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, 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.
Alexis Harris, Design Specialist
Alexis Harris is a rising senior at University of Colorado, Boulder, majoring in English with a teaching licensure in secondary education and a minor in Technology, Arts, and Media. She has worked on numerous design projects, including web design and graphic design, for the university and faculty members as an intern and privately contracted employee. Alexis is interested in finding ways that all parts of her degree can be used to create a positive social impact, especially in the educational sector.
Mission Spark Fellows
Fellows Program Details
Elle Hagler 2021 Fellow
Elle is a Senior at Colorado College studying sociology. She has experience in non-profit fundraising, reproductive justice, and climate organizing. Elle is excited to incorporate her previous experiences into her work at Mission Spark and jump into social impact consulting.
Emily McKinley 2021 Fellow
Emily is a third-year student studying economics at Colorado College. Through time spent working for nonprofits, the quad innovation alliance, and volunteering within the K-12 education system in Colorado Springs, her interest in impact-driven work has grown. She was drawn to mission spark for its combination of consulting and meaningful work, and is excited to gain more experience in this field.
Yvonne Macias 2021 Fellow
Yvonne is a rising senior at Claremont McKenna College studying Science Management with a concentration in Public Health. Her experience at the Kravis Lab for Social Impact has equipped her with various tools to asses how a nonprofit is addressing a social issue. She is excited to gain a deeper understanding of the nonprofit/social sector world with the Mission Spark Fellowship program.
Anila Narayana 2021 Fellow
Anila is a Junior at the University of Colorado Boulder studying Integrative Physiology, Geography, and Public Health. She is interested in advocating for health equity and environmental justice in her community, at both individual and institutional levels. In her free time, Anila likes to paint with watercolors and (try to) complete New York Times crossword puzzles.
Grace Tumavicus 2021 Fellow
Grace is from Maine and moved to Colorado to attend Colorado College where she studies Sociology and Gender studies. She has experience with both administrative and outreach-focused non-profit work as well as political campaign experience. She is passionate about creating collaborative, sustainable social change, and is interested in the intersection of identity and community.