Borealis Philanthropy
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
BOREALIS PHILANTHROPY DIRECTS RESOURCES TO PEOPLE BUILDING POWERFUL, THRIVING COMMUNITIES THAT SERVE ALL OF US, WITH THOSE MOST IMPACTED BY INJUSTICE LEADING THE WAY. WE INVEST IN LEADERS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND MOVEMENTS USING DIVERSE AND INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES TO PURSUE TRANSFORMATIONAL CHANGE, AND WE WORK WITH DONORS TO SUPPORT MOVEMENTS IN WAYS THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DO ON THEIR OWN. THROUGH OUR WORK WITH BOTH FUNDERS AND GRANTEE PARTNERS, WE AIM TO SHIFT POWER AND INVEST IN COMMUNITIES.
- Income
- $42.5 million
- Spending
- $54.7 million
- Spent on programs
- 83%
- Reserves
- 3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 97%
- Employees
- 63
- Volunteers
- 9
- Highest pay
- $285,846, president
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 66 out of 100. Higher than 40% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Reserves
20 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 3.0 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 18% of what it owns.
Living within its means
0 of 15Spending exceeded income by 29% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 8% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1583% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 2 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 34% of charities in its peer group (arts and culture, $10m to $100m).
Independent board
25 of 258 of 8 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (10)
- $8.5 million spent. THE BLACK-LED MOVEMENT FUND SUPPORTS THE MOVEMENT FOR BLACK LIVES (M4BL) AND OTHER VALUES-ALIGNED ORGANIZATIONS TO BETTER SHAPE POLICY AGENDAS FOR BLACK COMMUNITIES, CREATE ALTERNATIVES TO INSTITUTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN HARMFUL TO BLACK PEOPLE, AND BUILD LOCAL BLACK COMMUNITY POWER. 2024 HIGHLIGHTS:$7.3M IN GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT GRANTS$839K IN RAPID RESPONSE GRANTS121 GRANTEE PARTNERS
- $6.5 million spent. THE DISABILITY INCLUSION FUND SEEDS AND EXPANDS THE CAPACITY OF THE DISABILITY JUSTICE MOVEMENT BY RESOURCING POWERFUL GRASSROOTS LEADERS AT THE FOREFRONT OF DISMANTLING ABLEISM THROUGH POLICY ADVOCACY, COMMUNITY ORGANIZING, ART, AND NARRATIVE CHANGE.2024 HIGHLIGHTS:$5.1M IN GRANTS$142K IN RESPONSE GRANTS75 GRANTEE PARTNERS
- $6.4 million spent. THE RACIAL EQUITY IN PHILANTHROPY FUND HAS INVESTED IN PHILANTHROPY-SERVING ORGANIZATIONS TO INFORM, EDUCATE, AND EQUIP FUNDERS TO INTEGRATE RACIAL EQUITY POLICIES AND PRACTICES INTO THEIR GRANTMAKING PROGRAMS. THIS FUND WILL FORMALLY SUNSET IN 2025. 2024 HIGHLIGHTS:$6.1M IN GRANTS
- $6.2 million spent. THE COMMUNITIES TRANSFORMING POLICING FUND RESOURCES LOCAL COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY DEADLY AND DISCRIMINATORY POLICING PRACTICES TO BUILD POWER, INCREASE POLICE ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY, AND REDEFINE SAFETY BY ADVOCATING FOR INVESTMENT IN COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS AND SERVICES AS ALTERNATIVES TO POLICE, JAILS, AND PRISONS.
- $5.7 million spent. THE RACIAL EQUITY IN JOURNALISM FUND INVESTS IN, CONNECTS, AND THREADS THE BIPOC JOURNALISM ECOSYSTEM, DISRUPTING HARMFUL NARRATIVES AND INCREASING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT FOR COMMUNITIES OF COLOR BY REACHING THEM WITH VITAL, RELEVANT INFORMATION.
- $3.7 million spent. THE FUND FOR TRANS GENERATIONS RESOURCES BIPOC, TRANS-LED ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO ADVANCE COMMUNITY SAFETY, SUPPORTIVE COMMUNITY HOUSING, DECARCERATION, AND ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE AND MENTAL HEALTHTO BUILD A WORLD IN WHICH ALL PEOPLE CAN LIVE WITH SELF DETERMINATION, SAFETY, AND JOY.
- $3.3 million spent. THE EMERGING LGBTQ LEADERS OF COLOR FUND* SUPPORTS THE ROLE THAT YOUNG TRANS AND QUEER LEADERS PLAY TO SUPPORT PRO-LGBTQ, RACIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENTS IN BECOMING MORE CONNECTED, INCLUSIVE, AND THUS MORE POWERFUL. THE FUND INVESTS IN LEADERS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO UNDERSTAND THAT THE ISSUES LIKE COMMUNITY SAFETY, REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE, IMMIGRANT RIGHTS, AND OTHERS DO NOT EXIST IN ISOLATION FROM EACH OTHER, AND WHO APPROACH LIBERATION WORK FROM A PLACE OF INCLUSION. THESE LEADERS ENVISION AND IMPLEMENT ORGANIZING STRATEGIES THAT ADDRESS HOW THESE ISSUES INTERSECT.*FORMERLY THE TRANSFORMING MOVEMENTS FUND
- $2.6 million spent. THE SPARK JUSTICE FUND RESOURCES GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING GROUPS THAT ARE ENDING MONEY BAIL AND UNJUST PRETRIAL DETENTION POLICIES. GRANTEES' LONGER-TERM GOALS ARE TO SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCE JAIL POPULATIONS, DECRIMINALIZE POVERTY, AND REDUCE DISPARITIES FOR LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, INCLUDING FOR WOMEN OF COLOR AND OTHER MARGINALIZED PEOPLE.
- $2.3 million spent. THE RACIAL EQUITY TO ACCELERATE CHANGE FUND IS EXPANDING THE CAPACITY OF RACIAL EQUITY CONSULTANTS TO WORK WITH NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. THE FUND INVESTS IN PRACTITIONERS TO DEVELOP AND SCALE TOOLS AND STRATEGIES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE NONPROFIT SECTOR.
- MOVEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES AND OTHER GENERAL PROGRAM ACTIVITIES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since July 2014.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.