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What We Fund
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Founded in 1953 and endowed by William L. McKnight and Maude L. McKnight, the Foundation initiated formal grantmaking in 1974 when Virginia McKnight Binger, only child of the founders, became its first president. The Foundation fulfills a dual role as a responsive grantmaker supporting grassroots action, and a strategic grantmaker encouraging system and policy reform. The Foundation had assets of approximately $1.6 billion and granted about $99 million in 2008.
We support efforts to strengthen communities, families, and individuals, particularly those in need. We contribute to the arts, encourage preservation of our natural environment, and promote research in selected fields. We continually explore innovative ideas to advance our goals in partnership with those we serve.
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Basic Grantee Requirements
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To be eligible for a grant from The McKnight Foundation, an organization must be classified by the Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization that is not a private foundation. We do not use fiscal agents.
Units of government may apply for funding for special projects that complement customary public functions. However, we will not fund activities that are traditionally the responsibility of government.
Please note the Foundation's primary geographic focus in grantmaking is the state of Minnesota. With very few exceptions, we do not provide funding outside Minnesota.
We provide planning, operating, capital, and project grants.
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Lobbying Regulations
The Foundation may consider funding requests for efforts such as advocacy to improve the policies and administrative rules of executive, judicial, and administrative agencies; information-sharing that is neutral, nonpartisan, and fully describes both sides of a pending legislative issue; and policy research and education.
As required by the Internal Revenue Code, the Foundation will not fund attempts to influence specific pending or proposed legislation, including referenda, local ordinances, and resolutions. This prohibition generally includes direct lobbying of legislators and other government officials with respect to specific legislation and mass media advertising campaigns aimed at influencing specific legislation.
If you have questions about the acceptability of a proposed activity, please review the detailed provisions describing prohibited activities included in Section 4945(e) of the Internal Revenue Code and Treasury Regulations Section 53.4945-2.
More Information:
Frequently Asked Questions: Grantmaking
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