The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report confirms what communities around the globe, including here in the Midwest, have known for decades: climate change is affecting the lives of billions of people around the world—creating dangerous disruptions that hit under-resourced communities hardest. Too often, these same communities are left out of conversations about …
The following article was originally published by The Chronicle of Philanthropy on September 10, 2018. It is reprinted here with full permission. We live in a time of intense divisions and purposeful disinformation that corrodes trust in vital institutions of American democracy. To repair and strengthen our politics and governance, we need a deeper understanding of …
Tonya Allen is president of the McKnight Foundation, a Minnesota-based family foundation that seeks to advance a more just, creative, and abundant future where people and planet thrive. McKnight annually grants about $100 million in support of climate solutions in the Midwest, an equitable and inclusive Minnesota, the arts, neuroscience, and international crop research. Allen …
River Alliance works to advocate for the protection, enhancement, and restoration of Wisconsin’s rivers and watersheds. Hatched in the 1990s by a university professor and his graduate student, along with a motley mix of trout anglers, paddlers and conservationists, the River Alliance of Wisconsin has grown into one of Wisconsin’s leading conservation groups. By encouraging …
Trying times have the power to bring us together or tear us apart. With the ongoing pandemic, deep political and social divides, and devastating climate events, 2021 was another year of complexity and heartache. And yet, it was a time when many pulled together with renewed purpose, clarity, and hope. At McKnight, we welcomed new …
Pesticide Action Network (PAN) is part of a global network working to protect public health and the environment from the harms of pesticides, and to promote ecologically sound and socially just food and farming. PAN challenges the global proliferation of pesticides, defends basic rights to health and environmental quality, and works to ensure the transition …
Taking a Fresh Approach to a Traditional Assignment Annual reports are a strange beast in the digital age. They were once a signature form of brand storytelling. In the age of 24/7/365 multi-screen, surround sound digital communication, some foundation communicators question their value. When it came time to planning McKnight’s annual report, I was mindful of this evolution and yet not …
“America’s Cultural Treasures” initiative will provide multi-year grants in response to the Covid-19 pandemic Minneapolis, MN (September 24, 2020)—Today, the McKnight Foundation announced that it is joining the Ford Foundation in an unprecedented $156 million initiative to recognize “America’s Cultural Treasures,” including at least $10 million in new funding, over the next five years, to …
Congratulations to Neeraj Mehta: VP Programs; Elizabeth McGeveran: VP Investments; Tamara Wallace: Governance Liaison & Executive Assistant!
This essay was originally published in a report by the Center for Effective Philanthropy called “CEO Reflections on the Future of Foundation Philanthropy.” The Future of Foundation Philanthropy highlights “promising practices” in philanthropy, such as providing long-term general operating support, offering greater transparency, and learning from grantees. Agreed. But by now, the benefits of these practices …