PDF (211 KB) - McKnight Foundation

The McKnight Foundation: General Information
About the
Foundation
Founded in 1953 and independently
endowed by William and
Maude McKnight, the Minnesotabased
Foundation has assets of
approximately $1.9 billion and
granted about $96 million in
2010. McKnight concentrates
resources in the arts; education
and learning; the environment;
the region and communities;
neuroscience and crop research;
and select efforts in Southeast
Asia and East Africa. McKnight
subscribes to the Minnesota
Council on Foundations’ Principles
for Minnesota Grantmakers.
Mission
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The McKnight Foundation, a
Minnesota-based family foundation,
seeks to improve the quality
of life for present and future
generations. Through grantmaking,
coalition-building, and
encouragement of strategic policy
reform, we use our resources
to attend, unite, and empower
those we serve.
Contact
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The McKnight Foundation
710 South Second Street #400
Minneapolis, MN 55401
USA
tel: 612-333-4220
fax: 612-332-3833
info@mcknight.org
www.mcknight.org
The McKnight Foundation, a Minnesotabased
family foundation, seeks to improve
the quality of life for present and future
generations.
Purpose
The Foundation assists nonprofit organizations
and public agencies that strive to
• improve the quality of life for all people,
particularly those in need
• build and maintain vibrant communities
• enrich people’s lives through the arts
• encourage protection of the natural
environment
• promote research in selected fields
Historical Overview
The McKnight Foundation was established
in Minneapolis in 1953 by William L. McKnight
and his wife, Maude L. McKnight. One
of the early leaders of the 3M Company,
William McKnight rose from assistant bookkeeper
to president and CEO in a career that
spanned 59 years, from 1907 to 1966.
In 1974, shortly after his wife’s death,
William asked their only child, Virginia
McKnight Binger, to lead the Foundation.
Working with Russell Ewald as executive
director, Mrs. Binger established the formal
grantmaking program and community-based
approach that remain the Foundation’s
legacy today.
In 2009, Robert J. Struyk was elected chair
of the board of directors, succeeding Erika
L. Binger and becoming McKnight’s fifth
chair since it was established in 1953. For
more than 50 years, the Foundation’s primary
geographic focus has been the state of
Minnesota.
Program Areas
A 12-member board of directors establishes
McKnight’s grantmaking priorities. Periodically,
the board reviews its priorities and
may revise them. Currently, the Foundation
makes grants in the following seven areas:
Arts — to support an environment in which
artists are valued leaders in our community,
with access to the resources and opportunities
they need to succeed.
Education and Learning — to increase the
percentage of Twin Cities students reading at
grade level by the end of third grade, working
along a developmental continuum from
age three to third grade.
Environment — to restore the water quality
and resilience of the Mississippi River; and
to avoid catastrophic climate change and
help the Upper Midwest provide a significant
portion of the nation’s renewable energy.
Minnesota Initiative Foundations — to
make Greater Minnesota stronger and more
prosperous, we support six independent
Minnesota Initiative Foundations and other
select projects.
International — to promote strong rural
livelihoods in Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam,
Tanzania, and Uganda; and to promote food
security through applied crop research in
Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
Region and Communities — to encourage
effective development within the Twin Cities
region that creates livable communities and
opportunities for all to thrive.
Neuroscience Research — to support
research working to understand and cure
diseases of the brain and memory, through
three competitive annual awards.

2010
Grants Paid
By program area
Environment 28%
Children & Families* 20%
Region & Communities 20%
International 10%
Arts 9%
MN Initiative Foundations 8%
Neuroscience Research 4%
Other 1%
By geographic area
Twin Cities metro 35%
Greater Minnesota 18%
Minnesota, statewide 6%
U.S., outside Minnesota 23%
Global 18%
* Program discontinued in 2010
Who receives these grants?
For our region and communities and arts
programs, grants are awarded primarily to
Minnesota-based nonprofit organizations.
For our environment program, grants are
made mainly in the 10 states bordering the
Mississippi River and in the Twin Cities
region. Our research and applied science
program grants are either national (neuroscience)
or international (collaborative
crop research) in scope. Other international
giving is in East Africa and Southeast Asia,
although grantmaking in East Africa is
through requests for proposals only.
Foundations usually find they can be most
effective by concentrating their resources
within certain topics or geographic areas.
This inevitably means not supporting worthwhile
work in other areas. Generally,
McKnight does not support
• grants or scholarships to individuals
• festivals, celebration, or fundraisers; conferences
(except those sponsored by the
Foundation); or travel
• medical or health-related services, including
those for chemical dependency
• services for seniors
• services for people with disabilities
How do you apply for a grant?
McKnight uses an online application process
for most programs. Visit www.mcknight.org/
apply to get started. Only 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organizations or government agencies are
eligible.
McKnight program staff members review
grant requests and present recommendations
to the board of directors. The directors make
decisions at quarterly meetings in February,
May, August, and November.
More information about the Foundation is
available on our website at www.mcknight.
org.
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Questions?
Please visit www.mcknight.org
or call us at 612-333-4220.
September 2011