities, and represent the interests of SparkPoint and UWBA
SparkPoint Ambassador – Carmen
Meet Carmen.
SparkPoint Ambassador – Drake
Meet Drake.
Frequently Asked Questions
Community Members
Q: Are services at SparkPoint centers free?
Q: How can I get more information?
Q: How do I become a SparkPoint Ambassador?
Q: How do I give feedback to SparkPoint?
Community Organizations and Donors
Q: How do I become a SparkPoint partner agency?
Q: How do I start a SparkPoint Center?
Q: How can I get more information?
FAQ'S for Community Members
Q: How do I qualify/ am I eligible for SparkPoint Services?
A: Any low-income individual or families are eligible to enroll in SparkPoint. Some services have additional eligibility requirements. Contact your local center to learn more about eligibility and programming.
Q: Are services at SparkPoint centers free?
A: Most SparkPoint services are provided at no cost to the client. There may be costs associated with some of the services. Contact your local center for more information.
Q: How can I get more information?
A: Contact your local center to learn more about eligibility and programming. If you are interested in learning more about SparkPoint in general, read more about it in our "Key resources" section below or contact us using the "contact button" located at the bottom of this page.
Q: How do I become a SparkPoint Ambassador?
A: Thank you for your interest! Please contact Nicole Harden to learn more about how to become an ambassador using the "contact button" located at the bottom of this page.
Q: How do I give feedback to SparkPoint?
A: To send us your feedback, fill out our client satisfaction survey! https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SparkPoint-Satisfaction-Survey