IN BRIEF Refined program goal: Take bold and urgent action on the climate crisis by dramatically cutting greenhouse gas emissions and advancing an equitable clean energy transition. Learn more Strategy pathways: Our five program strategies provide clear pathways for our grantmaking efforts. Learn more Program webinar: Watch the recording to learn more about our approach …
The Midwest Climate & Energy program uses its philanthropic funding to support efforts that build power through partnership, aligning climate and equity goals to advance bold action on the climate crisis. Our program takes a systems change lens, focusing on shifting the conditions that perpetuate the climate crisis, which include structural racism. We direct grantmaking …
Unsustainable water use, degraded quality, and aging infrastructure create opportunities for investors to rethink water and agricultural assets. RRG purchases land and attendant water rights in California, Australia, and Chile to optimize investment returns by improving water quality, quantity and end use. Investment $10 million; originated in 2019 Rationale RRG invests in water and agricultural …
The America’s Most Endangered Rivers® report listed the Upper Mississippi at the top of their 2020 list because of the compounding threat that climate change and poor river and watershed management pose to public safety along the river. The America’s Most Endangered Rivers® report is one of the best-known and longest-lived annual reports in the environmental movement. Each …
Guided by a series of principles, the CCRP works to ensure a world where all have access to nutritious food that is sustainably produced by local people. Download this resource to learn more.
This nonprofit bank, formerly called Natural Capital Investment Fund, finances and advises small businesses using market-based solutions to strengthen the Appalachian region and protect natural resources. Investment $2 million 10-year loan at 2%; originated in 2015 Rationale Low cost capital for loans to build environmentally and socially responsible small businesses in Appalachia. People in this …
Sacha-Rose Phillips joined McKnight as a program officer with the Midwest Climate & Energy program in November 2022. In this role, she oversees and develops significant grant portfolios that support efforts to build power through partnerships, aligning McKnight’s climate and equity goals to advance solutions to the climate crisis. Sacha-Rose is an energy justice and …
This new investment fund pilots an economic model that captures existing housing, keeping it affordable. This is essential as moderate and low-income renters struggle to find livable housing in the thriving Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area. Investment $5 million for a 12-year term at 2%; originated in 2017 Rationale Decent affordable housing is always in demand, …
In the fall of 2019, the McKnight Foundation commissioned the University of Minnesota’s Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) to conduct a statewide survey of stakeholders. It was part of a multifaceted and multilevel input-gathering process designed to help shape and inform the Foundation’s new Vibrant & Equitable Communities program. The goal of the survey …
Beyene Gessesse joined McKnight in November 2021 as a program officer for the Global Collaboration for Resilient Food Systems. He works at the cutting edge of agroecological solutions—contributing to a global portfolio of research projects and investments that create equitable and sustainable options for smallholder farmers and food systems. Beyene brings more than 10 years …