Knight Foundation
Knight Foundation is a private foundation, based in Beaverton, OR. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $4.5B in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 9 grants totaling $226.5M. Net investment income was $303.3M.
Knight Foundation at a glance
In short: Knight Foundation gave $226.5M across 9 grants in 2024 (avg $25.2M), mostly in Oregon. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $226,548,000
- +18.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 9
- -25.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $25,172,000
- +57.9% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $7,500,000
- Total assets
- $4,473,731,655
- +5.8% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Oregon (97% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who Knight Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Oregon Foundation ($182.0M). Together the top 9 received $226.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
38 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was $5M or more: 25 grants of 38 (66%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 9 itemized grants.
Cities
How Knight Foundation gives
- Giving grew 44% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 87% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $81.0M (2020) to $226.5M (2024). In 2024 it made 9 grants totaling $226.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Oregon Foundation Eugene, OR | This gift has been designated for the campus for accelerating scientific impact (the "casi program") as well as general operating and program support. | $182,000,000 |
| Albina Head Start Portland, OR | This gift has been designated for general operating support. | $10,000,000 |
| SEI Inc Portland, OR | This gift has been designated for general operating support. | $10,000,000 |
| 1803 Fund Portland, OR | This gift has been designated for general operating support. | $8,500,000 |
| Providence St Vincent Medical Foundation Portland, OR | This gift has been designated to the cardiology program. | $7,500,000 |
| Blue Meridian Partners New York, NY | This gift has been designated for general operating support. | $5,213,000 |
| The Brookings Institution Washington, DC | This gift has been designated for the foreign policy program. | $2,000,000 |
| Fanconi Anemia Research Fund Eugene, OR | This gift has been designated for general operating support. | $1,000,000 |
| Portlaoise GAA Club | This gift has been designated for a capital improvement project. | $335,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,473,731,655 | $520,024,706 | $277,515,298 | $226,548,000 | 9 | $226,548,000 | $303,343,552 | $260,539,676 |
| 2023 | $4,230,106,111 | $1,730,391,596 | $244,066,344 | $191,354,333 | 12 | $191,354,333 | $778,954,732 | $226,729,328 |
| 2022 | $3,385,598,902 | $202,421,977 | $252,585,656 | $212,500,000 | 12 | $212,502,400 | $168,951,066 | $195,791,041 |
| 2021 | $3,435,451,779 | $405,031,955 | $202,443,977 | $157,500,000 | 3 | $157,502,400 | $370,256,312 | $208,002,596 |
| 2020 | $3,232,383,420 | $1,963,443,063 | $108,143,367 | $81,000,000 | 2 | — | $1,044,006,557 | $156,890,941 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Knight Foundation reported a distributable amount of $260.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Knight Foundation is led by Philip H. Knight, President & Treasurer on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Philip H. Knight
President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Penelope P. Knight
Director & Vice President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Travis A. Knight
Vice President, Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa McKillips
Assistant Secretary & Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Knight Foundation
How much does Knight Foundation give each year?
Knight Foundation gave $226.5M across 9 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $191.4M across 12 grants.
What is Knight Foundation's typical grant size?
Knight Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $7,500,000, and its average grant was $25,172,000, across 9 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Knight Foundation give grants?
Knight Foundation gives mostly in Oregon: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Portland, OR (4 grants) and Eugene, OR (2 grants).
Does Knight Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 67% of Knight Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (6 of 9) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Knight Foundation's largest grantees?
Knight Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University of Oregon Foundation ($182,000,000), Albina Head Start ($10,000,000) and SEI Inc ($10,000,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 89% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Knight Foundation?
Knight Foundation reported $4.5B in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $226.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $260.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is Knight Foundation's EIN?
Knight Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 91-1791788. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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