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McKnight Foundation

Annual Giving
$145.0M
Grant Range
$10K - $0.5M
Decision Time
3mo

McKnight Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $145 million (2024 - highest in foundation history)
  • Total Assets: $2.66 billion (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed; however, proposals submitted after talking with staff and being encouraged to apply have a high percentage of getting funded
  • Decision Time: 3 months (target timeframe)
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $500,000+ (median: $200,000)
  • Geographic Focus: Primary focus on Minnesota; select programs extend to Midwest, national, and international
  • Number of Grants: Approximately 500 grants per year

Contact Details

Address: 710 S 2nd St, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401-2290

Phone: (612) 333-4220

Website: https://www.mcknight.org

Email: Contact information available through program-specific pages on website

Pre-Application Support: Foundation strongly encourages calling program staff at (612) 333-4220 before applying to discuss project alignment

Overview

Founded in 1953 by William L. McKnight (former leader of 3M) and his wife Maude L. McKnight, the McKnight Foundation is a private Minnesota-based family foundation with assets of approximately $2.66 billion. The foundation advances a more just, creative, and abundant future where people and planet thrive, with deep commitment to advancing climate solutions in the Midwest, building an equitable and inclusive Minnesota, and supporting the arts and neuroscience. McKnight granted over $145 million in 2024, their highest annual distribution in the foundation's 71-year history, with a charitable payout exceeding 7 percent of their endowment. The foundation is led by President Tonya Allen, who heads an all-women, majority people-of-color senior leadership team. Fourth-generation members of the McKnight family remain active on the board of trustees. In 2023, giving was distributed: 36% to Twin Cities Metro, 24% to Greater Minnesota, 17% to Midwest states, 15% to USA outside Minnesota, and 8% internationally.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

1. Arts & Culture (Minnesota only; 159 grants totaling $11M in 2024)

  • McKnight Artist & Culture Bearer Fellowships: $25,000 unrestricted cash awards to mid-career Minnesota artists across 15 disciplines (approximately $2.8 million annually total)
    • Six fellowships for visual artists
    • Four fellowships for musicians
    • Six fellowships for dancers and choreographers (three each)
    • Four fellowships for writers (alternating years between creative prose and poetry/spoken word)
    • Two fellowships each for various other disciplines
  • Organizational Support: Grants to organizations providing support structures for working artists and culture bearers
  • Rolling basis for organizational grants; annual competitive process for artist fellowships with mid-March deadlines

2. Vibrant & Equitable Communities (Minnesota only; 142 grants in 2023)

  • Focus on fostering shared power, prosperity, and participation
  • Operating and project grants available
  • Does NOT fund basic social services, health services, pre-K-12 education, or direct service provision
  • Focuses on advocacy, organizing, policy change, and capacity building
  • Rolling basis applications

3. Midwest Climate & Energy

  • Systems change approach addressing structural racism as root cause of climate crisis
  • Focus on shifting mental models, changing power dynamics, engaging communities, and advancing transformative policies
  • Geographic focus on Midwest region
  • Rolling basis applications

4. Global Collaboration for Resilient Food Systems (CRFS)

  • Supports participatory, collaborative research for agroecological food systems transformation in 10 countries in Africa and South America
  • Invitation-only: No open calls; closed application process with occasional targeted calls
  • Only invited proposals reviewed

5. The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience

  • Independent charitable organization funding brain disease research
  • McKnight Scholar Awards: $75,000 per year for three years (ten awards annually) - for early-career neuroscientists
  • Neurobiology of Brain Disorders Awards: $100,000 per year for three years (four awards annually, totaling $1.2 million)
  • McKnight Brain Research Foundation Awards: Up to two 3-year awards of $750,000 each for advanced Assistant Professors and recently appointed Associate Professors
  • Annual competitive application cycles with summer deadlines

Priority Areas

  • Systems change over direct services: Advocacy, organizing, policy change, and capacity building
  • Climate justice: Addressing structural racism as root cause of climate crisis
  • Equitable community development: Shared power, prosperity, and participation
  • Artist support: Individual artists and culture bearers, particularly Black, Indigenous, Asian, and Latinx artists, and those in rural areas
  • Sustainable food systems: Agroecological research and participatory approaches
  • Brain health: Innovative neuroscience research on diseases of the brain and behavior

What They Don't Fund

  • Legislative/lobbying activities: Attempts to influence specific pending or proposed legislation, referenda, local ordinances, and resolutions (IRS requirement)
  • Government responsibilities: Generally will not fund activities traditionally the sole responsibility of government (though government entities including Tribal Nations may apply for unique programs/projects)
  • Basic social services: Direct service provision, health services
  • Pre-K-12 education: Within the Vibrant & Equitable Communities program
  • Scholarships: Individual scholarships not funded
  • Religious activities: Activities with religious purposes
  • Organizations in formation: Generally do not fund organizations at the very beginning of their formation
  • Out-of-scope inquiries: Projects clearly outside stated program areas
  • PI salaries for neuroscience awards: Neuroscience award funds cannot be used for salary of principal or co-principal investigators

Governance and Leadership

President

Tonya Allen (joined 2021) - Heads an all-women, majority people-of-color senior leadership team

Allen's guiding principles: "None of us is smarter than all of us" and "power is organized people and organized money"

Allen on the foundation's approach: "We have an extraordinary opportunity to work side by side with our partners—community activists, corporate executives, public system leaders, and nonprofit champions—to advance collective leadership that will accelerate the speed, scope, and scale of impact."

Board Leadership

Ted Staryk - Board President

Noa Staryk - Former Board Chair (at time of Allen's hiring), who stated: "With her integrity, her brilliance, and her proven track record, we have complete confidence in Tonya as a trusted, capable, impactful leader who will move our mission forward."

Fourth-generation members of the McKnight family continue to be active on the board of trustees.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

CRITICAL FIRST STEP: Contact program staff before applying by calling (612) 333-4220. This is described as "the single most important step." Proposals submitted after talking with staff and being encouraged to apply have a high percentage of getting funded.

For Most Programs (Arts & Culture organizational grants, Vibrant & Equitable Communities, Midwest Climate & Energy):

  1. Call (612) 333-4220 to discuss your project with a program director or program officer
  2. If staff determines McKnight may consider funding, they will provide instructions for submitting a proposal
  3. Preview the application form (available in PDF or Word format)
  4. Submit application through online portal
  5. One-step application process
  6. Applications accepted on rolling basis

For Artist Fellowships:

  • Annual competitive application cycle
  • Full application deadline typically mid-March (exact 3:00 pm CST)
  • Application portal closes precisely at deadline time
  • Administered through partner organizations (varies by discipline)

For Global Food Systems:

  • Invitation-only application process
  • Occasional targeted calls for specific topics

For Neuroscience Awards:

  • Annual competitive cycles
  • Letters of Intent open late July (for Neurobiology of Brain Disorders Awards)
  • Full applications typically due in August
  • Applications submitted through online portal

Decision Timeline

  • Target timeframe: 3 months from application to decision and payment distribution
  • Within two weeks of submission: Staff will be in touch with next steps
  • Important timing note: Applications submitted by September 1 recommended if current calendar year funding is critical
  • Fourth quarter applications: May take additional time due to year-end priorities

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, the foundation strongly emphasizes that contacting program staff before applying dramatically increases success rates. According to grantee feedback: "Proposals submitted AFTER talking with staff (and being encouraged to apply) have a high percentage of getting funded."

The foundation makes approximately 500 grants per year across all programs, giving mainly to well-established organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly specified. Applicants should contact program staff to discuss reapplication after an unsuccessful submission.

Application Success Factors

1. Pre-Application Contact is Critical

The foundation's own guidance states that calling (612) 333-4220 to discuss your project before applying is "the single most important step." This is not optional for success—grantee reviews consistently emphasize that proposals submitted after staff encouragement have a high funding rate, while unsolicited proposals have much lower success.

2. Focus on Systems Change, Not Services

McKnight explicitly does not fund basic social services or direct service provision. Successful applications focus on:

  • Advocacy and organizing
  • Policy change
  • Capacity building
  • Addressing root causes and systemic issues

3. Understand Their Equity Lens

Under President Tonya Allen's leadership, the foundation has centered racial equity across all programs. Successful applications should demonstrate understanding of how structural racism intersects with their issue area, particularly for Climate & Energy and Communities programs.

4. Minnesota Connection is Essential for Most Programs

Arts & Culture, Minnesota Initiative Funds, and Vibrant & Equitable Communities programs are limited to Minnesota organizations. Only Midwest Climate & Energy, Global Food Systems, and Neuroscience programs extend beyond Minnesota.

5. Alignment with Specific Strategies

The foundation has clearly articulated strategies within each program area. Review program-specific strategies on their website and demonstrate how your work aligns with their current approach. Generic proposals that don't show understanding of McKnight's specific framework are unlikely to succeed.

6. Streamlined Application Process

According to grantee feedback, McKnight's application takes "substantially less time than other applications" and the foundation has streamlined its process. Don't over-complicate your submission—be clear and concise.

7. Relationship Building

The foundation values partnerships and describes working "side by side" with grantees. Demonstrate collaborative approach and openness to shared learning.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Pre-application contact is non-negotiable: Call (612) 333-4220 before submitting. This single step dramatically increases success rates and prevents wasted effort on misaligned applications.

  • Systems change over services: McKnight funds advocacy, organizing, policy change, and capacity building—not direct service provision. Frame your work in terms of addressing root causes and systemic issues.

  • Equity is central: Under President Tonya Allen's leadership, racial equity and addressing structural racism are woven throughout all programs. Your application must demonstrate understanding of these intersections.

  • Geographic alignment matters: Most programs are Minnesota-only. Only Midwest Climate & Energy, Global Food Systems, and Neuroscience extend beyond state borders.

  • Timing strategy: Submit by September 1 for current-year funding consideration; allow 3-month decision timeframe; avoid fourth quarter if timing is critical.

  • Partnership approach: McKnight values "collective leadership" and working side-by-side with grantees. Emphasize collaborative approaches and openness to shared learning.

  • Well-established organizations preferred: The foundation generally makes grants to established organizations, not those in early formation stages. Demonstrate organizational capacity and track record.

References

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