News Release: McKnight invests $8 million in early childhood education and effective youth development

June 30, 2005 - McKnight's report on second-quarter 2005 grantmaking.

The McKnight Foundation awarded 131 grants totaling $37,494,900 in its second-quarter 2005 grantmaking.

In support of early childhood education, McKnight's board committed a total of $3.7 million to four Minnesota organizations. Development Corporation for Children, Minneapolis, received $1.2 million over three years for operations and for the First Children's Finance Growth Fund, which will provide investments to improve operations in select early childhood businesses. St. Paul's Ready 4 K received $2.4 million over three years to educate and organize the community and policymakers, and to develop public policy that will improve the state's early childhood development system. Also in St. Paul, Lifetrack Resources was granted $75,000 for the Families Together preschool and home visiting program; and the Minnesota Association for the Education of Young Children received $65,000 over two years to improve the professional development system for early childcare providers.

"These organizations are powerful partners in the improvement of children's lives, and we're pleased to continue support of their important work," says Erika L. Binger, McKnight's board chair. "In recent years, they and others have steadily built momentum toward significant progress in Minnesota's early childhood education system. Now is a critical time to take advantage of, and build on, that energy."

To support out-of-school time programs for effective youth development, the board of directors approved a total of $4.3 million over a three-year period to 55 organizations. Among those funded are Peta Wakan Tipi, St. Paul, which received $15,000 for summer gardening and cultural programs for Native American youth; Community Partners with Youth, New Brighton, which received $120,000 over three years for year-round youth enrichment in the Moundsville and New Brighton communities; and Kwanzaa Community Church, Minneapolis, which received $26,000 to support the Girls Club (SISTAS) program. Funded program offerings include youth enrichment opportunities for recreation, art, gardening, community service, and career development; more than half also provide academic assistance.

A breakdown of all grant amounts by program area follows, with a small sampling of representative grants within each area. A detailed grants list, including contact information and full grant descriptions is available below.

ARTS—30 GRANTS / $6,099,000:
In support of organizations that produce and make widely accessible art of high quality, McKnight's board of directors approved $1 million over four years to Minneapolis's Walker Art Center, for expansion of the museum's facility. New York Mills Arts Retreat, whose program offerings including gallery exhibits, music concerts, film festivals, literary events, dance classes, a sculpture park, and educational outreach, received $40,000 over two years in operating support. In St. Paul, COMPAS, Inc., received $150,000 over three years to continue its work as a community arts organization that operates statewide.

CHILDREN AND FAMILIES—71 GRANTS / $8,946,800:
To provide children and families with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary for children to thrive and transition successfully to adulthood, the board approved $250,000 in capital support for a new facility for St. Paul's Chicanos Latinos Unidos En Servicios. Also in St. Paul, Neighborhood House, a multiservice organization serving new immigrants, received $100,000 for a new building that will help expand operations. Rainbow Families, a Minneapolis organization that provides parent education and family support, was granted $40,000 over two years.

ENVIRONMENT—9 GRANTS / $21,030,000:
In funding to protect and restore the Mississippi River, McKnight's directors approved $175,000 over two years for to promote better river management policies through American Rivers in Washington, D.C. The Foundation for Sustainable Development of Austin, Texas received $20,000 for the Lower Mississippi Valley Sustainable Forestry Outreach Project. The board also approved $105,000 to the Mississippi River Basin Alliance in Minneapolis for an alliance of organizations and individuals working to protect the Mississippi River.

INTERNATIONAL—14 GRANTS / $820,600:
In grantmaking for health services and human and economic development in Southeast Asia, McKnight's board approved $120,000 over two years to Netherlands Development Corporation of Hanoi for a training and income-generation project for minority women in Vietnam. Refugees International of Washington, D.C., received $50,000 for development projects for refugee returnees in Cambodia and Laos, and for development work for ethnic communities in Cambodia. And in funding for women's economic empowerment and family well-being in parts of Africa, McKnight's board approved $60,000 over two years for Medical Missionaries of Mary in Masaka, Uganda, for a program that teaches organic farming techniques to AIDS orphans in Uganda.

REGION AND COMMUNITIES—7 GRANTS / $598,500:
To encourage efficient development in the region that creates livable communities and opportunities for all to thrive, the McKnight board approved $200,000 for the St. Paul Riverfront Corporation, to support general operations and implementation of the St. Paul on the Mississippi Development Framework. Also in St. Paul, Minnesotans for an Energy-Efficient Economy received $150,000 over two years to promote energy policies that advance smart growth development. To help enable owners of manufactured homes to own their land, Northcountry Development Foundation of Minneapolis received $150,000 over two years.

ABOUT THE MCKNIGHT FOUNDATION
Founded in 1953 and endowed by William L. McKnight and Maude L. McKnight, the Foundation has assets of approximately $2 billion and granted about $85 million in 2004. Mr. McKnight was one of the early leaders of the 3M Company, although the Foundation is independent of 3M. For more information about the Foundation or these grants, please visit our website at www.mcknight.org.


Contact
Tim Hanrahan, Communications Production Manager, 612-333-4220