Michael Spara

Senior Grants Manager

Michael Spara brings 13 years of non-profit experience and a lifelong dedication to arts education for all. After teaching in DC, China, Perú and New Orleans, Mike moved to New York City in 2017 pursuing a Masters of Fine Arts at The New School. Since then, he has worked as an artist and a grant writer with organizations throughout the city, including the Gay Men’s Health Crisis, 826NYC, Brooklyn Emerging Leaders Academy, the Lincoln Center, Netflix, Plan B Entertainment, and Notch Theatre Company.

His nonprofit work as a senior grants manager, specialist and Director of Development has raised over $50M for dozens of clients throughout the United States and tens of thousands of students.

Before his time in Brooklyn, Mr. Spara spent a decade in New Orleans where he was an English Department Chair in the public school system for the Orleans Parish School Board. He has collaborated with the Emerging Philanthropists of New Orleans, and is a 610 Stomper. He has additional degrees from Middlebury College (Oxford, Masters of Arts in English) and CUA (Bachelor of Arts & Sciences in English and Education).