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North Star Foundation at a glanceAlso receives grants: funding profile →

· Private foundation

North Star Foundation

Its FY2024 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$76k
Granted FY2024still arriving
8
Grants FY2024still arriving
3
States reached
$25k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0194% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Education$383kYouth Development$97kHealth$75kPhilanthropy$39kFood & Nutrition$31kPublic Safety & Disaster$25kHuman Services$19kReligion$12kOther$0
02FY2024 · 8 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2024

  • Under $10k6 grants · $26k
  • $10k–50k2 grants · $50k
$5,000
Median grant
3
States reached
$1.9M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
Individual grant recipient$25,000
BOCA GRANDE DISASTER FUND$25,000
TIGER WOODS FOUNDATION$5,500
GICIA$5,000
BOCA GRANDE WOMAN'S CLUB$5,000
THE ISLAND SCHOOL$5,000
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB ENGLEWOOD$5,000
LONGVIEW$500
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY17–22, $15k) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 8%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 8%ENGLEWOOD HELPING HAND INC: $3k → 9%WOMEN'S CARE CENTER: $3k → 15%WOMEN'S CARE CENTER: $2k → 15%STAR OF THE NORTH MATERNITY HOME: $2k → 15%WOMEN'S CARE CENTER: $2k → 15%WOMENS CARE CENTER: $1k → 15%WOMEN'S CARE CENTER: $1k → 15%STAR OF THE NORTH MATERNITY HOME: $1k → 15%STAR OF THE NORTH MATERNITY HOME: $500 → 15%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

92%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$689k · 22 repeat orgs$61k to everyone else

22 repeat relationships: 3 still active in FY2024, 19 since wound down; 5 grantees were first funded in FY2024 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

22
12

Total granted

$689k
$21k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+31%
+227%

Still filing today

45%
33%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2024, 47% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $41k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24
Human ServicesHealthEducationYouth DevelopmentArts & CultureRecreation & SportsOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • TM
    THE MARSHALL SCHOOL
    6× · 2017–2023 · $115k · revenue +11%
  • LH
    LIFE HOUSE INC
    6× · 2017–2022 · $34k · revenue +71%
  • TW
    TIGER WOODS FOUNDATION INC
    3× · 2021–2024 · $21k · revenue +70%

Funded once

  • HARRY CHAPIN FOOD BANK OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INCgraduated
    one grant, 2022 · $5k · revenue +42%
  • A
    AMBERWING
    one grant, 2022 · $5k
  • EH
    ENGLEWOOD HELPING HAND INCgraduated
    one grant, 2022 · $3k · revenue +227%
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
The Foundation for Health Care Continuums

The mission of the foundation for health care continuums is to strengthen each community we serve by providing a wide spectrum of housing and health care services that honor the evolving, aging population.

Health
2
Minnesota Hospital Foundation

The minnesota hospital foundation works on strategies that include data-led quality and safety improvement, education, research, training and leadership to improve the health of minnesotans.

—
3
Thurston Woods Village Inc

Teaming together - residents, families and associates, and our community, working to provide responsible healthcare and services, valuing every individual in the spirit of christian love.

Health
4
Northland Foundation

The northland foundation supports northeastern minnesota people and communities working toward a future where everyone feels they belong and can thrive.

Philanthropy
5
Trinity Health - Michigan

We, trinity health-michigan and trinity health, serve together in the spirit of the gospel as a compassionate and transforming healing presence within our communities. trinity health-michigan is a member of trinity health.

Health
6
House of Charity

Feed those in need, house those experiencing homelessness, and empower individuals to achieve independence.

—
7
Pinewood Duluth Inc

Pinewood - duluth, inc. is a day support services agency providing pre-vocational and vocational services for persons having intellectual and developmental disabilities who are eighteen (18) years of age and older. persons attending…

—
8
Wisconsin Lutheran Home Ministries Inc

To share christ's love as we serve the spiritual, physical, intellectual and emotional needs of people entrusted to our care and others whose lives we touch.

—
9
Trinity Health Grand Haven Hospital

We, trinity health grand haven hospital and trinity health, serve together in the spirit of the gospel as a compassionate and transforming healing presence within our communities.trinity health grand haven hospital is a member of trinity…

Health
10
Women's Care Center Duluth Inc

To love, serve, and support the women, children and families in our community before, during and after pregnancy, reaching the most vulnerable and in need. by providing self-sufficiency training and education to pregnant women and new…

Human Services
11
Second Harvest North Central Food Bank

Engaging the community to end hunger

—
12
United Way of Ne Minnesota

United way of northeastern minnesota invests in nonprofits, programs, and collaborations that equip and empower, creating opportunities for people to thrive in our communities.

—
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Tiger Woods Foundation Inc; the most unlike its peers is Together for Life Northland. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

16 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 16 of the 39 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
7
Early backer (in before they grew)
15/16
Grantees still filing
12/16
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

STELLA MARIS ACADEMY: $218,000 · OtherSTELLA MARIS ACADEMYTHE MARSHALL SCHOOL: $114,500 · OtherTHE MARSHALL SCHOOLIndividual grant recipient: $50,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipientBOYS AND GIRLS CLUB: $42,000 · OtherBOYS AND GIRLS CLUBUNITED WAY: $38,000 · OtherUNITED WAY2ND HARVEST FOOD BANK: $26,000 · OtherBOCA GRANDE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: $25,000 · Other+22 more: $94,500 · Other+22 moreMINNESOTA MASONIC CHILDREN'S CLINIC FOR COMMUNICATION DISORDERS: $30,000 · HealthMILLER-DWAN FOUNDATION AND SUBSIDIARIES: $18,000 · HealthTIGER WOODS FOUNDATION INC: $21,250 · EducationTHE ISLAND SCHOOL INC: $12,500 · EducationLIFE HOUSE INC: $33,500 · Youth DevelopmentWOMENS CARE CENTER: $8,500 · Human ServicesTogether For Life Northland: $3,500 · Human ServicesENGLEWOOD HELPING HAND INC: $2,500 · Human ServicesDULUTH PLAYHOUSE INC: $7,500 · Arts & CultureHARRY CHAPIN FOOD BANK OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INC: $5,000 · Food & Nutrition
Other$608,000Health$48,000Education$33,750Youth Development$33,500Human Services$14,500Arts & Culture$7,500Food & Nutrition$5,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetTHE MARSHALL SCHOOL: $114,500 over 6y, 1.0% of budgetLIFE HOUSE INC: $33,500 over 6y, 0.3% of budgetTIGER WOODS FOUNDATION INC: $21,250 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetMILLER-DWAN FOUNDATION AND SUBSIDIARIES: $18,000 over 5y, 0.2% of budgetTHE ISLAND SCHOOL INC: $12,500 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetTHE HILLS YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES: $11,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetWOMENS CARE CENTER: $8,500 over 5y, 2.7% of budgetDULUTH PLAYHOUSE INC: $7,500 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetCHURCHES UNITED IN MINISTRY: $7,000 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetBOCA GRANDE WOMAN'S CLUB INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetHARRY CHAPIN FOOD BANK OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTogether For Life Northland: $3,500 over 3y, 0.9% of budgetENGLEWOOD HELPING HAND INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetSUPERIOR HIKING TRAIL ASSOCIATION: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTHE TINERVIN FAMILY FOUNDATION: $750 over 1y, 0.3% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

  • Who funds THE MARSHALL SCHOOL ↗
  • Who funds LIFE HOUSE INC ↗
  • Who funds MINNESOTA MASONIC CHILDREN'S CLINIC FOR COMMUNICATION DISORDERS ↗
  • Who funds TIGER WOODS FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds MILLER-DWAN FOUNDATION AND SUBSIDIARIES ↗
  • Who funds THE ISLAND SCHOOL INC ↗
  • Who funds THE HILLS YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES ↗
  • Who funds WOMENS CARE CENTER ↗
  • Who funds DULUTH PLAYHOUSE INC ↗
  • Who funds CHURCHES UNITED IN MINISTRY ↗
  • Who funds BOCA GRANDE WOMAN'S CLUB INC ↗
  • Who funds HARRY CHAPIN FOOD BANK OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INC ↗
  • Who funds Together For Life Northland ↗
  • Who funds ENGLEWOOD HELPING HAND INC ↗
  • Who funds SUPERIOR HIKING TRAIL ASSOCIATION ↗
  • Who funds THE TINERVIN FAMILY FOUNDATION ↗

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

Lloyd K Johnson Found…Duluth-Superior Area …Ordean FoundationMinnesota Power Found…Pachel FoundationSmdc Medical CenterNorthland FoundationMightycause Charitabl…Lahti Family Foundati…Wildey Mitchell Famil…James and Nancy Holmg…Arsher Charitable Tru…
Lloyd K Johnson FoundationMN24.1× affinity9 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Lloyd K Johnson Foundation · Duluth-Superior Area Community Foundation · Ordean Foundation · Minnesota Power Foundation · Pachel Foundation · Smdc Medical Center · Northland Foundation · Mightycause Charitable Foundation · Lahti Family Foundation · Wildey Mitchell Family Foundation · James and Nancy Holmgren Foundation · Arsher Charitable Trust

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization North Star Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from North Star Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 20%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%15%30%45%60%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    2get no government money at all
    4report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–60%
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 39 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2024, released 2024. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on North Star’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home