Tenzin Dolkar joined McKnight in March 2021 as a Midwest Climate & Energy (Climate) program officer, and became a senior program officer in 2024. Dolkar works to shape and guide the trajectory of the Foundation’s climate initiatives. She oversees and develops grant portfolios that support efforts to build power through partnership, aligning McKnight’s climate and equity goals.
Prior to McKnight, Dolkar served as a climate advisor to the City of Minneapolis through a Natural Resources Defense Council partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies American Cities Climate Challenge. Previously, she served as the State of Minnesota’s Rail Director and as a policy advisor to Governor Mark Dayton on transportation, agriculture, and rural issues.
Dolkar also serves on the board of Environmental Grantmakers Association and a member of the Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Funders’ Policy Committee. Dolkar holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor’s degree in international studies with a minor in social work from the University of St. Thomas.
