Mission & Values

Our Mission

The McKnight Foundation,
a family foundation based in Minnesota, advances a more just, creative, and abundant future where people and planet thrive.

Our vision

We envision a world that recognizes the dignity of every human being, a world where we celebrate the creativity of the arts and sciences and come together to protect our one and only Earth.

Public trust in institutions across sectors has plummeted, the nature of truth has come into question, and the pressures on our social and natural systems have increased dramatically. Racial disparities, born of the institutional racism that is part of our nation’s legacy, persist today.

These disquieting facts call us to be brutally realistic and fiercely optimistic. Yes, optimistic, because history has also shown us the power of people and communities that share a resolve to make positive change happen.

We meet this moment with hope and courage.

Our Values

Stewardship

Our deepest responsibility is to use all of our resources for mission impact. We deploy the Foundation's resources in a transparent manner and seek to maximize our relevance, credibility, and effectiveness.

Respect

Authentic and mutually accountable relationships matter deeply to us. We equip ourselves with the intercultural competency mindset and skills to help us bridge differences of all kinds.

Equity

We embed an equity approach across the Foundation because we see it as mission critical. We align our policies, practices, and resources so that people have genuine opportunities to thrive locally and globally.

Read our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement.

Curiosity

We value ongoing learning, and we look outward and reflect internally to discover opportunities for greater impact. It is only when we act with humility, ask big questions, and practice deep listening that we can open ourselves to new ideas and relationships.

Download our full Strategic Framework

Our Programs

View Our Programs

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