The North Star Charitable Foundation concentrates its giving on a mix of national issue-driven organizations and selective educational institutions, favoring large unrestricted gifts. Its portfolio shows strong support for reproductive health and rights, higher and girls’ education, food security, and environmental conservation, with a willingness to fund both national nonprofits and place-based service providers. Grants are frequently designated for general operating or general purposes, indicating flexible funding to grantees.
Concentrated, high-dollar grants with several repeat large awards; emphasis on general operating/general purposes funding across a small number of priority organizations rather than many small grants.
A defining feature of The North Star Charitable Foundation is the size and repeatability of its support for Planned Parenthood Federation of America, with $6,000,000 in 2023 and $4,000,000 in 2025 for general purposes. That pattern fits a broader grantmaking style centered on unrestricted support to national advocacy organizations, higher education institutions, and service providers. The foundation’s recent grants also show sustained backing for The Colorado College, which received $2,100,000 in 2023 and $1,559,000 in 2025 for general purposes, along with support for institutions such as Emma Willard School and Bard College. Beyond education, the portfolio includes reproductive health and rights, food security, conservation, and community-serving organizations. Many awards are labeled general purposes, general operating, or general support, suggesting flexible funding rather than tightly restricted project grants. Recurring grantees appear in multiple years, indicating that the foundation often maintains relationships with organizations over time rather than making isolated one-time awards. The overall picture is of a national funder that uses large grants to support organizational capacity across a mix of advocacy, education, environment, and social service work.
Reproductive health and rights are a clear priority. In 2025, The North Star Charitable Foundation gave $4,000,000 to Planned Parenthood Federation of America in New York for general purposes, following a $6,000,000 grant in 2023 to the Washington, DC office for the same purpose. Education is another major theme. The Colorado College received $1,559,000 in 2025 and $2,100,000 in 2023, both for general purposes, while Emma Willard School received $1,000,000 in 2024. The foundation also supports food access and anti-hunger work: Capital Area Food Bank received $1,100,000 in 2025, $450,000 in 2024, and $400,000 in 2023. Conservation and public education appear in grants such as $801,000 to Seattle Aquarium Society in 2025 and $570,000 to Conservation International in 2025.
Typical grants are substantial: the p25 size is $50,000, the median is $75,000, and the p75 is $100,000. The recent list also shows a long tail of much larger awards, with multiple seven-figure grants and repeat gifts to the same organizations across 2023 to 2025. That recurring pattern suggests an ongoing relationship model rather than one-off support. The foundation is a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. The naming of awards as general purposes, general operating, general support, or general operating support indicates a preference for flexible funding over narrowly restricted project grants.
$15.2M
$20.6M
$24.4M
$15.3M
Most grants fall between $50K and $100K, with a median of $75K.
25th Percentile
$50K
Median
$75K
75th Percentile
$100K
About 5% of grants go to recipients in WA.
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Notable grantees: Planned Parenthood Federation of America, The Colorado College, Capital Area Food Bank, Malala Fund, Conservation International
Although headquartered in New York, the foundation’s giving is most concentrated in Virginia by grant count. Recent awards also cluster in Washington, DC and Colorado, with recipients in Arlington, Washington, and Colorado Springs appearing multiple times. New York recipients include New York and Troy, while other U.S. locations in the recent list include Seattle, Newark, Cleveland, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Saint Paul, and Glenwood Springs. The recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based in the data provided.
Its recent grants go to reproductive health and rights organizations, colleges and independent schools, food banks, conservation groups, and community-serving nonprofits. The listed awards include planned parenthood affiliates, higher education institutions, food security organizations, and environmental education groups.
Yes. The recent grants are repeatedly labeled general purposes, general operating, general support, or general operating support, showing a strong preference for flexible funding rather than tightly restricted project grants.
The foundation’s typical grant size is $50,000 at the 25th percentile, $75,000 at the median, and $100,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent grantmaking also includes multiple awards in the hundreds of thousands and several in the million-dollar range.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Planned Parenthood Federation of America, The Colorado College, Capital Area Food Bank, Seattle Aquarium Society, and Wilderness Inquiry. That pattern indicates ongoing relationships with selected grantees.
By grant count, Virginia is the top state for recipient organizations. Washington, DC and Colorado also appear frequently in the recent grant list, along with recipients in New York, Washington, and other U.S. locations.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA | NEW YORK, NY | $4,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| THE COLORADO COLLEGE | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $1,559,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CATHEDRAL | BOSTON, MA | $1,250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CAPITAL AREA FOOD BANK | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| FEEL GOOD ACTION | SEATTLE, WA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| SEATTLE AQUARIUM SOCIETY | SEATTLE, WA | $801,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL | ARLINGTON, VA | $570,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| MALALA FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $550,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| UNITED SERVICES ORGANIZATION (USO) | WASHINGTON, DC | $500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE | NEWARK, NJ | $350,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| EVERYBODY MATTERS | PHOENIX, AZ | $300,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| ARMAND HAMMER MUSEUM OF ART AND CULTURAL CENTER | LOS ANGELES, CA | $276,596 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY | CLEVELAND, OH | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF THE ROARING FORK | GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO | $250,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| NORTHWEST HARVEST EMM | DSEATLE, WA | $200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMIGOS OF COSTA RICA INC | WEST CHESTER, PA | $110,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| AMERICAN UNIVERSITY WAMU | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WILD MONTANA ACTION FUND | HELENA, MT | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| COLLEGE OF WILLIAM & MARY FOUNDATION | WILLIAMSBURG, VA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| WASHINGTON SCHOOL FOR GIRLS | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| UNITED WAY OF KING COUNTY | SEATTLE, WA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| TREEHOUSE | SEATTLE, WA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| FAMILY LAW CASA OF KING COUNTY | TUKWILA, WA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| VALLEY SETTLEMENT | GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| COLORADO ROCKY MOUNTAIN SCHOOL | CARBONDALE, CO | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| INTERFAITH WORKS OF CENTRAL NEW YORK INC | ROCKVILLE, MD | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| REPROHUB | SEATTLE, WA | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| GENERATION HOPE | WASHINGTON, DC | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| HOMEFRONT | LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| SCHOLARCHIPS INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSE |
| CENTER FOR HUMAN SERVICES NW | SHORELINE, WA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| THE HOTCHKISS SCHOOL | LAKEVILLE, CT | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| THE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC | ASPEN, CO | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| FISHER HOUSE FOUNDATION | ROCKVILLE, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| FOOD BANK OF CENTRAL & EASTERN NC | RALEIGH, NC | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| RESPONSE ASPEN | ASPEN, CO | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| STEPPING STONES OF THE ROARING FORK | CARBONDALE, CO | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| ASPEN CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES | ASPEN, CO | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| NATIONAL OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP SCHOOL | LANDER, WY | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| PLYMOUTH HOUSING GROUP | SEATTLE, WA | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| ASPEN COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | BASALT, CO | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| VOCES UNIDAS | GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| ROARING FORK PUBLIC RADIO INC | ASPEN, CO | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| THE GROWHAUS | DENVER, CO | $30,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| BARD COLLEGE | ANNANDALEONHUDSON, NY | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| SOLID GROUND WASHINGTON | SEATTLE, WA | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING |
| ALPINE LEGAL SERVICES | GLENWOOD SPRINGS, CO | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| BLUE LAKE PRESCHOOL | CARBONDALE, CO | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| ENGLISH IN ACTION | BASALT, CO | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
| CROSSROADS COMMUNITY FOOD NETWORK | TAKOMA PARK, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL |
THE COLORADO COLLEGE
$1,559,000GENERAL PURPOSES
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CATHEDRAL
$1,250,000GENERAL
GENERAL OPERATING
UNITED SERVICES ORGANIZATION (USO)
$500,000GENERAL PURPOSES
EVERYBODY MATTERS
$300,000GENERAL PURPOSES
ARMAND HAMMER MUSEUM OF ART AND CULTURAL CENTER
$276,596GENERAL
CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY
$250,000GENERAL PURPOSES
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF THE ROARING FORK
$250,000GENERAL
AMERICAN UNIVERSITY WAMU
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
WASHINGTON SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
$100,000GENERAL
TREEHOUSE
$100,000GENERAL OPERATING
COLORADO ROCKY MOUNTAIN SCHOOL
$100,000GENERAL PURPOSE
INTERFAITH WORKS OF CENTRAL NEW YORK INC
$100,000GENERAL SUPPORT
REPROHUB
$75,000GENERAL
THE HOTCHKISS SCHOOL
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSES
THE ASPEN INSTITUTE INC
$50,000GENERAL
RESPONSE ASPEN
$50,000GENERAL
NATIONAL OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP SCHOOL
$50,000GENERAL PURPOSES
PLYMOUTH HOUSING GROUP
$50,000GENERAL
BLUE LAKE PRESCHOOL
$20,000GENERAL
ENGLISH IN ACTION
$20,000GENERAL