The Polaris Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Medina, MN EIN: 41-1828276

The Polaris Foundation is a private foundation, based in Medina, MN. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025.

Key facts about The Polaris Foundation

EIN
41-1828276
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

—

Revenue

—

Net Investment Income

—

Expenses

—

How The Polaris Foundation gives

  • In 2021 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

Open Grants

2 open opportunities from The Polaris Foundation

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

8states

Cities

RoseauMinneapolisAmeryAtlantaBadgerBattle GroundBaudetteCamasColorado SpringsConroeEaganEllsworthGreenbushMilltownMinneapolsNew YorkPlymouthRock ValleyRoeauSaint Paul

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$250K$500K$750K$1M28 grants20201 grants20210 grants20220 grants20230 grants20240 grants2025

From 2020 to 2021, annual grant giving ranged from $15K (2021) to $938K (2020). In 2021 it made 1 grant totaling $15K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Grant Size Distribution

1 grants across all recorded years

1<$50K$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 1 grant of 1 (100%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for 2025.

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
$0$500K$1M$1.5M202020212022202320242025
Metric202520242023
Total Assets———
Revenue———
Expenses———
Qualifying Distributions———
Net Investment Income———
Distributable Amount———

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS June 10, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 6, 2022)
  3. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
  4. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

The Polaris Foundation is led by Lucy Clark Dougherty, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 8 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Lucy Clark Dougherty

    President

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • James Williams

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Michael Speetzen

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Robert Mack

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Ben Duke

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    No compensation reported

  • Michael Dougherty

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    No compensation reported

  • Steve Eastman

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    No compensation reported

  • Steve Menneto

    Director

    On filings since 2023

    No compensation reported

Former officers (3)
  • Former: Jennifer Carbert (2020–2022) — Secretary
  • Former: Kenneth Pucel (2020–2022) — Director
  • Former: Scott Sender (2020–2022) — Vice President

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 The Polaris Foundation

Where does The Polaris Foundation operate?

The Polaris Foundation has awarded grants in Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Minnesota, New York, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin.

What is The Polaris Foundation's EIN?

The Polaris Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-1828276. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.

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