What We Fund
We fund groups who work in these strategic priority areas:
Ensuring Economic Justice: Many New Yorkers still confront barriers to opportunity for education, healthcare, housing,work. Too often, economic policies are shortsightedly determined without the leadership and input of communities facing injustice or disadvantage. North Star Fund supports groups that are expanding democracy by bringing marginalized communities into the center of the decisions that affect their lives.
Securing Peace & Justice: Social justice is the key to peace. We fund groups working for justice in all its aspects--economic, social and environmental--and who offer a program that creates alternatives to militarism and war.
Protecting Civil Liberties and Constitutional Rights: Democracy is the ground from which the common good is envisioned and enacted. Basic civil rights include free speech and expression, the right of assembly, freedom from fear and intimidation. North Star Fund supports groups that safeguard our constitutional system and resist the erosion of these fundamental human rights.
These rights extend to both citizens and non-citizens of the U.S. alike. North Star Fund's support of groups working for immigration reform and the rights of undocumented people has been ground-breaking.
...using one or more of these methods:
Community Organizing: The central focus of our grants programs is support for groups organizing people to participate in the political life of their community. Effective community organizing trains people to be leaders, to question those in power, to identify and solve problems themselves, and to develop a community's ability to change unjust systems and institutions.
Grassroots Advocacy: Traditionally, advocacy is speaking on behalf of others to change policy and law. Grassroots advocacy is driven by the individuals who are affected by the issue speaking for themselves.
Culture and Media: Cultural expression and the media can assist and expand grassroots organizing work. North Star Fund seeks to support cultural workers and media justice grous that are linked to community organizing efforts.
Technical Assistance/Resource Development for Community Organizing: The tools of community organizing and activism, training, research and technical support are crucial for building grassroots effectiveness and sustainability. These resources are used to support the capacity of organizations to do better community-based organizing work.
