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North Star Fund Inc

Annual Giving
$13.7M
Grant Range
$3K - $0.1M
Decision Time
3mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $13.7 million (FY 2024)
  • Success Rate: Highly competitive
  • Decision Time: ~3 months
  • Grant Range: $2,500 - $100,000
  • Geographic Focus: New York City and Hudson Valley

Contact Details

Overview

Founded in 1978, North Star Fund is a social justice fund with over $146 million in grants awarded to date, supporting more than 3,000 organizations through over 11,000 grants. With total assets of $33.6 million and annual revenue of $15.2 million (FY 2024), North Star Fund champions participatory philanthropy where community organizers collectively make funding decisions. The organization is known for being often the first foundation to fund new organizations or campaigns, supporting grassroots organizing led by communities of color building power in New York City and the Hudson Valley. Their vision is "a world in which resources and power are equitably shared, and a future where everyone can live with dignity and thrive."

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

  • Hudson Valley Organizing Grants: $20,000 (supports grassroots organizations in Hudson Valley counties)
  • Rapid Response Grants: $2,500 or $5,000 (emergency funding for urgent organizing needs)
  • Future of Organizing Fund: $20,000 (supports emerging organizing models)
  • Let Us Breathe Fund: $20,000 (focused on racial justice and community healing)
  • Community Food Funders: Variable amounts (supports food justice initiatives)
  • Partnership Grants: Up to $100,000 (for larger collaborative initiatives)

Priority Areas

  • Racial justice and anti-racism work
  • Criminal justice reform
  • Immigrant rights and organizing
  • LGBTQ+ communities and rights
  • Women's issues and gender justice
  • Youth organizing and leadership development
  • Economic justice
  • Environmental justice in communities of color
  • Organizations addressing root causes of systemic oppression

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations with budgets over $800,000 (strong preference for smaller grassroots groups)
  • Direct services without an organizing component
  • Academic research without community organizing
  • Individual assistance or scholarships
  • Capital campaigns or building projects
  • Organizations not led by directly impacted communities

Governance and Leadership

Executive Director: Jennifer Ching Board Chair: Marjorie Fine

North Star Fund emphasizes diverse board composition with representation across various backgrounds and communities. The organization challenges racism and power imbalances in philanthropy, working to build accountability, transparency, and accessibility in grantmaking.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are accepted through their online portal with specific deadlines for each grant program. Check their website periodically as grant cycles vary by program. The organization accepts unsolicited grant applications.

Decision Timeline

Approximately 3 months from application submission to decision notification through their participatory grantmaking process where community organizers review and decide on grants.

Success Rates

Highly competitive with specific numbers not publicly available. The fund receives significantly more applications than they can support.

Reapplication Policy

Unsuccessful applicants may reapply in future grant cycles. Multi-year funding is available for successful grantees.

Application Success Factors

North Star Fund prioritizes organizations that:

  • Are led by people directly impacted by the issues they address
  • Focus on developing leadership skills within affected communities
  • Address root causes of problems rather than symptoms
  • Work toward creating systemic change
  • Demonstrate commitment to the broader social justice movement
  • Have budgets under $800,000
  • Use organizing as their primary strategy for change
  • Build "people power" through community mobilization

The fund particularly values grassroots organizations that may be overlooked by traditional funders and often serves as the first institutional funder for emerging groups.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • North Star Fund strongly prefers smaller grassroots organizations with budgets under $800,000
  • Leadership by directly impacted communities is essential - not negotiable
  • Organizing strategy must be central to your work, not just service provision
  • The fund values being first or early institutional support for emerging organizations
  • Their participatory grantmaking means your application will be reviewed by community organizers, not traditional program officers
  • Multi-year funding is possible, providing stability for successful grantees
  • Funded by 2,400+ donors with over half of support from gifts under $250, showing broad community investment

References

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