About North star fund
North Star Fund: Empowering Communities of Color in NYC and the Hudson Valley
North Star Fund is a social justice fund that has been supporting grassroots organizing led by communities of color in New York City and the Hudson Valley for over 40 years. The organization was founded in 1979 with a mission to empower marginalized communities and promote social change through grantmaking, capacity building, and advocacy.
As a community foundation, North Star Fund raises funds from individuals, foundations, and corporations who share their vision of creating a more just and equitable society. They then distribute these funds to grassroots organizations that are working on issues such as racial justice, immigrant rights, LGBTQ+ rights, economic justice, environmental justice, and more.
One of the unique aspects of North Star Fund is their commitment to funding organizations that are led by people directly impacted by the issues they are addressing. This means that they prioritize funding groups that are led by people of color, immigrants, low-income individuals or those who identify as LGBTQ+. By doing so they ensure that those most affected by systemic injustices have a voice in shaping solutions.
Over the years North Star Fund has supported hundreds of organizations across New York City and the Hudson Valley. Some notable grantees include Make The Road NY which advocates for immigrant rights; VOCAL-NY which fights for criminal justice reform; Community Voices Heard which works on housing affordability; WE ACT for Environmental Justice which addresses environmental racism; Sylvia Rivera Law Project which provides legal services to transgender people; among many others.
In addition to providing financial support through grants ranging from $5k-$50k per year (depending on organizational budget size), North Star Fund also offers capacity building support such as training workshops on fundraising strategies or board development. They also engage in advocacy efforts at local and state levels around issues affecting marginalized communities.
One example of their advocacy work was during COVID-19 pandemic when they launched an emergency relief fund called "Rapid Response Grants" aimed at supporting grassroots organizations responding to urgent needs arising from COVID-19 crisis such as food insecurity or healthcare access. Through this initiative alone they were able to distribute over $1 million dollars within months after launching it.
Another way North Star Fund engages with its community is through its Giving Projects program where donors come together in small groups (usually 10-15 people) to learn about social justice issues affecting their community while collectively deciding how best to allocate funds raised towards specific causes or campaigns. This program not only helps raise awareness about important issues but also fosters a sense of community among donors who share similar values around equity and inclusion.
Overall North Star Fund's impact can be seen not only through its financial contributions but also through its role as an advocate for marginalized communities across New York City and beyond. Their commitment towards empowering those most affected by systemic injustices sets them apart from other philanthropic institutions making them one-of-a-kind organization dedicated towards creating lasting change within our society.
In conclusion,
North star fund is an exceptional organization committed towards promoting social change through grantmaking initiatives aimed at empowering marginalized communities across New York City & Hudson valley region since 1979.
Their unique approach towards prioritizing funding groups led by people directly impacted by systemic injustices ensures representation & amplification voices often unheard.
Through various programs like Rapid Response Grants & Giving Projects along with capacity-building workshops & advocacy efforts at local/state levels - north star fund continues making significant strides toward achieving equity & inclusion within our society.
Their unwavering dedication towards creating lasting impact makes them stand out amongst other philanthropic institutions - truly embodying what it means be agents positive change!
northstarfund.org