17 survey respondents
Location: 710 South Second Street, Minneapolis, 55401 MN
EIN: 41-0754835
93%
7%
16 hours
Median
89%
11%
83%
17%
2017 Deadlines:
Types of Grants Awarded:
Geographic Focus:
For Fiscal Year
Total Assets:
Total Grants:
Change in Assets FY :
Amount of Grants to Minnesota Nonprofits:
Largest Grant:
Smallest Grant:
Average Grant:
Reviewer 1703 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2020
In 2021, there were many unique questions just to move to the second phase - which is full proposal. Then, four more full questions were introduced, each with 3000 word limit. For organizations new to grant writing or with limited resources for grant writing, I would skip McKnight until their process better matches their mission to support under-served groups.
Minnesota
Grant currently pending
Other
2020
Good
Average
under-served communities are in turn supported by under-resourced non-profit organizations. These organizations need funders who recognize that scarcity and make the process as accessible as possible. I'm afraid this process maintains the status quo...
simplify the process and only ask what your reviewers truly NEED to make the decision. Then, you will reach new organizations and truly be able to diversify and share the power with the groups you aim to support. As it stands, the process is too intimidating unless you live in grants.
currently pending
The webinars were good, the Q & A live zooms were really authentic, the focus is on BIPOC
17
Thank you for your feedback. We are grateful for the time you have taken to share your experience.
We are glad to hear that the webinar was helpful! For those who were not able to attend last year’s webinar, which overviewed the strategy and guidelines of our new Vibrant & Equitable Communities program, you can view it here: https://www.mcknight.org/news-ideas/resource/webinar-vec-strategies-and-guidelines/
We plan to hold another webinar in late 2021. To ensure you are alerted, you can sign up using the following link (please be sure to check the “Vibrant & Equitable Communities” option): https://www.mcknight.org/get-email-updates/
We understand and acknowledge how difficult it can be to navigate the grantmaking process. At the McKnight Foundation, are committed to having clear funding criteria and application directions on our program web pages. We also provide sample forms for grantseekers to preview ahead of time. That said, we fully acknowledge that we can always do better.
On the specific question about word count, we’ve heard a diversity of perspectives. Some applicants request maximum flexibility on word count to have space to tell their stories. Other applicants find this implies we expect a lengthy response. We try to balance varied needs and requests.
To approach these questions systematically, we have begun a broader redesign of McKnight’s grantmaking process. We understand and share your goal of increasing flexibility so nonprofits can focus more fully on their missions.
We welcome any additional thoughts or feedback you would like to share. You can reach us at [email protected].
Reviewer 6931 - Did not apply
McKnight Foundation, (Vibrant & Equitable Communities) "we do not make grants for basic social services; health services"(Total foundation assets as of 2018 IRS filing: $2,407,441,662)
Openminded
Minnesota
Did not apply
2020
Average
It's a snazy website.
Bad
Minneapolis Ranks Near The Bottom For Racial Equality
https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2020/06/02/867195676/minneapolis-ranks-near-the-bottom-for-racial-equality
Does "Minnesota Nice" apply to local efforts to prevent people from living in tent cities and rioting over police inhumanity?
They mean well, and the arts are important, but people are literally dying out here.
They desire the gold and treasure of their fallen foes so they can bask in their own glory. Oops, no wait, that's dragons.
0
Reviewer 6026 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2018
Reaching out to a program officer is advisable before pursuing funding. Read through their documentation and stated value sand objectives. Making sure your activities align well with their values and mission is key.
Positive leader in the field, Gives more than money, Builds relationships
Minnesota
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2018
Good
The funder is taking steps to become more accessible by expanding how they fund. They do this, in part, by supporting other granting organizations that have mechanisms and infrastructure for micro-grants and non-general operating.
Good
McKnight is a forward-thinking foundation who establishes impactful, long-term relationships with their grantees.
McKnight continues to push themselves to model the changes they expect to see in their grantees - including leadership, diversity, and equity. They do not just add these words to their statements but are taking big organizational steps internally to make sure these values are incorporated throughout how they run their foundation. The funder also invests wholeheartedly in the leadership of their grantees individually, helping them access additional training and providing support via cohorts and seminars.
6
Reviewer 9765 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2018
McKnight is a well-known and popular funder so their process is competitive. You really must meet with a Program Officer before applying for the first time, and you should check in with them each and every time you reapply. Like many foundations these days, there can be an uncritical push from higher ups to "scale" your operations for a more "regional" impact, even if the essence of your success is a hyper-local focus. Our best practice is to stay true to what makes us unique, and what our constituent board believes in, even if that means there is a ceiling to how much McKnight will support us.
Culturally sensitive, Friendly, Builds relationships, Likes site visits, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Responsive
Minnesota
Current or former grantee
Funded for lesser amount
2018
Good
It can take months to get an appointment, but you will get one.
Good
Like all foundations, this one should spend down more of its endowment faster, if it is really serious about impacting the racial disparities of the Minneapolis-St Paul region. McKnight could use its assets to do more PRIs, or guarantee loans. It is not enough to divest from fossil fuel stocks.
Economic segregation has become worse over the last several decades. It's important to talk about racial equity, but we will not come close to impacting racial inequity if we don't name class and poverty and the segregation of our cities by income level. To be innovative and radical, consider using your resources to help chip away at that segregation by investing in market rate housing in areas of concentrated poverty.
McKnight is an important funder of individual artists, which has a ripple effect in our communities.
6
Reviewer 1024 - Grant Applicant - applied in 2017
Get to know their programming areas and be prepared to demonstrate your relationships with other organizations they partner with. Reach out to the appropriate person and be clear about your inquiry. Consider engaging them in ways beyond, "I have [a program], do you have [$] for us?"
Positive leader in the field, Gives more than money, Risk taker, Culturally sensitive, Friendly, Builds relationships, Likes site visits, "Gets" nonprofits and issues, Responsive
Minnesota
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2017
Good
I've found them incredibly accessible, by which I mean they respond quickly via email and phone, are visible at local (MSP region) events, and have a visible desire to be accessible.
Good
I believe they're doing well, overall, as concerns their work in the MSP region. The conversations and investments I have seen were aligned with goals stated on their website and in communications. I can connect the dots between their goals and their impact. There appears to be flexibility in how they reach their goals--including staff equipped to allocate dollars outside the grant cycle--which to me is critical for achieving goals in our sector.
Make it clearer how grantees who aren't already in the cohort of trusted partners can get involved, build a relationship, and begin a conversation about support. I have experience with McKnight both with an established project and with a new project, and found accessibility to be a bit lower with the new one.
I have a big nonprofit crush on McKnight. If you have the opportunity to work with them, take it!
I can't keep it to just one. There seems to be a considerable lack of BS and a great clarity of mission at McKnight. Staff seem equipped and supported in their work. There's little micromanaging for grantees, which I assume results from a lack of micromanaging at HQ. One thing the organization does very well is streamline the application process. It takes substantially less time than other applications. Part of the reason is the open-ended questions for things like measurement and impact. Making our metrics fit into specific formats (or coming up with metrics at all) can take quite a long time. In contrast to some other funders, McKnight just asks us to define how we will show success.
5
Grant Applicant - applied in 2017
If there seems to be a fit, reach out to them. I have found the team I work with, and one program officer in particular, to be extremely helpful and forthcoming. They have an intellectual and theoretical approach to their work, but will help drill down and back up so it's more accessible to on-the-ground work. I also, like other reviewers, greatly appreciate their support for systems-change work.
Positive leader in the field, Gives more than money, Risk taker, Insightful, Builds relationships, Openminded, Responsive
California
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2017
Good
Good
They invest, guide, and partner in authentic ways.
Relationship-building probably helps, but don't be afraid to reach out to them.
Multi-year general operating support!!
20
Grant Applicant
Greatly appreciate McKnights willingness to tackle complicated policy issues at high systems levels. It's so important - thank you!
Current or former grantee
More than 15
Reviewer 524 - Grant Applicant
The McKnight Foundation chose to create six greater mn mini-foundations called the Initiative Funds in 1985. The concept was sold as Increasing philantrophy to nonprofits, etc. in Greater Mn. Grantmaking in greater mn would increase because the initiative funds would grow philantrophy from the private sector. As a nonprofit leader in greater Mn I would say that after 32 years of the Initiative fund experiment the Initiative Funds have grown philantrophy for their own organizations, but have had little impact on increasing private philantrophy and capacity for nonprofits in Greater Mn. The Minneapolis based Mcknight Foundation discontinued funding of Greater Mn nonprofits directly many years ago and recommends rural nonprofits go to their local Initiative Fund for grants. Initiative Funds make few and very small grants. Creative rural projects that need greater resources must look elsewhere for adequate funding and support.
The local Initiative Funds are now competitors with local nonprofits for private philantrophy from corporations, individuals, foundations, and local, state, and federal government dollars. The Initiative Funds have grown large, well paid professional staffs to enhance their competition for resources. Minneapolis McKnight needs to revisit their original purpose of growing private philantrophy in Greater Mn and focus on developing strong, resilient, and economically creative communites in rural Mn. McKnight Minneapolis needs to resume grantmaking directly to projects in Greater Mn that are community based and are impactful. The Initiative Funds are too busy competing forlocal resources and self promotion to impact rural issues.
Inadvertently exerts negative influence in the field, Doesn't "get" nonprofits and issues, Culturally incompetent, Risk averse
Current or former grantee
5 to 10 hours
Thank you for your comments on the Minnesota Initiative Foundations (MIFs). We can certainly appreciate the struggle for funds in Greater Minnesota. We must, however, correct some of the inaccurate statements in this review.
The MIFs contribute to strong, vibrant communities and serve as a model for locally powered, rural philanthropy.
Since their inception, they have collectively given away more than $200 million to more than 34,000 nonprofit organizations in Greater Minnesota. Contrary to the reviewer’s statement, this amount is substantially more than what McKnight had granted directly prior to the creation of the MIFs.
Furthermore, grantmaking is only one small part of what the MIFs do. With economic development a central part of their mission, the MIFs offer small business loans and technical assistance for new entrepreneurs to help grow the regional economy. They have invested about $252 million in local businesses in Greater Minnesota, creating or retaining more than 46,000 jobs.
In addition to our support of the MIFs, McKnight is pleased to fund many individuals, organizations, and communities throughout the state through a variety of awards and direct grant such as affordable housing in Duluth; the Regional Arts Councils; clean energy projects throughout the state, and many others. In fact, half of the funds McKnight distributed last year in the state of MN went toward Greater MN or statewide programs.
While we need to correct the facts for the record, we do appreciate hearing these concerns, and we urge you to raise these questions to the MIFs directly. By design, they are autonomous foundations with independent boards that make their own decisions on how to allocate resources.
Reviewer 438 - Grant Applicant
It's McKnight. One of those foundations your board keeps asking you to "get money from." But McKnight, while huge, is very specific in its interest and priority areas. Their staff is trained to be responsive. I have never waited too long for a call back, and I've submitted within four of their grant programs. I usually understand fully why an organization is/is not eligible after reading the guidelines, but staff has provided additional clarity. The proposals I've submitted AFTER talking with staff (and being encouraged to apply) have a high percentage of getting funded.
Positive leader in the field, Builds relationships, Likes site visits
Current or former grantee
5 to 10 hours
Grant Applicant - applied in 2016
They have had webinars to explain their funding priorities and have worked to make a personal connection to our organization.
Positive leader in the field, Gives more than money, Insightful, Friendly, Builds relationships, Responsive
Minnesota
Current or former grantee
Funded for amount requested
2016
Good
We received funding from the McKnight Mississippi River program and the two staff assigned are very attentive, supportive and straight-forward.
Good
Quite, although when examining environmental issues there is nothing that can compare with regulation, but philanthropic partners can do their best to do their part.
(Can't think of anything!)
For the Mississippi River program they have changed their proces a bit to fit into a logic model (which is great, in my opinion)
Supports innovative projects and initiatives in Minnesota- the headwaters of the Mississippi River.
Yes, we recently had a webinar on our Mississippi River program. You can watch that here: https://vimeo.com/213565131
