What’s Happening
Here’s the latest in news and updates from North Star Fund, including previous and upcoming grants, our current programming and our work to change philanthropy. Be sure to sign up for email or follow us on social media if you want to get our news delivered directly to you.
2018 People Power Lab Recap
On Wednesday, November 14, 2018, over 75 people—Giving Project members, their guests, North Star Fund staff, and organizers from across the city—came together to talk about the powerful organizing for justice happening in New York City. First, our director, Jennifer...
Rapid Response: Fighting back against hate crimes in the Hudson Valley
North Star Fund made a $5,000 Rapid Response grant to the Newburgh LGBTQ+ Center for organizing against hate crimes in the Hudson Valley. Newburgh LGBTQ+ Center The Newburgh LGBTQ+ Center seeks to organize the community in the Mid-Hudson Valley to build power and...
Rapid Response: Educating voters about participatory budgeting
North Star Fund made a $5,000 Rapid Response grant to the New York Civic Engagement Table for a voter education campaign about a city ballot initiative to expand participatory budgeting. Through their collaborative work with partners, New York Civic Engagement Table...
2018 Summer Grantee Victory Shoutouts
With the drumbeat of chaotic attacks on democracy on the national level, it can be hard to see that people are building local community organizations to ensure that we can come together to fight for justice. Grassroots organizing has created changes for New Yorkers in...
Yes, I raised thousands of dollars on social media. So can you
Elz Cuya Jones, Deputy Director I always knew social media was a good place to waste time, get depressed and/or connect with loved ones. I recently learned that social media is a great place to fundraise for social justice. This summer I created an online fundraiser...
Decolonizing Wealth: Four Questions with Edgar Villanueva
Edgar Villanueva is the author of the book, “Decolonizing Wealth: Indigenous Wisdom to Heal Divides and Restore Balance” to be published October, 2018. (Pre-order here.) Edgar is an enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, the Chair of the Board of...
ICYMI: North Star Fund Events Roundup
It's summer, and we're starting to plan events for this fall 2018! Let’s take a moment to look back at event highlights from the first half of the year, #ICYMI: In February, North Star Fund held our first event in the Hudson Valley. Hudson Collective at Dobbs Ferry...
Marching for an End to Family Separation and Detention
North Star Fund made a $1,000 Rapid Response grant to CAAAV Organizing Asian Communities (CAAAV) for organizing a contingent of over 20 grassroots organizing groups from a cross-section of New York's justice movements for the End Family Separation march on June 30,...
Responding to Opportunities for Change – Spring/Summer Rapid Response Grants
North Star Fund makes Rapid Response grants year-round to support organizing and activism in response to urgent threats or breaking opportunities for needs that could not have otherwise been anticipated. Most of these grants go to organizations that have received...
Taking a Stand for Children Forcibly Separated from Families
North Star Fund made a $2,500 Rapid Response grant to Movement for Justice in El Barrio for a protest, press conference and candlelight vigil in response to family separations at the U.S.–Mexico border. Who is Movement for Justice in El Barrio? Movement for Justice in...
Mobilizing Tenants in the Fight for Affordable Housing
North Star Fund made a $2,000 Rapid Response grant to Met Council on Housing/MCREF for two actions supporting New York tenants: “We are the Faces of Cuomo’s Housing Crisis” march and the "Block Party for a Just Rezoning" in Inwood. Who is the Met Council on...
2018 Let Us Breathe Fund Grants Support Black-led Organizing in NYC
North Star Fund’s Let Us Breathe Fund moves resources to Black-led and multiracial organizations and movements fighting police violence and structural racism in New York City. These grants total $180,000 for 18 organizations, and bring the total grantmaking for this...
Fueling Change in the Hudson Valley with 18 Grants
In 2018, North Star Fund extended and deepened our commitment to activism in the Hudson Valley. We’re supporting grassroots power in the Hudson Valley for neighborhood and community-based organizations where local residents take the lead in designing strategy and...
Ways You Can Take Action to End ICE’s Family Separations
Trump’s "zero tolerance" policy for immigrants seeking to enter the United States has had devastating consequences. To date, thousands of children (including newborn infants) have been forcibly separated from their parents and placed in detention facilities. (This...
Grantee Victory: Riders Alliance Coalition Wins #FairFares for New Yorkers
Riders Alliance and their coalition members successfully pushed City Council and the mayor to reach an agreement to provide half-priced MetroCards to low-income New Yorkers starting next year. This new program will reach up to 800,000 New Yorkers! Who is the Riders...