UW’s Ethics Club Accepting Albany County Nonprofit Nominations for SparkTank 2027

Nominations are being accepted by the University of Wyoming Ethics Club for SparkTank 2027, a community-engagement initiative from the UW College of Business that provides financial support to local nonprofit organizations.

SparkTank 2027 is a collaborative effort among the Ethics Club, UW’s Selling for Impact program and United Way of Albany County.

“SparkTank is really about bringing together our students, donors and nonprofit community to make a meaningful difference in Albany County,” says Kent Noble, faculty adviser to the Ethics Club and Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative service chair at UW’s College of Business. “It provides significant support to organizations addressing essential needs while giving our students an extraordinary opportunity to learn about philanthropy, community engagement and the impact they can have when they put their skills to work for others.”

Apart from the nonprofit organizations that received SparkTank funding in 2026 -- SAFE Project, Tele-Hope, Albany County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue, and LoveTrades Foundation -- all Albany County-based nonprofits that focus on essential needs, such as food, shelter, safety and clothing, are encouraged to participate. Organizations do not need to be United Way partners to be considered.

“We encourage people throughout the community to think about organizations that are doing exceptional work to address essential needs in Albany County and nominate them for SparkTank,” Noble says. “Organizations also are welcome to nominate themselves. We want to make sure we identify nonprofits where SparkTank funding can make a meaningful and lasting difference.”

Nominees must submit a video -- three and a half minutes or less -- to Noble at knoble@uwyo.edu no later than 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13. The video should be posted on YouTube or Vimeo, explain the organization’s purpose and include a specific, high-impact project the nonprofit wants to implement using SparkTank funding.

UW Ethics Club Students will evaluate submissions on:

-- Clarity of the nonprofit’s mission and proposed use of funding.

-- Potential for meaningful, positive community impact.

-- Alignment with the values of integrity, trust, accountability, transparency, fairness, respect, rule of law and viability.

-- A proposed use of funding that is noncontroversial and consistent with the philanthropic values of SparkTank donors.

-- Willingness to host students for a site visit, participate in an on-campus question-and-answer session, and participate in a practice pitch approximately one week before SparkTank.

-- Commitment to completing the Better Business Bureau (BBB) Charity Accreditation Review Program, with support provided.

SparkTank finalists will be announced by Friday, Dec. 11. Finalists will participate in on-site visits, on-campus question-and-answer sessions and the BBB charity accreditation process.

SparkTank 2027 will take place Wednesday, April 28, at the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center. Each finalist will present its proposal in a “Shark Tank”-style competition and receive a share of the money raised by UW Ethics Club and Selling for Impact students.

Since 2018, SparkTank has provided $929,667 to Albany County nonprofits, generating $4.33 million in total economic output; $1.88 million in value added to Albany County’s economy; $1.55 million in labor income; 38 new jobs; and more than $500,000 in tax revenue across all levels of government, according to UW’s Center for Business and Economic Analysis.

For more information, email Noble at knoble@uwyo.edu, or email anna.cramer@unitedwayalbanycounty.org.