North Star Fund

North Star Fund operates administrative offices in New York, New York. It is supported primarily through contributions and investment income. The foundations work is divided into four areas: (1) North Star Fund gives grants through a process that shifts decision-making power to communities fighting for justice. Community organizersincluding former and current granteescollectively make the organizations funding decisions and participate in its governance. North Star Fund operates community activist-led grantmaking committees serving New York City and the Hudson Valley, as well as a committee for the Let Us Breathe Fund, which supports Black-led organizing in the region.(2) North Star Fund strengthens the leadership of grassroots organizers. It supports new and emerging leaders and is often the first foundation to fund new organizations or campaigns. The foundation contributes to the social change ecosystem by providing capacity-building and leadership programs to organizations led by communities impacted by injustice.(3) North Star Fund organizes people across race and class to mobilize resources towards social justice movements. The foundation offers programs that bring experienced organizers and supporters together to recognize the shared stake we have in dismantling white supremacy and structural systems of oppression. It creates opportunities for people to move money and to take collective action towards building a different future. The foundation hosts programs for people and institutions interested in giving towards social justice movements, including operating donor-advised funds, philanthropic planning, and educational programs. (4) North Star Fund challenges the entrenched racism and power imbalances in philanthropy. It works across the field of philanthropywhere less than 10% of all dollars go to communities of colorto increase funding for social justice movements and to build greater accountability, transparency, and accessibility. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 2012, North Star Fund became the fiscal sponsor for the Communities United for Police Reform (CPR) campaign. CPR brings together a diverse array of current and former North Star Fund grantees in a multi-year campaign to end discriminatory policing practices in New York. It builds on the strength of a diverse coalition of community members, lawyers, researchers and activists to work for community alternatives to top down policing and for restorative criminal justice. As the fiscal sponsor, North Star Fund provides a way for interested donors to provide tax deductible support to the campaign, charitable compliance, and administrative and financial support. During the fiscal year ending June 30, 2020, North Star Fund entered into a partnership with Amalgamated Foundation where North Star Fund donors can utilize a platform for donor-advised funds operated by Amalgamated Foundation. This partnership allows North Star Fund donors to access, monitor and make giving decisions on-line.