Minnesota-based McKnight Foundation is a private family foundation funding climate, arts, communities, food systems, and neuroscience. It combines grantmaking with convening, research, policy, and mission-aligned investing.
McKnight works toward a fairer, more creative, and more sustainable future by supporting people, communities, and systems that help both humanity and the planet flourish.
The foundation was established in Minneapolis in 1953 by William L. McKnight and Maude L. McKnight. William McKnight was an early 3M leader, though the foundation states it operates independently from 3M. In 1974, after Maude McKnight’s death, their daughter Virginia McKnight Binger assumed leadership. Working with executive director Russell Ewald, she helped formalize the foundation’s grantmaking and community-based approach. The organization describes itself as a multigenerational family foundation, with fourth-generation family members continuing to serve on the board.
McKnight describes itself as more than a grantmaker, also acting as a convener, thought leader, institutional investor, and collaborator. Its toolkit includes grants, research, policy work, strategic communications, collaboration, and investments. Application access varies by program. Arts & Culture uses a one-step rolling application process, while the Global Collaboration for Resilient Food Systems program is primarily by invitation, with occasional thematic open calls. The foundation states that most applicants are tax-exempt nonprofits, though some exceptions may apply depending on the program. It also says it will not respond to inquiries outside its stated program interests.
McKnight reports $3.41 billion in grants since 1953 and support for 4,032 organizations. Its current work spans Minnesota arts and communities, Midwest climate action, neuroscience, and resilient food systems internationally. The foundation also maintains a long-running community recognition program, now called the Virginia McKnight Binger Heart of Community Honor, which has recognized 319 people since 1985. On the financial side, it reported approximately $2.584 billion in 2024 net assets.
The foundation highlights partnerships with grantee organizations, philanthropic peers, civic and corporate leaders, and community members. Examples named on its website include the Minnesota Council on Foundations, Regional Arts Councils, Forecast Public Art, and research and farming partners in its food systems work. In governance and learning, it also references the Center for Effective Philanthropy’s grantee perception reporting.
McKnight presents itself as an independent Minnesota-based family foundation with governance by a board of up to 12, including both family descendants and community directors. The board has four standing committees: Audit/Finance, Executive, Governance, and Investment. The foundation says it uses a broad set of tools beyond grants, including mission-aligned and impact investing. Its official materials also describe a “proximity” approach, emphasizing close relationships with the people and communities nearest to the issues it funds.
From the audited 2024 financial statements, McKnight reported total assets of $2.712 billion, net assets of $2.584 billion, and program expenses of $172.614 million. The notes describe the organization as a 501(c)(3) private foundation under IRC Section 509(a), subject to the private foundation distribution requirement. The statements also note board-designated grantmaking funds and confirm no donor-restricted net assets at year-end 2024.
The current website also states that McKnight granted over $150 million in 2025, describing that as the highest giving level in its history. Because that figure is presented on the website and the audited statements cover 2024, the profile above uses the audited 2024 grant funding total for consistency in the financial fields.