The Mcknight Foundation
Minneapolis, Minnesota · EIN 410754835 · Private foundation
Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, The Mcknight Foundation has awarded $568.1M across 3,783 grants in our index of public IRS filings, with giving recorded as recently as 2024. Its largest grant on record went to Minneapolis Foundation. This profile covers its focus areas, top grant recipients, year-by-year giving, and how a nonprofit should approach it.
What The Mcknight Foundation funds
The Mcknight Foundation's giving carries a documented focus on adult education, arts & culture, arts education, civil rights & social justice, community improvement, and related causes.
Populations it has supported include black communities, children, disabled, families, foster youth, hispanic communities.
Grant history
The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for The Mcknight Foundation, by amount:
| Recipient | Location | Grant | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis Foundation for the GroundBreak Coalition special purpose fund | Minneapolis, MN | $10.0M | 2024 |
| United States Energy Foundation to equitably decarbonize the Midwest by supporting powerful and inclusive coalitions with the ability to transform markets and the economy t | San Francisco, CA | $9.6M | 2024 |
| United States Energy Foundation to equitably decarbonize the Midwest power, transportation, and building sectors | San Francisco, CA | $9.6M | 2021 |
| United States Energy Foundation To build and support the Midwest network of advocates in pursuit of ambitious and equitable climate action | San Francisco, CA | $9.6M | 2022 |
| United States Energy Foundation To build and support the Midwest network of advocates in pursuit of ambitious and equitable climate action | San Francisco, CA | $9.6M | 2023 |
| United States Energy Foundation To accelerate decarbonization of the Midwest power, transportation, and buildings sectors | San Francisco, CA | $8.7M | 2020 |
| Minneapolis Foundation for the GroundBreak Coalition special purpose fund | Minneapolis, MN | $5.0M | 2024 |
| Youthprise for general operating support | Minneapolis, MN | $3.4M | 2021 |
| The Mcknight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience For award programs supporting research in neuroscience | Minneapolis, MN | $2.6M | 2023 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Minnesota Inc For a recoverable grant to expedite deployment of newly appropriated Homeownership Investments Grant program ($40M) and leverage expanded re | Saint Paul, MN | $2.5M | 2023 |
| Greater Minnesota Housing Fund For general operating support | Saint Paul, MN | $2.5M | 2020 |
| Propel Nonprofits for the Seeding Cultural Treasures Initiative | Minneapolis, MN | $2.5M | 2021 |
| Youthprise For general operating support | Minneapolis, MN | $2.5M | 2022 |
| Minnesota Home Ownership Center to bridge capacity needs and scale the deployment capacity of GroundBreak Coalition supported down payment assistance products | Saint Paul, MN | $2.2M | 2024 |
| The Mcknight Endowment Fund for Neuroscience For an awards program supporting research in neuroscience | Minneapolis, MN | $2.1M | 2022 |
The Mcknight Foundation giving by year
Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:
How to apply for funding from The Mcknight Foundation
The Mcknight Foundation's public IRS filing does not spell out a formal application process. Foundations of this size often give primarily to organizations they already know, so a concise letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first contact — not a full proposal. You can review the foundation directly at mcknight.org.
Is The Mcknight Foundation the right funder for your nonprofit?
This page shows what The Mcknight Foundation has funded. Bespoke Grants tells you whether it fits your mission — and finds every other foundation that does. Free, no credit card.
Match my nonprofit to funders →Frequently asked questions about The Mcknight Foundation
- Does The Mcknight Foundation accept grant applications?
- The Mcknight Foundation's public filing does not specify an application process. A brief letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first step with a private foundation of this size.
- What does The Mcknight Foundation fund?
- The Mcknight Foundation's grants focus on adult education. Recent recipients include Minneapolis Foundation, United States Energy Foundation, United States Energy Foundation. Its full grant history is listed above.
- How much does The Mcknight Foundation give in grants?
- The Mcknight Foundation reported $105.9M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2020). Across all years in our data it has awarded $568.1M over 3,783 grants.
- Where is The Mcknight Foundation located?
- The Mcknight Foundation is based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 410754835.
- How can I find foundations similar to The Mcknight Foundation?
- Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like The Mcknight Foundation, ranking each by how well it fits your mission, location, and budget — with the reasoning shown. It is free to search.
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