Overview
North Star Fund raises money and uses it to make grants that support organizing for racial, gender, and economic justice in New York City and the Hudson Valley. Grants go to work led and enacted by people directly affected by issues, including groups gathering to demand rights in public spaces. By Dec 31, 2021, it had given over $93 million in grants to just under 2,600 organizations. The fund works by pooling donor contributions to support grassroots groups and movements, enabling them to organize, advocate, and push for change. Its differentiator is a strong emphasis on community-led organizing and a long track record of funding for a broad network of grassroots groups rather than traditional top-down initiatives. The goal is to build power and advance justice by funding community-led organizing and action.
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Simplify's take
What believers are saying
- In early 2025, North Star sent over $2.5 million to 100-plus groups.
- In 2026, Hudson Valley awards totaled $1.76 million across 38 organizations.
- Money for the Movement 2025 trained grantees on fundraising and donor organizing in English and Spanish.
What critics are saying
- Inside Philanthropy said in 2026 only Rapid Response remained open; program access tightened.
- 2025 Form 990 shows $6.98 million to National Philanthropic Trust, creating donor-advised dependence.
- Rapid Response demand skyrocketed in 2025, but the fund reached only $400,000.
What makes North Star Fund unique
- North Star Fund backs grassroots organizing, not service delivery, across New York City and Hudson Valley.
- Its Rapid Response grants fund urgent campaigns within days, with no reporting requirements.
- The Let Us Breathe Fund centers Black-led organizing and redistributes money through movement leaders.
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