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Polaris Foundation Inc at a glanceAlso receives grants: funding profile →

· Private foundation

Polaris Foundation Inc

Its FY2021 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$310k
Granted FY2021
25
Grants FY2021
12
States reached
$40k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
01100% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2019 to 2021.

Animals$141kInternational$75kFood & Nutrition$50kEducation$21kHuman Services$20kHealth$10kPublic Safety & Disaster$10kEnvironment$5kOther$0
02FY2021 · 25 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2021

  • Under $10k11 grants · $45k
  • $10k–50k14 grants · $265k
$10,000
Median grant
12
States reached
$0
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
UNICEF USA$40,000
FOOD FOR THE POOR$30,000
ANIMAL WELFARE INSTITUTE$25,000
HEIFER INTERNATIONAL$25,000
GUARDIANS OF RESCUE$25,000
LAST CHANCE FOR ANIMALS$20,000
FEED THE CHILDREN$20,000
DOCTORS WITHOUT BOARDERS$20,000
Individual grant recipient$10,000
THE CARTER CENTER$10,000
PAWS WITH A CAUSE$10,000
RED CROSS$10,000
SALVATION ARMY$10,000
ANIMAL LEGAL DEFENSE FUND$10,000
SMILE TRAIN$5,000
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 (FY21–21, $20k) land where the poverty rate runs at 12%, against an area that typically sits at 9%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 9%PAWS WITH A CAUSE: $10k → 10%RED CROSS: $10k → 14%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.

Which US states its grants reach

ME
NH
MI
NY
MA
NJ
CA
VA
AR
TN
DC
OK
GA
TX
FL
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.

11%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$37k · 6 repeat orgs$296k to everyone else

6 repeat relationships: 2 still active in FY2021, 4 since wound down; 23 grantees were first funded in FY2021 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

6
10

Total granted

$37k
$10k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+26%
+60%

Still filing today

67%
50%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2021, 8% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $285k went to new ones.

50%100%’19’20’21
RenewedFirst-time

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

’19’20’21
AnimalsInternationalHuman ServicesEnvironmentHousing & ShelterPublic BenefitOther
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

  • OS
    OPERATION SMILE INC
    3× · 2019–2021 · $5k · revenue +26%
  • MH
    MONADNOCK HUMANE SOCIETY INC
    2× · 2019–2020 · $200 · revenue +89%
  • TN
    THE NEW ENGLAND CENTER FOR CHILDREN INC
    2× · 2019–2020 · $100 · revenue +23%

Funded once

  • THE HOWARD UNIVERSITYgraduated
    one grant, 2020 · $4k · revenue +40%
  • SM
    S Maine Community College
    one grant, 2019 · $4k
  • SM
    SOUTHER MAINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
    one grant, 2020 · $2k
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
Global Animal Partnership
Animals
2
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals

The aspca's mission, as stated by founder henry bergh in 1866, is "to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the united states." the aspca was founded on the belief that animals are entitled to kind and…

Animals
3
Humane World for Animals International

HUMANE WORLD FOR ANIMALS INTERNATIONAL, FKA HUMANE SOCIETY INTERNATIONAL (HSI), works around the globe to promote the human-animal bond, rescue and protect dogs and cats, improve farm animal welfare, protect wildlife, promote animal-free…

Animals
4
Animal Wellness Action

To prevent cruelty to animals, we promote enacting and enforcing good public policies. enacting good laws depends upon electing good lawmakers, and we remind voters which candidates care about and support animal issues.

Human Services
5
Humane World for Animals Inc

Humane World for Animals, Inc., formerly known as the Humane Society of the United States (The Organization), seeks to tackle the root causes of animal cruelty and suffering. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O

Animals
6
Animal Diplomacy

Supporting and assisting with rescue, sheltering, spay/neuter, and rehoming of cats and dogs in needy developing countries. Our current exclusive focus is on Egypt and the Egyptian Society for Mercy to Animals.

Animals
7
Hope for China Dogs Rescue

At Hope for China Dogs, we are committed to combating the cruel and inhumane practice of the dog meat trade in China. We believe that every dog deserves to live a life free from pain and suffering, and we are dedicated to rescuing and…

Animals
8
Animal Rescue League of Boston

The animal rescue league of boston's vision is to confront animal cruelty and neglect at its root causes. through programs, services, and facilities focused on accessible animal care, public advocacy, and sustained anti-cruelty efforts...…

Animals
9
All About Animals Rescue

All about animals rescue's mission is no more homeless pets.

Animals
10
Michigan Humane Society

To improve and save lives through compassionate care, community engagement and advocacy for animals.

Animals
11
Humane World Action Fund

To pass animal protection laws, educate the public, and support humane candidates for office.

Animals
12
Korean K9 Rescue Inc

Korean k9 rescue inc is a non-profit no-kill 501c3 dog rescue organization that saves dogs from the mea trade puppy mills and high-kill shelters in south korea. due to the stigma associated with mixed breed and dog meat farm dogs most dogs…

Animals
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is Project K9 Hero; the most unlike its peers is Shelter From the Storm. 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

28 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. 28 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)
3
Early backer (in before they grew)
28/28
Grantees still filing
22/28
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

UNITED STATES FUND FOR UNICEF: $40,000 · InternationalUNITED STATES FUND FOR UNICEFFOOD FOR THE POOR INC: $30,000 · InternationalFOOD FOR THE POOR INCMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $20,000 · InternationalMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INCFEED THE CHILDREN INC: $20,000 · InternationalFEED THE CHILDREN INCTHE CARTER CENTER INC: $10,000 · InternationalTHE CARTER CENTER INCOPERATION SMILE INC: $5,150 · InternationalMercy Ships International: $5,000 · InternationalANIMAL WELFARE INSTITUTE: $25,000 · AnimalsANIMAL WELFARE INSTITUTEGUARDIANS OF RESCUE INC: $25,000 · AnimalsGUARDIANS OF RESCUE INCLast Chance for Animals: $20,050 · AnimalsLast Chance for AnimalsANIMAL LEGAL DEFENSE FUND INC: $10,000 · AnimalsANIMAL LEGAL DEFENSE FUND INCANIMAL HAVEN INC: $5,000 · AnimalsTHE 11TH HOUR ANIMAL RESCUE INC T/A ELEVENTH HOUR ANIMAL RESCUE: $5,000 · AnimalsNORTH SHORE ANIMAL LEAGUE AMERICA INC: $5,000 · AnimalsHUMANE FARMING ASSOCIATION: $5,000 · Animals+5 more: $480 · AnimalsHEIFER INTERNATIONAL: $25,000 · OtherHEIFER INTERNATIONALSALVATION ARMY: $10,000 · OtherSALVATION ARMYIndividual grant recipient: $10,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipie…KEENE STATE COLLEGE: $8,000 · OtherKEENE STATE COLLEGEBEST FRIENDS: $5,000 · OtherBEST FRIENDSSMILE TRAIN INC: $5,000 · OtherSMILE TRAIN INCS Maine Community College: $4,000 · OtherS Maine Community Colleg…CAPE COD COMMUNITY COLLEGE: $3,000 · Other+5 more: $2,275 · OtherPaws With A Cause: $10,000 · Human ServicesAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $10,000 · Human ServicesENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND INCORPORATED: $5,000 · EnvironmentTHE HOWARD UNIVERSITY: $4,000 · EducationPAWS FOR PURPLE HEARTS: $50 · Public BenefitSHELTER FROM THE STORM: $50 · Housing & Shelter
International$130,150Animals$100,530Other$72,275Human Services$20,000Environment$5,000Education$4,000Public Benefit$50Housing & Shelter$50

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

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetUNITED STATES FUND FOR UNICEF: $40,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFOOD FOR THE POOR INC: $30,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetANIMAL WELFARE INSTITUTE: $25,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetGUARDIANS OF RESCUE INC: $25,000 over 1y, 2.1% of budgetLast Chance for Animals: $20,050 over 2y, 0.6% of budgetMEDECINS SANS FRONTIERES USA INC: $20,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFEED THE CHILDREN INC: $20,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPaws With A Cause: $10,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetANIMAL LEGAL DEFENSE FUND INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetTHE CARTER CENTER INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAmerican National Red Cross & Its Constituent Chapters and Branches: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetOPERATION SMILE INC: $5,150 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND INCORPORATED: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetANIMAL HAVEN INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.2% of budgetMercy Ships International: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE 11TH HOUR ANIMAL RESCUE INC T/A ELEVENTH HOUR ANIMAL RESCUE: $5,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetNORTH SHORE ANIMAL LEAGUE AMERICA INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHUMANE FARMING ASSOCIATION: $5,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetSMILE TRAIN INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE HOWARD UNIVERSITY: $4,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMONADNOCK HUMANE SOCIETY INC: $200 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTURNING POINTE DONKEY RESCUE INC: $100 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE NEW ENGLAND CENTER FOR CHILDREN INC: $100 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetKinnelon Volunteer Animal Shelter: $100 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetPROJECT K9 HERO: $50 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetPAWS FOR PURPLE HEARTS: $50 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetSHELTER FROM THE STORM: $50 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetWOUNDED PAW PROJECT: $30 over 1y, 0.0% 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.

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.

The Bank of America C…The Pfizer Foundation…The Blackbaud Giving …Network for GoodAmerican Online Givin…Donor Advised Charita…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
The Bank of America Charitable Foundation IncNC12.8× affinity8 shared granteesties to 7 of 7Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · The Pfizer Foundation Inc · The Blackbaud Giving Fund · Network for Good · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · Amazonsmile Foundation

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 Polaris Foundation Inc funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Polaris Foundation Inc. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 10%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%4%8%11%15%share of the org’s income from government →median 1%
  • The New England Center for Children Inc: 3% of income from government
  • Feed the Children Inc: 1% of income from government
  • The 11TH Hour Animal Rescue Inc T/a Eleventh Hour Animal Rescue: 0% of income from government
  • Food for the Poor Inc: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
1get no government money at all
0rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–15%
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 2021, released 2021. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

Source object · view filing

Play a game based on Polaris’ 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