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Historical Overview
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The McKnight Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life for present and future generations through grantmaking, coalition-building, and encouragement of strategic policy reform. The Foundation makes grants in support of children and families, the arts, the environment, region and communities, and select international and scientific research efforts. For more than 50 years, its primary geographic focus has been the state of Minnesota.
The Foundation was established in Minneapolis in 1953 by William L. McKnight and his wife, Maude L. McKnight. One of the early leaders of 3M, William L. McKnight rose from assistant bookkeeper to president and CEO in a career that spanned 59 years, from 1907 to 1966. The McKnight Foundation, however, is an independent private philanthropic organization; it is not affiliated with the 3M Company.
In 1974, shortly after his wife's death, William L. McKnight 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 the Foundation's fifth chair since it was established in 1953.
Over the past 55 years, McKnight has granted about $1.7 billion. The Minnesota-based Foundation had assets of approximately $1.6 billion and granted about $99 million in 2008.
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William L. McKnight
2007 Grantmaking
By program area
Children & Families 26%
Region & Communities 23%
Environment 15%
Arts 11%
MN Initiative Foundations 10%
Research 8%*
International 4%*
Other 3%
By geographic area
Twin Cities Area 55%
Greater Minnesota 8%
Statewide 12%
Nationwide 11%
International 14%
* Note: These numbers reflect 2007 program divisions. Following a program reorganization in 2008, funding for collaborative crop research was shifted from Research to International.
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