2026 Community Funding Committee

Are you a community organizer based in New York City or the Hudson Valley? Are you passionate and knowledgeable about organizing for systemic change? Are you interested in making philanthropy and grantmaking more responsive to the needs of communities? North Star Fund is holding an open call for organizers interested in joining our Community Funding Committees (CFCs). The CFCs are the decision-making bodies that shape our grantmaking!

We are seeking community organizers and activists who: 

• are passionate about systemic change
• have a deep knowledge of community organizing 
• are connected to the New York City or Hudson Valley landscape

CFC members play a vital role by collectively deciding how to allocate our grants and by influencing the organization's strategy. Please apply here by June 12, 2026.

North Star Fund is a social justice fund that supports grassroots organizing led by communities of color building power in New York City and the Hudson Valley. We raise money and then use it to make grants for organizing in New York City and the Hudson Valley for racial, gender and economic justice. We fund work led and carried out by people directly affected by an issue. We believe in making funding accessible to new and emerging community organizing groups.

We give grants through a process that shifts decision-making power to communities fighting for justice. Unlike most foundations, our core grants aren’t awarded by staff, board members or trustees. Community organizers—including former and current grantees—decide how to allocate grants. They also participate in the governance of our organization. 

Why Join?

This is a great opportunity for those interested in philanthropy and grantmaking to learn more about the field. Our CFCs play a vital role in moving money to grassroots organizing. They support communities of color building power in New York City and the Hudson Valley. There are many benefits to being involved. You can:

• Be part of a team of leaders who decide how and where North Star Fund will support organizing, with a voice in shaping funding decisions and the foundation’s strategy.
• Participate in a philanthropic leadership community. Learn how activists can reshape how traditional philanthropy is practiced and experienced by applicants.
• Participate in democratizing and applying trust-based philanthropy principles to grant-making.
• Gain deeper insight into the organizing ecosystem in New York. 
• Build and strengthen relationships with your fellow organizers.

This is a volunteer position, but the time commitment will be recognized with a small annual stipend of $500. Additionally, we reimburse for food, travel, and childcare expenses for meetings and site visits. We provide training on grantmaking and responsive, trust-based philanthropy practices.

What We’re Looking For

• Experience as an organizer or as a member-leader in a grassroots, member-led organization.
• Understanding of social justice issues and community organizing in New York City or the Hudson Valley.
• Interest in learning, adopting, and disseminating the principles of trust-based philanthropy and making grantmaking more responsive to the needs of communities.
• Can commit to at least two years of participation. The bulk of the work will occur from September through January. This includes a two-day retreat in the early fall. Then approximately 80 hours of reading, scoring, and commenting on applications, and approximately 20 hours of meetings.
• Willingness to travel in your region (when it is safe to do so).
• Discretion and flexibility regarding personal/work schedules, or permission/support from the supervisor to participate.

Applicants can apply for one of our three committees: 

• The Let Us Breathe Fund CFC makes grants from the Let Us Breathe Fund to support Black-led organizing and police accountability in New York City and the Hudson Valley. 
• The Hudson Valley CFC makes grants to groups that use organizing as their primary strategy in the Hudson Valley
• The New York City CFC makes grants to grassroots groups that use organizing as their primary strategy. 

As leaders within the North Star Fund community, CFC members play a critical role in shaping our strategy and decisions about grantees. It is very important to us that the CFCs reflect the robust diversity of Black-, Indigenous-, and people-of-color-led organizing in New York. 

We encourage applications from individuals from backgrounds excluded from and unrepresented within philanthropy. This includes Black, Indigenous, and people of color, women, LGBTQ people, youth, elders, and people with disabilities. If you are a member or leader of a current or former grantee, we encourage you to join.

Expectations of the Role

Here's what we will ask you to do if you join a CFC:

• Read and score up to 80 applications per year (varies based on the CFC). North Star Fund holds one to two grant application cycles annually. There are more applications to read in the New York City fund than in the other two.
• Take part in approximately 20 hours of grant deliberation meetings per year, in-person with the option for hybrid.
• Attend occasional, optional virtual gathering and training opportunities.
• Participate in an annual, two-day strategic convening to guide North Star Fund’s grantmaking vision and strategy. This occurs each fall.
• Communicate in a timely and responsive way with program staff.
• Commit to upholding North Star Fund’s community organizing criteria.
• Commit to a fair process. Respect applicants’ confidential information and name your conflicts of interest.
• Commit to participating for a two-year term.

Questions? Please reach out!

You can email grants@northstarfund.org with general questions or schedule with a member of the team.

• For the Hudson Valley, contact Gabriela Quintanilla: Schedule with Gabriela
• For the Let Us Breathe Fund, contact Kellie Terry: Schedule with Kellie
• For New York City, contact Rami Dinnawi, Schedule with Rami.

Please apply by June 12, 2026.