Northern Star Foundation
Northern Star Foundation is a private foundation, based in St. Paul, MN. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $3.9M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $212K. Net investment income was $294K.
Northern Star Foundation at a glance
In short: Northern Star Foundation gave $212K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $30K), top state Minnesota. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $212,000
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $30,286
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $3,928,525
- +1.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (47% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
Who Northern Star Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Hamm Clinic ($100K). Together the top 7 received $212K.
Grant Size Distribution
29 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 17 grants of 29 (59%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
Cities
How Northern Star Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+0%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 101% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $212K (2022) to $232K (2021). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $212K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hamm Clinic St. Paul, MN | General Fund - Community Projects | $100,000 |
| Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League West Palm Beach, FL | General Fund - Community Projects | $50,000 |
| Nature Conservancy - Florida Chapter Winter Park, FL | General Fund - Community Projects | $16,000 |
| ASPCA New York, NY | General Fund - Community Projects | $15,000 |
| Humane Society of the US Washington, DC | General Fund - Community Projects | $15,000 |
| Palm Beach Island Cats Inc Palm Beach, FL | General Fund - Community Projects | $10,000 |
| 1000 Friends of Florida Tallahassee, FL | General Fund - Community Projects | $6,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,928,525 | $313,557 | $264,596 | $212,000 | 7 | $240,860 | $293,906 | $238,500 |
| 2024 | $3,877,079 | $137,141 | $265,514 | $212,000 | 7 | $240,467 | $113,674 | $232,094 |
| 2023 | $4,005,744 | $-598,157 | $261,909 | $212,000 | 4 | $240,126 | $107,369 | $213,765 |
| 2022 | $4,865,518 | $-111,555 | $256,439 | $212,000 | 5 | $239,705 | $82,465 | $239,027 |
| 2021 | $5,244,570 | $903,907 | $295,037 | $232,000 | 6 | — | $881,927 | $259,207 |
| 2019 | $4,808,714 | $79,865 | $279,923 | $232,000 | 7 | — | $107,499 | $240,135 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Northern Star Foundation reported a distributable amount of $239K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Northern Star Foundation is led by Candace S. Hamm, President since 2021 (on filings since 2019); none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Candace S. Hamm
President
Vice President & Secretary → President, 2021
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Edward H. Hamm Jr.
Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Katherine Haskins
Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Alexandra Hamm Ryan
Vice President & Secretary
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Northern Star Foundation
How much does Northern Star Foundation give each year?
Northern Star Foundation gave $212K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $212K across 7 grants.
What is Northern Star Foundation's typical grant size?
Northern Star Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $15,000, and its average grant was $30,286, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Northern Star Foundation give grants?
Northern Star Foundation's top state is Minnesota, with 47% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Florida (39%) and New York (7%).
Does Northern Star Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Northern Star Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 7) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Northern Star Foundation's largest grantees?
Northern Star Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Hamm Clinic ($100,000), Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League ($50,000) and Nature Conservancy - Florida Chapter ($16,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 78% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Northern Star Foundation?
Northern Star Foundation reported $3.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $241K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $239K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Northern Star Foundation's EIN?
Northern Star Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-6030832. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS December 9, 2019)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 29, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS December 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 25, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS November 24, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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