Emma, a first-grader at Bay View Elementary School, sits down close to Elaine, a 78-year-old in the school library. Nearby, Emma’s classmate, Denim, pairs up with Ron, a 66-year-old retiree. It’s a Reading Pals day at the Proctor-area school, joining senior community members with children in grades K-3 to read together during the 30-minute lunch …
In 2015, Cedar Summit Farm in New Prague closed its doors. It was the only certified 100 percent grass-fed dairy producer in the state. Kendra Rasmusson, originally from the New Prague area, had recently moved back to the area from the Twin Cities with her husband Paul. They were seeking a place with a stronger …
At the McKnight Foundation, we envision a Minnesota where all residents have a voice in determining our shared future. As part of our goal to build a vibrant future for everyone, we are working with our partners to strengthen democratic participation statewide—building people power, engaging diverse communities, and nurturing movements that advance justice and equity. …
As we celebrate Black History Month, McKnight President Tonya Allen says it is time to make a pledge to support Black people’s long-held aspirations to L.O.V.E.—live, own, vote and excel—freely, in an op-ed for The Hill. It boils down to this: Value people for their full humanity. Take the time to understand the Black community’s …
On December 6, 2021, just weeks after the McKnight Foundation announced our commitment to achieve net zero across our endowment, Tonya Allen joined the Council on Foundations and other leaders to talk about how foundations can look beyond grantmaking to more fully serve their missions through their endowment investments. Kathleen Enright, president and CEO of …
Tonya Allen joins Kate Kelly and Jordana Green on C-Speak Minnesota. Listen as they discuss Philanthropy and Private Sector Partnerships. Public trust in institutions across sectors has plummeted, the nature of truth has come into question. Racial disparities, born of the institutional racism that is part of our nation’s legacy, persist today. Listen as they …
The climate crisis has announced itself, loudly and with a vengeance. Drought, floods, and fires are already upending our economy and daily life, and scientists across the globe are telling us this is just a prelude of catastrophe to come. At no moment too soon, the U.S. Congress is locked in tense negotiations over a …
Tonya talks her passion for racial equity, what motivates her, and her move to Minnesota on The Black Fundraisers’ Podcast’s 5-part series ‘Exploring Racial Justice in Philanthropy’ with Kia Croom. Listen to THE EPISODE
Dolkar has led significant climate initiatives in Minnesota and brings considerable public policy experience in transportation, buildings, and agriculture.
Tonya Allen is president of the McKnight Foundation, a Minnesota-based family foundation that seeks to advance a more just, creative, and abundant future where people and planet thrive. McKnight annually grants about $100 million in support of climate solutions in the Midwest, an equitable and inclusive Minnesota, the arts, neuroscience, and international crop research. Allen …