Our country prospers when every person has the opportunity to prosper and can benefit from a healthy, stable planet.
(Minneapolis, MN – February 27, 2025) At this challenging and complex moment for the United States of America and the world, the McKnight Foundation remains resolute in our mission to advance a more just, creative, and abundant future where all people and our planet thrive.
Why? Because we are guided by the conviction that our country prospers when every person has the opportunity to prosper and can benefit from a healthy, stable planet.
Despite recent events, actions, and executive orders, we remain steadfast in advancing climate solutions and racial equity across every part of our work, and committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion as core values of our Foundation. We seek to use every tool available to help build communities in Minnesota and across the Midwest where every person belongs and has what they need to contribute meaningfully to our nation’s success.
We actively resist the inaccurate coopting of diversity, equity, and inclusion language. At McKnight, DEI has always meant: Diversity (embracing the differences in our pluralistic society to help solve complex challenges in our country, so that we can all move forward together); Equity (creating fair systems so that everyone has the opportunity to thrive, especially those furthest away from power); Inclusion (ensuring that everyone’s voice is counted and belongs in our organization and society). This work has never been about offering unfair advantages or quotas. Rather, it is about undoing harmful systems that perpetuate them, so every person has a fair opportunity to get ahead.
For too long, the door to equal opportunity and access has been closed for too many people—holding back individuals, families, and our entire nation. We have witnessed the harmful, compounding ramifications and must do better.
We are stronger when every person has access to opportunity and a shot at achieving their aspirations regardless of race, gender, different abilities, socio-economic status, or place of birth—be it in rural small towns, suburban cul-de-sacs, or urban neighborhoods. Organizations and companies are more successful when they are comprised of people whose diversity of experience, thought, and approach derive from different backgrounds, lived experiences, professional disciplines, and represent our pluralistic society. And most people want to live in a world where they are included and feel a sense of belonging. At McKnight, we remain committed to modeling and working toward the world we know is possible.
Despite new and emerging challenges, we can still build a future where people from every corner of America have what they need to thrive, including safe housing, quality jobs, and access to nutritious food. A future where investments in clean energy and transportation create economic growth while saving families money and providing clean air and water. Where people power our democracy through movements that hold leaders to account and restore our connection as neighbors. Where communities have resources to rebuild cultural corridors, centering equity and fairness, ownership, and sustainability, and creating hubs of opportunity and healing. A future where artists and culture bearers thrive, strengthening the nation’s social, cultural, and economic fabric. Where local farming supports families, food security, and the environment both domestically and globally. And where entrepreneurs and innovators from all walks of life have the resources they need to bring their brilliance to fruition. While this future may feel harder to reach than before, that remains the vision that pushes us forward and compels us to act today and every day.
Responding to the Moment
Recent events have brought new challenges and confusion for many nonprofits and other mission-oriented organizations. We want our partners to be assured that they need not be confused about where McKnight stands. McKnight will navigate this moment as we have many others over our 70-year history—by staying closely connected to the communities we support and deploying our resources to improve the lives of people today while building a future that is more just, creative, and abundant for all.
While remaining focused on our mission and core programmatic goals, we are also responding to this moment in several ways. This includes dedicating resources and fostering collaboration to support organizations that are assisting communities being directly targeted in this moment to help remove unfair barriers being experienced by these groups as a result, including organizations supporting immigrants, refugees, Black people, Trans and nonbinary people, and others. We are also working to mitigate funding gaps from recent federal actions and helping organizations navigate increasing complexity in their work. Additionally, we are bolstering institutional priorities by supporting organizations working to strengthen and protect democratic participation and counter authoritarianism, uphold and advance diversity, equity, and inclusion, overcome polarization, and bridge divides.
We aim to show up purposefully for our partners today, while also not turning our backs away from the future or getting distracted from our mission. We will continue to proactively invest in approaches and strategies that grow, build, imagine, and construct—not just react.
Now is not the time to cower, but to step up and step together across sectors, geographies, and divides in support of the communities we serve and the future we know is possible.
Now is not the time to cower, but to step up and step together across sectors, geographies, and divides in support of the communities we serve and the future we know is possible.
