The McKnight Foundation
Historical FunderMinneapolis, Minnesota · EIN 41-0754835 · Private foundation · Website
Grants paid (2024)$145.9M
Organizations funded790
Typical grant$100,000
Total assets$2.7B
Half of its grants to organizations were between $42,000 and $150,000.
From the return
How to apply
The foundation filed the following application information (Form 990-PF Part XV, tax year 2024):
| Contact | The McKnight Foundation |
|---|---|
| Address | 921 Washington Ave S, Minneapolis MN 554151257 |
| Phone | 6123334220 |
| apply@mcknight.org | |
| Form and materials | Please see the end of the return for the additional attachments containing the information for Lines 2b - 2d. |
| Deadlines | See Attached |
| Restrictions | See Attached |
Copied as filed. Deadlines on a tax return describe the foundation's usual process; they are not confirmation of a current open cycle.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
35% of grants went outside Minnesota.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | for the GroundBreak Coalition special purpose fund | $10,000,000 |
| United States Energy Foundation | San Francisco, CA | to equitably decarbonize the Midwest by supporting powerful and inclusive coalitions with the ability to transform markets and the economy… | $9,600,000 |
| Minneapolis Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | for the GroundBreak Coalition special purpose fund | $5,000,000 |
| Minnesota Home Ownership Center | Saint Paul, MN | to bridge capacity needs and scale the deployment capacity of GroundBreak Coalition supported down payment assistance products | $2,200,000 |
| Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund | Washington DC, DC | for general operating support | $2,000,000 |
| Rewiring America Inc | Washington, DC | to advance equitable electrification in the Midwest through place-based demonstration projects and policy development | $2,000,000 |
| The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience | Minneapolis, MN | for award programs supporting research in neuroscience | $2,000,000 |
| Community Foundation of Jackson Hole | Jackson, WY | for family-directed giving | $1,850,000 |
| Greater Minnesota Housing Fund | St Paul, MN | for general operating support | $1,750,000 |
| Brick By Brick Training & Development Corporation | Minneapolis, MN | to purchase a 400+ single family rental portfolio of properties and equitably reposition them for homeownership | $1,500,000 |
| Brick By Brick Training & Development Corporation | Minneapolis, MN | to purchase a 400+ single family rental portfolio of properties and equitably reposition them for homeownership | $1,500,000 |
| Region Nine Development Commission | Mankato, MN | to provide technical assistance to cities, counties, and towns in Greater Minnesota applying for federal and state funding and deploying… | $1,500,000 |
| The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience | Minneapolis, MN | for award programs supporting research in neuroscience | $1,500,000 |
| Youthprise | Minneapolis, MN | for general operating support | $1,500,000 |
| Local Initiatives Support Corporation | New York, NY | to support the operations of LISC Twin Cities | $1,300,000 |
| Fresh Energy | St Paul, MN | to move Minnesota and the Midwest toward dramatic near-term reductions in carbon pollution through equity-centered policy work,… | $1,215,000 |
| Family Housing Fund | Minneapolis, MN | for general operating support | $1,125,000 |
| Innovia Foundation | Spokane, WA | for family-directed giving | $1,050,000 |
| National Philanthropic Trust | Jenkintown, PA | for family-directed giving | $1,050,000 |
| Park City Community Foundation | Park City, UT | for family-directed giving | $1,050,000 |
| Family Housing Fund | Minneapolis, MN | to support the stabilization of affordable rental housing properties and providers | $1,000,000 |
| Global Philanthropy Partnership | Chicago, IL | to transform the transportation sector while centering equity, climate, and people | $1,000,000 |
| Windward Fund | Washington, DC | For program support | $1,000,000 |
| Pillsbury United Communities | Minneapolis, MN | to complete Phase 1 of the Pillsbury Creative Commons (PCC) campus redevelopment project | $750,000 |
| Pangea World Theater | Minneapolis, MN | for capital campaign support to purchase land and a building for the future home of Pangea World Theater | $700,000 |
| Great Plains Institute for Sustainable Development | Minneapolis, MN | to engage and support interested and affected parties toward equitably implementing the 100% clean energy legislation and reducing… | $600,000 |
| Lawyers for Good Government | Washington, DC | to provide legal support to states, localities, and community organizations in the Midwest to advance climate equity | $575,000 |
| Nexus Community Partners | St Paul, MN | for general operating support | $550,000 |
| St Paul Transportation Management Organization | St Paul, MN | for general operating support | $550,000 |
| Meridian Institute | Dillon, CO | to support core capacity for a strategic alliance of philanthropic foundations | $544,000 |
| Association for Black Economic Power | Minneapolis, MN | for working capital to launch Arise Community Credit Union as the state's first Black-led community credit union and provide a pathway to… | $500,000 |
| BMe Networks | Hollywood, FL | For program support | $500,000 |
| Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund | Washington DC, DC | for general operating support | $500,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota Inc | St Paul, MN | for general operating and re-granting support to provide leadership development, advocacy, and capacity building support for Habitat for… | $500,000 |
| Headwaters Foundation for Justice | Minneapolis, MN | for general operating support | $500,000 |
| Indianapolis Foundation | Indianapolis, IN | to seed a collaboration of local and national foundations in Indiana to support strategies and policies at the intersection of… | $500,000 |
| Initiative Foundation | Little Falls, MN | for general operating support | $500,000 |
| Marin Community Foundation | Novato, CA | to build the capacity ofmember foundations in the Community Foundation Climate Collaborative's Midwest Regional Action Network to implement… | $500,000 |
| Michigan Civic Education Fund | Madison Heights, MI | to advance civic engagement across the state of Michigan | $500,000 |
| Minneapolis Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | to support underserved communities in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, and its 35 tribes, through regranting, in… | $500,000 |
| Minnesota Voice | St Paul, MN | for general operating support | $500,000 |
| New Venture Fund | Washington, DC | to support pro-democracy work in Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin | $500,000 |
| Northland Foundation | Duluth, MN | for general operating support | $500,000 |
| Northwest Minnesota Foundation | Bemidji, MN | for general operating support | $500,000 |
| Ohio Progressive Collaborative Education Fund | Columbus, OH | for general operating support | $500,000 |
| Potlikker Capital | Dover, DE | to leverage loan guarantees to drive investment to BIPOC farming communities, food and farm businesses, and support building a regional… | $500,000 |
| Power a Clean Future Ohio | Columbus, OH | for general operating support | $500,000 |
| Project for Pride in Living Inc | Minneapolis, MN | for the RE-Seed program, a small property re-positioning revolving fund | $500,000 |
| Regenerative Agriculture Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | to build the capacity of diverse Midwest food and farm organizations to administer large federal grants and advance regenerative… | $500,000 |
| Shared Capital Cooperative | St Paul, MN | to build capacity and increase access to capital | $500,000 |
| Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation | Owatonna, MN | for general operating support | $500,000 |
| Southwest Initiative Foundation | Hutchinson, MN | for general operating support | $500,000 |
| State Power Fund | Kent, OH | to support a year-round civic engagement strategy across the state of Wisconsin | $500,000 |
| The Schott Foundation for Public Education | Cambridge, MA | To improve life outcomes for boys and men of color | $500,000 |
| West Central Initiative | Fergus Falls, MN | for general operating support | $500,000 |
| Congressional Progressive Caucus Center | Washington, DC | to host a series of convenings that help Minnesota entities take advantage of the Inflation Reduction Act's Elective Pay to build… | $485,000 |
| Earth Island Institute | Berkeley, CA | to launch and sustain a Midwest Agriculture Conservation Network to increase participation in NRCS programs by small to medium-scale,… | $425,000 |
| Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota | St Paul, MN | for general operating support | $400,000 |
| Community Foundation of Jackson Hole | Jackson, WY | for the Staryk Family Fund | $400,000 |
| Minneapolis Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | to build regional environmental justice capacity for collaboration, network building, and policy and projects related to climate, energy,… | $400,000 |
Showing the 60 largest of 790 grants to organizations.
Grants approved for future payment
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States Energy Foundation | San Francisco, CA | To equitably decarbonize the Midwest by supporting powerful and inclusive coalitions with the ability to transform markets and the economy… | $9,600,000 |
| Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund | Washington DC, DC | For general operating support | $2,000,000 |
| Rewiring America Inc | Washington, DC | To advance equitable electrification in the Midwest through place-based demonstration projects and policy development | $2,000,000 |
| Fresh Energy | St Paul, MN | To move Minnesota and the Midwest toward dramatic near-term reductions in carbon pollution through equity-centered policy and… | $1,300,000 |
| Fresh Energy | St Paul, MN | To move Minnesota and the Midwest toward dramatic near-term reductions in carbon pollution through equity-centered policy and… | $1,300,000 |
| Global Philanthropy Partnership | Chicago, IL | To transform the transportation sector while centering equity, climate, and people | $1,000,000 |
| Windward Fund | Washington, DC | For program support | $1,000,000 |
| Nexus Community Partners | St Paul, MN | For general operating support | $550,000 |
| Indianapolis Foundation | Indianapolis, IN | To seed a collaboration of local and national foundations in Indiana to support strategies and policies at the intersection of… | $500,000 |
| Marin Community Foundation | Novato, CA | To build the capacity ofmember foundations in the Community Foundation Climate Collaborative's Midwest Regional Action Network to implement… | $500,000 |
| Power a Clean Future Ohio | Columbus, OH | For general operating support | $500,000 |
| Shared Capital Cooperative | St Paul, MN | To build capacity and increase access to capital | $500,000 |
| Earth Island Institute | Berkeley, CA | To launch and sustain a Midwest Agriculture Conservation Network to increase participation in NRCS programs by small to medium-scale,… | $425,000 |
| Earth Island Institute | Berkeley, CA | To launch and sustain a Midwest Agriculture Conservation Network to increase participation in NRCS programs by small to medium-scale,… | $425,000 |
| Citizens Utility Board of Minnesota | St Paul, MN | For general operating support | $400,000 |
| Sokoine University of Agriculture | Morogoro, | Agroecology Hub in Tanzania | $400,000 |
| Clean Grid Alliance | St Paul, MN | For general operating support | $350,000 |
| Ceres Inc | Boston, MA | To mobilize partners to make the business case for state policies and regulations that spur equitable transition to a decarbonized… | $300,000 |
| Consejo Nacional de Ciencia Tecnologa e Innovacin Tecnolgica | Lima, | Promotion of agroecology among small-scale producers via participatory action research projects in high Andean regions | $300,000 |
| Consejo Nacional de Ciencia Tecnologa e Innovacin Tecnolgica | Lima, | Promotion of agroecology among small-scale producers via participatory action research projects in high Andean regions | $300,000 |
| Consejo Nacional de Ciencia Tecnologa e Innovacin Tecnolgica | Lima, | Promotion of agroecology among small-scale producers via participatory action research projects in high Andean regions | $300,000 |
| Public Health Law Center Inc | St Paul, MN | To support bold, ambitious, and equitable climate action change by providing legal technical assistance to community-based organizations… | $300,000 |
| University of Minnesota Foundation | Minneapolis, MN | To support the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs Community Programs to nourish an ecosystem for reparative policy change through data,… | $290,000 |
| Minneapolis College of Art and Design | Minneapolis, MN | For a fellowship program for visual artists | $279,500 |
| Minneapolis College of Art and Design | Minneapolis, MN | For a fellowship program for visual artists | $277,500 |
| Build Wealth MN Inc | Minneapolis, MN | For general operating support | $250,000 |
| Clean Energy Jobs and Justice Fund | Rockford, IL | For general operating support | $250,000 |
| Elevate Energy | Chicago, IL | To develop a direct pay program that is accessible and scalable to rural municipalities, Tribes, and nonprofits, and to complete six… | $250,000 |
| Farmers Union Foundation | St Paul, MN | To empower family farmers to lead on climate action, developing and building support for farmer informed solutions that position… | $250,000 |
| Indiana Democracy Collective Inc | Indianapolis, IN | For general operating support | $250,000 |
| Initiative Foundation | Little Falls, MN | To enhance collaboration with the University of Minnesota's Climate Adaptation Partnership (CAP), West Central Initiative (WCI), and Region… | $250,000 |
| Northcountry Cooperative Foundation | St Paul, MN | For general operating support | $250,000 |
| One Roof Community Housing | Duluth, MN | For general operating support | $250,000 |
| Partnership Project Inc | Washington, DC | To build capacity for equitable climate solutions in the Midwest | $250,000 |
| RENEW Wisconsin Inc | Madison, WI | For general operating support | $250,000 |
| Rondo Community Land Trust | Saint Paul, MN | For general operating support | $250,000 |
| Stand Up Indiana Inc | Indianapolis, IN | For general operating support | $250,000 |
| TakeAction Minnesota Education Fund | Saint Paul, MN | For general operating support | $250,000 |
| West Central Initiative | Fergus Falls, MN | To strengthen rural democracy in Minnesota by fostering diverse leadership and community engagement through the Rural Democracy Project | $250,000 |
| Big NFP | Chicago, IL | For general operating support | $238,000 |
| Hired | Minneapolis, MN | To advance shared power, prosperity, and participation for low-income jobseekers and families | $235,000 |
| Association of Minnesota Counties | Saint Paul, MN | To build capacity in Greater Minnesota counties to successfully apply for state and federal grants | $225,000 |
| Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota | Minneapolis, MN | For general operating support | $225,000 |
| Land Stewardship Project | Minneapolis, MN | For general operating support | $225,000 |
| Action for the Climate Emergency | Charlestown, MA | To support education, engagement, and activation on climate action in the Midwest | $200,000 |
| Centro de Trabajadores Unidos En La Lucha | Minneapolis, MN | For general operating support | $200,000 |
| Clean Energy Economy Minnesota | Minneapolis, MN | To build a stronger and more equitable innovation ecosystem in Minnesota and the Midwest for energy and climate technologies | $200,000 |
| Clean Wisconsin Inc | Madison, WI | For general operating support | $200,000 |
| Forth Mobility Fund | Portland, OR | For the continued funding of the Towards Equitable Electric Mobility (TEEM) Community of Practice | $200,000 |
| Mission Edge San Diego | San Diego, CA | To deepen and expand efforts to support tribes in the Midwest with strategic energy planning and implementation | $200,000 |
| New Buildings Institute Inc | Portland, OR | To drive equitable building decarbonization in the Midwest through coalition building, codes and policy support, and market transformation | $200,000 |
| TakeAction Minnesota Education Fund | Saint Paul, MN | To identify, support, and amplify the role of organizational and movement culture and the culture bearers who advance it | $200,000 |
| TakeAction Minnesota Education Fund | Saint Paul, MN | To identify, support, and amplify the role of organizational and movement culture and the culture bearers who advance it | $200,000 |
| IDEMS International Community Interest Company | Reading, | Methods support for agroecological research in West Africa | $175,000 |
| Indigenous Roots | Saint Paul, MN | For a fellowship program for Culture Bearers | $175,000 |
| Indigenous Roots | Saint Paul, MN | For a fellowship program for Culture Bearers | $175,000 |
| Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Inc | St Paul, MN | To support the statewide public policy and advocacy work of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and build the nonprofit sector's capacity… | $175,000 |
| Manor House Agricultural Centre | Kitale, | Kenya AE Hub 4: Accelerating AE and FRN impacts through complementary scaling strategies (scaling up, out, and deep) | $163,000 |
| Manor House Agricultural Centre | Kitale, | Kenya AE Hub 4: Accelerating AE and FRN impacts through complementary scaling strategies (scaling up, out, and deep) | $163,000 |
| Playwrights' Center Inc | Minneapolis, MN | For a fellowship program to support Minnesota-based Theater Artists | $157,000 |
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $145,891,450 | 1,076 |
| 2023 | $109,067,200 | 1,047 |
| 2021 | $97,556,000 | 1,044 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Nov 14, 2025 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202513189349104906
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 41-0754835
- Profile updated Nov 4, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.