Q: I believe my organization or program fits McKnight's guidelines. How do we apply for a grant?
For most of our programs, we will first ask you to write a brief letter of inquiry describing your organization or project. If McKnight's program staff determines that the Foundation can consider funding, we will invite a full proposal from you later. Before submitting your letter of inquiry, however, please consult the guidelines appropriate to your program for grantmaking specifications within each funding area.
Q: Does McKnight fund nonprofit organizations only?
Yes. To be eligible for a grant from The McKnight Foundation, the organization must be classified by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, nonprofit organization that is not a private foundation.
Q: Will McKnight consider funding through a fiscal agent if a prospective grantee does not have legal nonprofit status?
No. We do not use fiscal agents.
Q: Does McKnight fund government programs?
Units of government may apply for funding for special projects that complement customary public functions. However, we will not fund activities that are traditionally the responsibility of government.
Q: What types of grants are possible to nonprofit organizations and programs in Minnesota (and along the Mississippi River, for our Environment program) that fit McKnight's guidelines?
We provide planning, operating, capital, and project grants. Please consult the guidelines appropriate to your program for specific eligibility requirements within each funding area.
Q: Are McKnight funds primarily reserved for nonprofit organizations in Minnesota, U.S.?
Generally speaking, yes. McKnight's primary geographic focus in grantmaking is to nonprofit organizations located within the state of Minnesota. We do not provide funding outside Minnesota, with five main programmatic exceptions:
- Environment: Available in the 10 states bordering or encompassing the Mississippi River.
- Neuroscience research: National.
- Collaborative Crop research: International.
- Africa: Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe.
- Southeast Asia: Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam only. Please consult the guidelines appropriate to your program for grantmaking specifications within each funding area.
Q: Why can't I find guidelines on McKnight's site that fit my funding needs or project?
We believe that foundations can be most effective by concentrating their resources in a few programmatic and/or geographic areas. Inevitably this means we cannot support many worthy projects outside our program interests. McKnight does not generally support:
- Work in the fields of mental health or disabilities, except for services to enhance parents' capacity to nurture their children
- Chemical dependency treatment
- Services for seniors
- Health services or policy
- Assistance for individuals, including scholarships
- Attendance at or travel to conferences or costs related to conferences
- Travel, except when related to other McKnight support of an organization
- Scientific research outside established McKnight research programs
- Endowments, except in rare cases
- Activities that have a specific religious purpose
