The Pokagon Fund Inc
Accepts applications
The Pokagon Fund Inc is a private foundation in New Buffalo, Michigan. In tax year 2024 it gave $1.4 million in 101 grants; the typical grant was $3,500 and the largest $300,000. It accepts applications; its filing gives the instructions below.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2024.
- Grants paid, 2024$1.4 million
- Number of grants101
- Typical grant$3,500
- Largest grant$300,000
- Assets$9.6 million
- New grantees64%
Giving in 2024 was up from $1.1 million the year before.
64% of its 2024 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a sign it is open to new organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $1.0 million | 111 | $9.1 million |
| 2023 | $1.1 million | 139 | $9.5 million |
| 2024 | $1.4 million | 101 | $9.6 million |
How to apply
| Contact | Dan Petersen 821 E Buffalo Street, New Buffalo, MI 49117 |
|---|---|
| Phone or email | (269) 469-9322, dpetersen@pokagonfund.org |
| What to submit | All applications are required to be submitted online at www.pokagon.org using the pre-formatted forms. |
| Deadlines | Scholarship applications are due 3/15; grant applications are due 1/15, 4/15, 7/15, and 10/15 |
| Restrictions | All distributions are to be allocated in the following manner, after operational costs and reasonable reserves as determined by the board of directors that benefits areas of the arts, education, environment, recreation, health, and human services: ten percent (10%) of allocations within each fiscal year shall be allocated to projects benefitting communities surrounding pokagon band trust land consolidation sites in Michigan and Indiana; forty-five percent (45%) of allocations within each fiscal year shall be allcoated to the following local entities (new buffalo township, city of new buffalo, chikaming township, three oaks township, new buffalo school district, village of three oaks, village of michiana, village of grand beach and river valley school district. |
Foundation website IRS filings on ProPublica
What The Pokagon Fund Inc funds
Where it gives
Its grants went to recipients in 7 states, the most to Michigan.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 68 | $1.3 million |
| Indiana | 20 | $61,900 |
| Illinois | 6 | $15,584 |
| Florida | 3 | $11,000 |
| Georgia | 2 | $6,000 |
| Ohio | 1 | $4,000 |
| Pennsylvania | 1 | $269 |
Grants paid in 2024
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New Buffalo Township | New buffalo twp marquette greenway- discretionary funds | $300,000 |
| New Buffalo Township | Red arrow linear park- municipal funds | $213,333 |
| City of New Buffalo | Marquette greenway -city portion | $150,000 |
| Neighbor by Neighbor | Operations 2025-2027 | $150,000 |
| New Buffalo Township | Red arrow linear park- discretionary funds | $106,667 |
| City of New Buffalo | Marquette greenway trailhead | $37,500 |
| River Valley School District | Playground enhancement project | $22,605 |
| Harding's Market | Mobile food pantries protein supplement grant | $18,483 |
| Senior Nutrition Servicesmeals on Wheel SW Mi | Beyond five meals per week for seniors | $18,000 |
| Caring Connection | Violence prevention outreach | $15,000 |
| New Buffalo Area Schools | Bus trips 2024-2025 | $15,000 |
| River Valley School District | Bus trips 2024-2025 | $15,000 |
| Feeding America West Mi | Mobile food pantries- harbor country 2025 | $12,000 |
| School of American Music | Enhancing a sustainable community cultural resource | $10,000 |
| Temple Bnai Shalom United Through Motherhood | Sustainable diaper bank in southwest michigan/michiana | $10,000 |
| Smoke Vision Care | The pokagon fund in- house vision program grant | $9,652 |
| New Buffalo Area Schools | Summer meals at nbas | $9,311 |
| New Buffalo Railroad Museum | General operations support 2025 | $7,500 |
| Individual | Todd taylor spring 2025 | $7,500 |
| Indian Lake Volunteer Fire Dept | Gear dryer | $7,000 |
| Toys for Tots-New Buffalo | New buffalo toys for tots 2024 campaign | $7,000 |
| Girls on the Run SW Mi | Spring 2025 program in harbor country | $6,749 |
| New Buffalo Sports | Baseball/softball scholarships and equipment 2025 | $6,740 |
| Chikaming Township | Thermal imaging camera replacement | $6,184 |
| Green Bridge Growers | Fighting hunger in south bend | $6,000 |
| Harbor Country Rotary Foundation | 2025 school district families identified in need | $6,000 |
| Helping Hands of Cass County Inc | 7th annual farmworkers welcome back to mi event | $5,750 |
| Life Treatment Centers | Empowerher: jane's house | $5,750 |
| Coastline Children's Film Festival | Coastline children's film festival 2025 | $5,000 |
| Individual | Sela van buskirk 2024-2025 | $5,000 |
| Des Dance Company Foundation | Dance the magic 2025 | $5,000 |
| Individual | Zoe price 2024-2025 | $5,000 |
| Individual | Equipment for local programs | $5,000 |
| Individual | Kira arvanitis summer session 2025 | $5,000 |
| Individual | Michael bombin 2024-2025 | $5,000 |
| Individual | Isabella notorangelo 2024-2025 | $5,000 |
| Individual | Ashton mc nabb 2024-2025 | $5,000 |
| Water's Edge United Methodist Church | The gathering (gate 2.0) | $5,000 |
| Individual | Faith nash 2024-2025 | $5,000 |
| Individual | Lillyana landess 2024-2025 | $4,685 |
Officers and trustees
- Kevin Harrington
- Deborah Schmidt
- Sandra Sporleder
- Rich Knoll
- Patty Iazzetto
- Dan Petersen
- Rhonda Keene
- Mark Parrish
- Brian Flanagan
Questions people ask
Does The Pokagon Fund Inc accept grant applications?
Yes. Its latest IRS filing says it accepts applications, with this on deadlines: Scholarship applications are due 3/15; grant applications are due 1/15, 4/15, 7/15, and 10/15.
How much does The Pokagon Fund Inc give?
$1.4 million in tax year 2024, across 101 grants, with a typical grant of $3,500.
Who runs The Pokagon Fund Inc?
Its 2024 filing lists Kevin Harrington (Chair), Deborah Schmidt (Treasurer), Sandra Sporleder (Secretary) and Rich Knoll (Director) among 9 officers and trustees.
What does The Pokagon Fund Inc fund?
Based on its grants, mainly environment and conservation, education and food and hunger.