The McKnight Foundation
The McKnight Foundation is a private foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, dedicated to advancing a more just, creative, and abundant future where people and planet thrive. Founded in 1953, the foundation operates as a family foundation with a focus on philanthropy and grantmaking across multiple program areas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$145.9M
+33.4% YoY
Grant Count
790
+5.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$185K
+26.8% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on supporting initiatives that create positive change across five primary program areas:
- Arts & Culture — Supporting individual artists and arts organizations
- Global Collaboration for Resilient Food Systems — Advancing agroecological transitions and sustainable food systems through research networks and leadership convenings
- Midwest Climate & Energy — Addressing climate and energy challenges in the Midwest region
- Neuroscience — Supporting neuroscience research through the McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience
- Vibrant & Equitable Communities — Building wealth and opportunity in historically underserved communities
Grantmaking
The foundation made 833 grants in 2024. Grant sizes typically range from $1,000 to $10,000,000, with a median grant size of $80,000 and maximum grants reaching $9.6 million.
Grant Range
s typically range from $1,000 to $10,000,000, with a median grant size of $80,000 and maximum grants reaching $9.6 million.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds primarily in Minnesota, the District of Columbia, and California. Its work extends internationally, with operations and staff presence in Bolivia, Tanzania, Canada, and Spain.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $2,712,040,525
- Total Revenues: $189,397,037
- Total Expenses: $209,369,790
- Annual Distributions: $144 million (2023)
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
6 open opportunities from The McKnight Foundation
McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience: Neurobiology of Brain Disorders Award Grant
The McKnight Foundation
Amount
Up to US $300,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience: Scholar Awards Grant
The McKnight Foundation
Amount
US $225,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
McKnight Foundation: Arts & Culture Grant Program
The McKnight Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Association for Black Economic Power ($500,000), Alliance of Artists Communities ($344,000), Aeon ($250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 100 Rural Women Marcell, MN | for general operating support | $125,000 |
| A Mother's Love Initiative Minneapolis, MN | to support programming promoting safe streets in North Minneapolis | $5,000 |
| AAPI Civic Engagement Fund Los Angeles, CA | for general operating support | $100,000 |
| Access Philanthropy Charities Minneapolis, MN | to build on civic engagement momentum among Asian communities across Minnesota and increase strategic capacity and partnerships | $100,000 |
| Action for the Climate Emergency Charlestown, MA | to support education, engagement, and activation on climate action in the Midwest | $200,000 |
| Active Transportation Alliance Chicago, IL | for the Illinois Clean and Equitable Transportation Campaign | $100,000 |
| Active Transportation Alliance Chicago, IL | to support the Clean and Equitable Transportation Campaign coalition | $150,000 |
| Aeon Minneapolis, MN | to support operational and organizational development | $250,000 |
| African American Leadership Forum Minneapolis, MN | for general operating support | $100,000 |
| African Career Education and Resources Brooklyn Center, MN | for general operating support | $125,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Directors:
- Noa Staryk — Director, Board Chair
- Kathy Tunheim — Director, Board Vice Chair
- Erika Binger — Director & Treasurer
- Karen Coleman — Director
- Dana Anderson — Director
- Luther M Ragin — Director
- Meghan Brown — Director
- Perry Moriearty — Director
- Phyllis Goff — Director
Staff Leadership:
- Tonya Allen — President
- Jim Zappa — General Counsel
- Nichol Higdon — Vice President of Finance and Operations
- Sarah Christiansen — Director Strategic Climate Initiatives
- Jacques Hebert — Communications Director
- Anthony Lusiba — Director of Information Technology
The foundation employs 68 staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2024, the McKnight Foundation managed the incubation of the Groundbreak Coalition as an independent nonprofit organization. Groundbreak is committed to building wealth among historically underserved communities by providing access to capital for home purchases, business development, and commercial space development. The foundation supported this initiative through contracted consulting staff and legal resources as the coalition progressed toward independence.
McKnight Foundation Deploys $2.6 Million to Keep Minnesota Families HousedThe foundation also combined its annual Farmers Research Networks and Global Collaboration for Resilient Food Systems leadership team convenings in 2024 to consolidate learnings and plan support for agroecological transitions. These convenings brought together more than 100 individuals and organizations with experience and interest in participatory, inclusive approaches to food systems.
The foundation deployed $2.6 million to support Minnesota families facing housing instability.
McKnight Foundation Deploys $2.6 Million to Keep Minnesota Families HousedSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The McKnight Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on supporting initiatives that create positive change across five primary program areas: • **Arts & Culture** — Supporting individual artists and arts organizations • **Global Collaboration for Resilient Food Systems** — Advancing agroecological transitions and sustainable food systems through research networks and leadership convenings • **Midwest Climate & Energy** — Addressing climate and energy challenges in the Midwest region • **Neuroscience** — Supporting…
How do I apply for a grant from The McKnight Foundation?
The foundation made 833 grants in 2024. Grant sizes typically range from $1,000 to $10,000,000, with a median grant size of $80,000 and maximum grants reaching $9.6 million. **Active grant programs include:** • McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience: Neurobiology of Brain Disorders Award • McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience: Scholar Awards • Arts & Culture Grant Program • Midwest Climate and Energy Grant • Vibrant & Equitable Communities Grant • Virginia McKnight Binger Heart of Communi…
Where does The McKnight Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds primarily in Minnesota, the District of Columbia, and California. Its work extends internationally, with operations and staff presence in Bolivia, Tanzania, Canada, and Spain.
What size grants does The McKnight Foundation award?
In 2024, The McKnight Foundation awarded 790 grants totaling $145.9M — an average of about $185K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The McKnight Foundation's EIN?
The McKnight Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 41-0754835. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The McKnight Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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