News Release: McKnight approves over $63 million in third quarter of 2010, including support for housing, regional arts councils, and climate change

September 27, 2010 - McKnight's third-quarter approved grants.

The McKnight Foundation awarded 111 grants totaling $63,732,000 in its third-quarter 2010 grantmaking.

Affordable housing. Of the $63.7 million total, $22.6 million went to five organizations working to improve affordable housing options. The Corporation for Supportive Housing received $500,000 over two years to respond to increased rates of chronic homelessness in the Twin Cities. Duluth LISC received a two-year grant of $300,000 to support its integrated housing strategies. Family Housing Fund received $11.1 million and Greater Minnesota Housing Fund received $10.45 million, both over three years and both for operating, program, and project support. And Twin Cities Habitat for Humanity received $250,000 over two years to support its housing advocacy program.

"As the housing market slowly recovers, our need for affordable housing continues to grow," says Robert J. Struyk, McKnight's board chair. "In this economy, the efforts of these organizations, working to provide high-quality affordable housing to those in need, are vital."

Regional arts councils. McKnight's board also approved a commitment of $1.8 million over three years to support individual artists statewide through Minnesota's 11 regional arts councils. Although the Foundation has supported the arts councils since 1981, this marks the first funding round aligned with McKnight's grantmaking goal to support an environment in which individual artists are valued leaders in our community, with access to the resources and opportunities they need to succeed.

Climate change. In support of efforts to mitigate catastrophic climate change, the board of directors approved two multiyear grants. The ClimateWorks Foundation, which advances low-carbon policies worldwide, received $26 million over two years. RE-AMP, a network of nonprofits and foundations working on climate change and energy policy in eight Midwestern states, received $3 million over three years.
 
ABOUT THE MCKNIGHT FOUNDATION

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. Founded in 1953 and independently endowed by William and Maude McKnight, the Minnesota-based Foundation had assets of approximately $1.8 billion and granted about $98 million in 2009.