We are a community of New Yorkers committed to justice

We are a social justice fund that supports grassroots organizing led by communities of color building power in New York City and the Hudson Valley.

2023 Action ReportLet Us Breathe Fund

We support community organizing

We raise money and then use it to make grants for organizing in New York City and the Hudson Valley for racial, gender and economic justice. We fund work that is led and enacted by people directly affected by an issue. If you see a group of New Yorkers on the steps of the state Capitol or in the streets demanding their rights, we probably fund them now or have funded them in the past.

As of June 30, 2023, North Star Fund has awarded over $117 million in grants to over 2,800 organizations.

Our 2023 Action Report is Online!

North Star Fund’s 2023 Action Report shares our collective work this year and how we support organizing to make New York a home for all. 

  • $6 million in grants across New York City and the Hudson Valley to 140+ active grantees
  • Stories from the field — how are grantees working together to change New York?
  • Thank You to our community of donors
  • Highlights from our community building work from the last year.

It’s all online in our 2023 Action Report. Check it out! 

Hudson Valley Grantmaking

Our Hudson Valley funding area includes a mix of rural, suburban and urban settings that provide unique opportunities to support grassroots organizing based in communities of color. Many policy issues that affect New York’s communities of color—housing, policing, schools, food policy and more—require legislative action. That means both a statewide strategy as well as an approach that builds on hyperlocal community organizing from New York City and other communities. As of June 30, 2023 we’ve awarded close to $5 million in grants in the region.

Learn More About our Hudson Valley Program

Sign up for news, updates and movement resources

Twice a month we send our Community News email with updates from our grantees, invitations to upcoming events, and links to jobs and grant opportunities. Sign up and we'll hook you up!

Apply for a Grant

Learn more about how to apply for a grant to support organizing in NYC or the Hudson Valley.

Meet our Grantees

Learn about grassroots groups changing New York City and the Hudson Valley.

North Star Fund Conference Room Not Available

In order to prioritize the safety of our staff, grantees and volunteers as well as the workers in our office building, North Star Fund staff will continue to mostly work from our homes. Our conference room is still not available for rental at this time.

The best way to reach us is to email the individual staffer that you need using our Staff page. If you’re not sure who you need, please use the form on the Contact Us page and we’ll send your message to the correct person.

Let’s keep looking out for each other and fighting for justice.

The Let Us Breathe Fund

Since 2015, the Let Us Breathe Fund has centered Black-led organizing groups largely focused on police and state violence, structural racism and systems reform. The fund has also supported multi-racial organizing in support of these issues. As of June 30, 2023 the Let Us Breathe Fund has awarded over $4.7 million in grants.

Learn More

Our Latest News

Grants Are Available—Apply by March 29!

Grants Are Available—Apply by March 29!

We’re inviting groups new to North Star Fund to apply for Hudson Valley Organizing grants, NYC Organizing grants, and Let Us Breathe Fund grants. These grants support small to medium-sized organizations working to create systemic change through grassroots community organizing.

2024 Youth Organizing Summit

2024 Youth Organizing Summit

Are you a youth (age 14-24) in New York State?  Are you passionate about organizing for justice?  Do you want to connect with other youth organizers and build power together?  If so, this summit is for you!  Overview of the Summit Friday, May 3 through Sunday, May 5,...

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