Funding search · EIN 410754835 · Minneapolis, MN

The McKnight Foundation

Name: The McKnight Foundation grants, 2020–2024
Creator: PaperOrbit
License: https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/exempt-organization-public-disclosure-and-availability-requirements

A private foundation (files IRS Form 990-PF). Most private foundations do not take unsolicited applications; the route in is usually a program officer.

4,463
grants reported: $656.9M
total given: 2020–2024
filing years: $75,000
median grant

Based on grants this organization reported to the IRS for tax years 2020–2024. This is what they filed, not a complete record of their giving, and recent years may be incomplete because filings lag.

What they fund

minnesota climate community build capacity artists through midwest

Funder website ↗Full IRS filings ↗How this is built Report an error

Funding pattern

What this funder pays for, at what size, and how to position adjacent work. Read from their filings, with every number checked against the record.

Where the money goes

Midwest climate policy, decarbonization, and clean energy implementation
Twin Cities affordable housing, homeownership, and community wealth building
Arts and artist fellowships in Minnesota, including capital projects
International agroecology and farmer-research networks (West Africa, Andes)
Civic engagement and democracy work in MN, MI, WI, OH
Neuroscience awards, routed through the McKnight Endowment Fund

Typical grant

The median grant is $75,000 and half of everything falls between $30,000 and $125,000, so most of the portfolio is modest, multi-purpose support. The seven-figure checks go almost entirely to funds and intermediaries (GroundBreak Coalition at the Minneapolis Foundation, Energy Foundation, Greater Minnesota Housing Fund, Family Housing Fund) rather than to project teams. Repeat giving is heavy: the same regional intermediaries, community foundations, and policy shops appear year after year, sometimes twice in the same year.

Their words

Phrases from their own grant descriptions, worth speaking back to them.

“for general operating support”
“equitably decarbonize the Midwest”
“equity-centered”
“capacity building”
“underserved communities”

Positioning adjacent work

Tie research to Midwest state policy implementation, especially IRA federal funds deployment and building or transportation decarbonization.
Ask $200,000 to $500,000 for a defined body of work; reserve seven-figure framing for pooled funds and intermediaries.
Name the affected communities and who leads the work; they fund BIPOC-led and community-governed structures explicitly.
For agriculture, mirror their farmer-research network and seed systems language rather than generic food security framing.

Worth knowing: Roughly two-thirds of grants go to Minnesota recipients, and the DC and California addresses are mostly national intermediaries funded to work in the Midwest, not to work nationally. The Wyoming, Utah, and Washington community foundation grants are family-directed donor giving and unrelated to programmatic strategy; neuroscience money moves through the foundation's own endowment fund rather than to outside labs directly.

14 grants matching “catalyzing” · $1.2M

$200,000
Social Impact Fund · Los Angeles, CA · 2024
to recruit clean energy workers in Detroit and catalyze a national clean energy jobs movement led by local and regional partners
$40,000
Uganda Martyrs University-Acalise · 2024
Inclusive Learning, Co-creation and Sharing of knowledge on Transitioning to Agroecology catalyzed by access to markets
$20,000
African Economic Development Solutions · St Paul, MN · 2024
to plan and pilot programming and build new facility for increased artistic opportunities for African immigrant and next generation artists so they can catalyze the leadership, power, and creativity of artists and cultu… read allto plan and pilot programming and build new facility for increased artistic opportunities for African immigrant and next generation artists so they can catalyze the leadership, power, and creativity of artists and culture bearers less
$120,000
Umu-Acalise · 2023
Inclusive Learning, Co-creation and Sharing of knowledge on Transitioning to Agroecology catalyzed by access to markets
$20,000
African Economic Development Solutions · St Paul, MN · 2023
To plan and pilot programming and build new facility for increased artistic opportunities for African immigrant and next generation artists so they can catalyze the leadership, power, and creativity of artists and cultu… read allTo plan and pilot programming and build new facility for increased artistic opportunities for African immigrant and next generation artists so they can catalyze the leadership, power, and creativity of artists and culture bearers less
$150,000
Honor the Earth · Ponsford, MN · 2022
To catalyze a Just Transition on the White Earth reservation and region through transforming systems to access necessary infrastructure and capital for work in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and local microe… read allTo catalyze a Just Transition on the White Earth reservation and region through transforming systems to access necessary infrastructure and capital for work in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and local microenterprises less
$9,000
Center for Earth Energy and Democracy · Minneapolis, MN · 2022
To support an inclusive process to assess how a land trust led by Black and Indigenous people can catalyze a transition to a regenerative economy, increase wealth access and intergenerational land stability
$150,000
Honor the Earth · Callaway, MN · 2021
to catalyze a Just Transition on the White Earth reservation and region through transforming systems to access necessary infrastructure and capital for work in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and local microe… read allto catalyze a Just Transition on the White Earth reservation and region through transforming systems to access necessary infrastructure and capital for work in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and local microenterprises less
$150,000
Honor the Earth · Callaway, MN · 2021
to catalyze a Just Transition on the White Earth reservation and region through transforming systems to access necessary infrastructure and capital for work in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and local microe… read allto catalyze a Just Transition on the White Earth reservation and region through transforming systems to access necessary infrastructure and capital for work in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and local microenterprises less
$76,000
Center for Earth Energy and Democracy · Minneapolis, MN · 2021
to support an inclusive process to assess how a land trust led by Black and Indigenous people can catalyze a transition to a regenerative economy, increase wealth access and intergenerational land stability
$76,000
Center for Earth Energy and Democracy · Minneapolis, MN · 2021
to support an inclusive process to assess how a land trust led by Black and Indigenous people can catalyze a transition to a regenerative economy, increase wealth access and intergenerational land stability
$50,000
Closeknit · Minneapolis, MN · 2021
to catalyze systems change for youth facing homelessness by investing in their relationships with the caring adults already in their lives, removing systemic barriers that devalue vibrant informal support networks, espe… read allto catalyze systems change for youth facing homelessness by investing in their relationships with the caring adults already in their lives, removing systemic barriers that devalue vibrant informal support networks, especially in BIPOC communities less
$50,000
Closeknit · Minneapolis, MN · 2021
to catalyze systems change for youth facing homelessness by investing in their relationships with the caring adults already in their lives, removing systemic barriers that devalue vibrant informal support networks, espe… read allto catalyze systems change for youth facing homelessness by investing in their relationships with the caring adults already in their lives, removing systemic barriers that devalue vibrant informal support networks, especially in BIPOC communities less
$60,000
Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funders · Santa Barbara, CA · 2020
To support the Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems Funder's work catalyzing action and collaboration among members and partners, and for general operating support

Top recipients

Repeat recipients are the strongest signal of whether a funder has an open door or quietly re-funds the same organizations.

United States Energy Foundation11 grants · $57.2M
The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience19 grants · $22.1M
Youthprise11 grants · $17.8M
Minneapolis Foundation8 grants · $16.6M
Greater Minnesota Housing Fund11 grants · $12.7M
The Minneapolis Foundation33 grants · $11.1M
Family Housing Fund8 grants · $10.5M
Local Initiatives Support Corporation21 grants · $9.2M
Propel Nonprofits26 grants · $8.4M
New Venture Fund20 grants · $8.0M

Giving over time

$99.6M

2020

$191.0M

2021

$115.3M

2022

$108.2M

2023

$142.8M

2024

Grant history

The 100 largest of 4,463 grants.

$10.0M
Minneapolis Foundation · Minneapolis, MN · 2024
for the GroundBreak Coalition special purpose fund
$9.6M
United States Energy Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2024
to equitably decarbonize the Midwest by supporting powerful and inclusive coalitions with the ability to transform markets and the economy through state action in seven states
$9.6M
United States Energy Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2023
To build and support the Midwest network of advocates in pursuit of ambitious and equitable climate action
$9.6M
United States Energy Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2022
To build and support the Midwest network of advocates in pursuit of ambitious and equitable climate action
$9.6M
United States Energy Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2021
to equitably decarbonize the Midwest power, transportation, and building sectors
$9.6M
United States Energy Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2021
to equitably decarbonize the Midwest power, transportation, and building sectors
$8.7M
United States Energy Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2020
To accelerate decarbonization of the Midwest power, transportation, and buildings sectors
$5.0M
Minneapolis Foundation · Minneapolis, MN · 2024
for the GroundBreak Coalition special purpose fund
$3.4M
Youthprise · Minneapolis, MN · 2021
for general operating support
$3.4M
Youthprise · Minneapolis, MN · 2021
for general operating support
$2.6M
The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience · Minneapolis, MN · 2023
For award programs supporting research in neuroscience
$2.5M
Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota · Saint Paul, MN · 2023
For a recoverable grant to expedite deployment of newly appropriated Homeownership Investments Grant program ($40M) and leverage expanded resources in Workforce & Affordable Homeownership Program, Challenge Program ($60… read allFor a recoverable grant to expedite deployment of newly appropriated Homeownership Investments Grant program ($40M) and leverage expanded resources in Workforce & Affordable Homeownership Program, Challenge Program ($60M), and Housing Infrastructure Bonds less
$2.5M
Youthprise · Minneapolis, MN · 2022
For general operating support
$2.5M
Propel Nonprofits · Minneapolis, MN · 2021
for the Seeding Cultural Treasures Initiative
$2.5M
Propel Nonprofits · Minneapolis, MN · 2021
for the Seeding Cultural Treasures Initiative
$2.5M
Greater Minnesota Housing Fund · Saint Paul, MN · 2020
For general operating support
$2.2M
Minnesota Home Ownership Center · Saint Paul, MN · 2024
to bridge capacity needs and scale the deployment capacity of GroundBreak Coalition supported down payment assistance products
$2.1M
The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience · Minneapolis, MN · 2022
For an awards program supporting research in neuroscience
$2.0M
The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience · Minneapolis, MN · 2021
for an awards program supporting research in neuroscience
$2.0M
The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience · Minneapolis, MN · 2021
for an awards program supporting research in neuroscience
$2.0M
Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund · Washington Dc, DC · 2024
for general operating support
$2.0M
Rewiring America · Washington, DC · 2024
to advance equitable electrification in the Midwest through place-based demonstration projects and policy development
$2.0M
The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience · Minneapolis, MN · 2024
for award programs supporting research in neuroscience
$2.0M
New Venture Fund · Washington, DC · 2023
To support grantmaking and technical assistance for BIPOC organizing on climate and clean energy in the Midwest
$2.0M
The Minneapolis Foundation · Minneapolis, MN · 2023
For McKnight's Donor Advised Fund
$2.0M
Greater Minnesota Housing Fund · St Paul, MN · 2022
For general operating support
$2.0M
New Venture Fund · Washington, DC · 2022
To support grantmaking and technical assistance for BIPOC organizing on climate and clean energy in the Midwest
$2.0M
V3 Sports · Minneapolis, MN · 2022
To support phase one of the V3 Sports Center capital campaign in north Minneapolis
$2.0M
Advancing Equity Coalition · Minneapolis, MN · 2021
to support the Regional Cultural Treasures special purpose fund
$2.0M
Greater Minnesota Housing Fund · St Paul, MN · 2021
for general operating support
$2.0M
Greater Minnesota Housing Fund · St Paul, MN · 2021
for general operating support
$2.0M
The Minneapolis Foundation · Minneapolis, MN · 2021
to support the Regional Cultural Treasures special purpose fund
$2.0M
Family Housing Fund · Minneapolis, MN · 2020
For general operating support
$2.0M
Northwest Minnesota Foundation · Bemidji, MN · 2020
For general operating support
$2.0M
Youthprise · Minneapolis, MN · 2023
For one-time strategic capital
$1.9M
Youthprise · Minneapolis, MN · 2023
For general operating support, and one-time project support to assist Youthprise in business model planning
$1.9M
Youthprise · Minneapolis, MN · 2020
For general operating support
$1.9M
Community Foundation of Jackson Hole · Jackson, WY · 2024
for family-directed giving
$1.9M
Community Foundation of Jackson Hole · Jackson, WY · 2022
For family-directed giving
$1.8M
Greater Minnesota Housing Fund · St Paul, MN · 2024
for general operating support
$1.8M
Greater Minnesota Housing Fund · St Paul, MN · 2022
To advance the creation/preservation of affordable housing for urban, rural, and Native communities by mobilizing capital, building public will, increasing community engagement, empowering local leaders, creating housin… read allTo advance the creation/preservation of affordable housing for urban, rural, and Native communities by mobilizing capital, building public will, increasing community engagement, empowering local leaders, creating housing solutions, and advancing policy less
$1.7M
Community Foundation of Jackson Hole · Jackson, WY · 2023
For family-directed giving
$1.5M
Brick By Brick Training & Development Corporation · Minneapolis, MN · 2024
to purchase a 400+ single family rental portfolio of properties and equitably reposition them for homeownership
$1.5M
Region Nine Development Commission · Mankato, MN · 2024
to provide technical assistance to cities, counties, and towns in Greater Minnesota applying for federal and state funding and deploying climate and clean energy projects
$1.5M
The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience · Minneapolis, MN · 2024
for award programs supporting research in neuroscience
$1.5M
Youthprise · Minneapolis, MN · 2024
for general operating support
$1.5M
Minnesota Community Land Trust Coalition · Duluth, MN · 2023
To create a 0% loan fund to leverage state appropriations and support the 13 MN Community Land Trusts with acquisition, pre-development, and development costs associated with creating perpetually affordable homes across… read allTo create a 0% loan fund to leverage state appropriations and support the 13 MN Community Land Trusts with acquisition, pre-development, and development costs associated with creating perpetually affordable homes across Minnesota less
$1.5M
Family Housing Fund · Minneapolis, MN · 2022
For general operating support
$1.5M
Family Housing Fund · Minneapolis, MN · 2022
To build a housing system that ensures housing access, stability, and affordability for everyone
$1.5M
The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience · Minneapolis, MN · 2022
For an awards program supporting research in neuroscience
$1.5M
Family Housing Fund · Minneapolis, MN · 2021
for general operating support
$1.5M
Family Housing Fund · Minneapolis, MN · 2021
for general operating support
$1.5M
Initiative Foundation · Little Falls, MN · 2021
for general operating support
$1.5M
Initiative Foundation · Little Falls, MN · 2021
for general operating support
$1.5M
Juxtaposition · Minneapolis, MN · 2021
for a recoverable grant for capital campaign financing
$1.5M
Juxtaposition · Minneapolis, MN · 2021
for a recoverable grant for capital campaign financing
$1.5M
Initiative Foundation · Little Falls, MN · 2020
For general operating support
$1.5M
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation · Owatonna, MN · 2020
For general operating support
$1.5M
The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience · Minneapolis, MN · 2020
For an awards program supporting research in neuroscience
$1.4M
The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience · Minneapolis, MN · 2021
for an awards program supporting research in neuroscience
$1.4M
The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience · Minneapolis, MN · 2021
for an awards program supporting research in neuroscience
$1.4M
Fresh Energy · St Paul, MN · 2022
To move Minnesota and the Midwest toward dramatic near-term reductions in carbon pollution through equity-centered policy work, partnerships, and innovation
$1.4M
Advancing Equity Coalition · Minneapolis, MN · 2021
for McKnight's Donor Advised Fund
$1.4M
The Minneapolis Foundation · Minneapolis, MN · 2021
for McKnight's Donor Advised Fund
$1.3M
Local Initiatives Support Corporation · New York, NY · 2024
to support the operations of LISC Twin Cities
$1.3M
Local Initiatives Support Corporation · New York, NY · 2023
To support the operations of LISC Twin Cities
$1.2M
Fresh Energy · St Paul, MN · 2024
to move Minnesota and the Midwest toward dramatic near-term reductions in carbon pollution through equity-centered policy work, partnerships, and innovation
$1.2M
Local Initiatives Support Corporation · New York, NY · 2020
To help people thrive in the places they love by accelerating affordable housing production/preservation and advancing equitable economic development and family financial stability, and for general operating support
$1.1M
Family Housing Fund · Minneapolis, MN · 2024
for general operating support
$1.1M
The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience · Minneapolis, MN · 2023
For award programs supporting research in neuroscience
$1.1M
The McKnight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience · Minneapolis, MN · 2020
For an awards program supporting research in neuroscience
$1.1M
Innovia Foundation · Spokane, WA · 2024
for family-directed giving
$1.1M
National Philanthropic Trust · Jenkintown, PA · 2024
for family-directed giving
$1.1M
Park City Community Foundation · Park City, UT · 2024
for family-directed giving
$1.1M
Innovia Foundation · Spokane, WA · 2022
For family-directed giving
$1.1M
National Philanthropic Trust · Jenkintown, PA · 2022
For family-directed giving
$1.1M
Park City Community Foundation · Park City, UT · 2022
For family-directed giving
$1.0M
Family Housing Fund · Minneapolis, MN · 2024
to support the stabilization of affordable rental housing properties and providers
$1.0M
Global Philanthropy Partnership · Chicago, IL · 2024
to transform the transportation sector while centering equity, climate, and people
$1.0M
Windward Fund · Washington, DC · 2024
For program support
$1.0M
Build Wealth Mn · Minneapolis, MN · 2023
For lending and seed capital for the 9000 Equities Targeted Mortgage Program
$1.0M
Northcountry Cooperative Foundation · St Paul, MN · 2023
For a recoverable grant for capital to lend to low-income communities
$1.0M
Windward Fund · Washington, DC · 2023
To position clean energy, low-carbon jobs, and climate-friendly agriculture practices as a primary driver of abundant, equitable job creation in rural America
$1.0M
Land Bank Twin Cities · Saint Anthony, MN · 2022
To support the acquisition, hold, sale of, and lending related to, a private equity housing portfolio project of 143 units
$1.0M
Local Initiatives Support Corporation · New York, NY · 2022
For general operating support, and to advance an equitable recovery by linking community partners together to transform neighborhoods through affordable housing, arts and culture, economic development, and financial too… read allFor general operating support, and to advance an equitable recovery by linking community partners together to transform neighborhoods through affordable housing, arts and culture, economic development, and financial tools less
$1.0M
Metropolitan Economic Development Association · Minneapolis, MN · 2022
To seed the 10,000 Black Businesses Initiative and invest in Black entrepreneurship
$1.0M
New Venture Fund · Washington, DC · 2022
To support BIPOC leadership development and movement building in the Midwest
$1.0M
Northland Foundation · Duluth, MN · 2022
For general operating support
$1.0M
Seward Redesign · Minneapolis, MN · 2022
To support the redevelopment of the Coliseum Building in Minneapolis as a community hub for black business and entrepreneurship
$1.0M
Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation · Owatonna, MN · 2022
For general operating support
$1.0M
The Minneapolis Foundation · Minneapolis, MN · 2022
For McKnight's Donor Advised Fund
$1.0M
Tides Foundation · San Francisco, CA · 2022
To continue building power in vulnerable communities of the Midwest through the Movement Voters Fund
$1.0M
Windward Fund · Washington, DC · 2022
To position clean energy, low-carbon jobs, and climate-friendly agriculture practices as a primary driver of abundant, equitable job creation in rural America
$1.0M
Advancing Equity Coalition · Minneapolis, MN · 2021
to support local business organizations and owners along Lake St., Midway, and W. Broadway, in restoring, rebuilding, and renovating damaged property following the summer unrest of 2020
$1.0M
Fresh Energy · St Paul, MN · 2021
to move Minnesota and the Midwest toward dramatic reductions in carbon pollution in the near term
$1.0M
Fresh Energy · St Paul, MN · 2021
to move Minnesota and the Midwest toward dramatic reductions in carbon pollution in the near term
$1.0M
Local Initiatives Support Corporation · New York, NY · 2021
for general operating support, and to advance an equitable recovery by linking community partners together to transform neighborhoods through affordable housing, arts and culture, economic development, and financial too… read allfor general operating support, and to advance an equitable recovery by linking community partners together to transform neighborhoods through affordable housing, arts and culture, economic development, and financial tools less
$1.0M
Local Initiatives Support Corporation · New York, NY · 2021
for general operating support, and to advance an equitable recovery by linking community partners together to transform neighborhoods through affordable housing, arts and culture, economic development, and financial too… read allfor general operating support, and to advance an equitable recovery by linking community partners together to transform neighborhoods through affordable housing, arts and culture, economic development, and financial tools less
$1.0M
Southwest Initiative Foundation · Hutchinson, MN · 2021
for general operating support
$1.0M
Southwest Initiative Foundation · Hutchinson, MN · 2021
for general operating support

View all 4,463 grants →

Who else funds this kind of work

Same state

Mayo Clinic Group Return834 grants · $5.43B
Educational Credit387 grants · $692.9M
Mayo Clinic775 grants · $1.77B

Similar purposes

Minnesota Historical Society671 grants · $28.0M
Children'S Cancer Research Fund148 grants · $23.2M
C K Blandin Foundation2,513 grants · $39.3M

Similar grant size

The Ford Foundation10,731 grants · $2.35B
Silicon Valley Community Foundation10,471 grants · $10.10B
Tides Foundation9,402 grants · $1.86B

Grants already paid are the record; PaperOrbit reads your paper and finds the funders whose record matches it — then explains why.

Search funders like this one

Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part XV, as filed by the foundation. These are grants already paid — a record of what this funder backs, not an open call.