Founder, Principal Consultant
Kara Penn, MBA, MPP
As the Founder and Principal Consultant of Mission Spark, Kara strives to take the best and most practical ideas, lessons and tools from policy, management, community development, social movements, and systems thinking to help strengthen and innovate the social sector.
Kara has 20 years of experience as a leader, manager, facilitator, consultant and coach in Colorado and throughout the United States.
More About KaraMission Spark Team Members
Joanna Marks, Senior Consultant
Joanna specializes in research, analysis, planning, and writing. She blends data and narratives to improve outcomes for children and families. Her previous work has covered early childhood education, youth development, health and wellness, child welfare, and arts education.
Alison Gold, Consultant
Alison excels at strategic planning, business development, budgeting, grant management, and staff leadership. As Executive Director of a nonprofit, she led over 20 staff and 200 contractors and managed a $4 million budget. She has volunteered with the Peace Corps in Central America, studied in China and Spain, and holds a master’s degree in international economics from University of Denver’s Josef Korbel School of International Studies.
Jessica Lindsley, Consultant
Jessica has been a nonprofit management professional for more than 15 years. She focuses on marketing and managing nonprofits through mission-driven programming, fundraising event development and management, networking, grant writing and building collaborative partnerships. She also has capital campaign experience.
Mission Spark Fellows
Fellows Program Details
Megan Waitman
Megan Waitman is a senior Boettcher Scholar at the University of Colorado at Boulder where she is obtaining a double major in Psychology and Leadership and Community Engagement (LCE). She is passionate about leadership and service and strives to build a career in strategic consulting where she can utilize her passions to spark social change. Throughout college, Megan has worked with various non-profit organizations which has enabled her to gain a deeper passion for social justice work, especially in areas involving youth. In her free time, Megan enjoys tutoring K-12 students, serving on local community service committees, and embracing all the outdoors have to offer.