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Filing year 2024

The McKnight Foundation

Minneapolis, Minnesota·EIN 41-0754835·NTEE T21 · Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations·501(c)(3)
Total revenue
$189.4M
Total assets
$2.7B
Total expenses
$209.4M
Reported officers
17

Executive compensation

Form 990-PF · Part VIII · 17 reported individuals · Filing year 2024

Percentile bands compare each position's total pay with the same role at Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking organizations nationwide.

Director, President
Board President
Above 90th percentilevs Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking peers in Minnesota
$740k
$789k
Secretary, VP of Fin & Ops
Board Vice President
Above 90th percentile
$394k
$420k
Assistant Secretary
Board Secretary
Above 90th percentile
$124k
$132k
Director, Board Chair
Board Chair
Median to 75th percentile
$35k
$37k
Director
Unclassified
$31k
$33k
Director
Unclassified
$25k
$27k
Director, Treasurer
Unclassified
$25k
$27k
Director
Unclassified
$25k
$27k
Director
Unclassified
$25k
$27k
Director, Board Vice Chair
Board Chair
25th percentile to median
$25k
$27k
Director
Unclassified
$25k
$27k
Director
Unclassified
$25k
$27k
Director
Unclassified
$25k
$27k
Director
Unclassified
$25k
$27k
Investment Committee
Unclassified
$10k
$11k
Investment Committee
Unclassified
$10k
$11k
Investment Committee
Unclassified
$10k
$11k

Teal figures restate each filed amount in 2026 dollars.

Estimated with Minneapolis-St.Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.

Browse compensation in Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Pay in context

Top pay as a share of expenses

In 2024, the highest total compensation at The McKnight Foundation equaled 0.4% of the organization's total expenses. The median for philanthropy, voluntarism & grantmaking organizations is 15%.

This organization (2024)
0.4%
Sector median
15%
Middle half of sector
5% to 24%

Based on 35,946 philanthropy, voluntarism & grantmaking organizations, each measured at its most recent filing year with reported expenses and compensation.

Grants paid

Itemized grants reported on this foundation's 2024 Form 990-PF, Part XV.

Total granted

$145.9M

Itemized grants

790

Median grant

$100k

RecipientLocationPurposeAmount
Minneapolis FoundationMinneapolis, MNfor the GroundBreak Coalition special purpose fund$10M
United States Energy FoundationSan Francisco, CAto equitably decarbonize the Midwest by supporting powerful and inclusive coalitions with the ability to transform markets and the economy through state action in seven states$9.6M
Minneapolis FoundationMinneapolis, MNfor the GroundBreak Coalition special purpose fund$5M
Minnesota Home Ownership CenterSaint Paul, MNto bridge capacity needs and scale the deployment capacity of GroundBreak Coalition supported down payment assistance products$2.2M
Climate and Clean Energy Equity FundWashington DC, DCfor general operating support$2M
Rewiring America IncWashington, DCto advance equitable electrification in the Midwest through place-based demonstration projects and policy development$2M
The McKnight Endowment Fund for NeuroscienceMinneapolis, MNfor award programs supporting research in neuroscience$2M
Community Foundation of Jackson HoleJackson, WYfor family-directed giving$1.9M
Greater Minnesota Housing FundSt Paul, MNfor general operating support$1.8M
Brick By Brick Training & Development CorporationMinneapolis, MNto purchase a 400+ single family rental portfolio of properties and equitably reposition them for homeownership$1.5M
Brick By Brick Training & Development CorporationMinneapolis, MNto purchase a 400+ single family rental portfolio of properties and equitably reposition them for homeownership$1.5M
Region Nine Development CommissionMankato, MNto provide technical assistance to cities, counties, and towns in Greater Minnesota applying for federal and state funding and deploying climate and clean energy projects$1.5M
The McKnight Endowment Fund for NeuroscienceMinneapolis, MNfor award programs supporting research in neuroscience$1.5M
YouthpriseMinneapolis, MNfor general operating support$1.5M
Local Initiatives Support CorporationNew York, NYto support the operations of LISC Twin Cities$1.3M
Fresh EnergySt Paul, MNto move Minnesota and the Midwest toward dramatic near-term reductions in carbon pollution through equity-centered policy work, partnerships, and innovation$1.2M
Family Housing FundMinneapolis, MNfor general operating support$1.1M
Innovia FoundationSpokane, WAfor family-directed giving$1.1M
National Philanthropic TrustJenkintown, PAfor family-directed giving$1.1M
Park City Community FoundationPark City, UTfor family-directed giving$1.1M
Family Housing FundMinneapolis, MNto support the stabilization of affordable rental housing properties and providers$1M
Global Philanthropy PartnershipChicago, ILto transform the transportation sector while centering equity, climate, and people$1M
Windward FundWashington, DCFor program support$1M
Pillsbury United CommunitiesMinneapolis, MNto complete Phase 1 of the Pillsbury Creative Commons (PCC) campus redevelopment project$750k
Pangea World TheaterMinneapolis, MNfor capital campaign support to purchase land and a building for the future home of Pangea World Theater$700k
Compare this foundation's grantees

Fell 5%
over 3 years

From $782k in 2021 to $740k in 2024.

$782k
2021
$744k
2023
$740k
2024
In today's dollarsEst.
Down 16% in real terms$943k to $789k

Estimated with Minneapolis-St.Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro-area CPI-U, restating filed pay into May 2026 dollars. A restatement of past pay, not current or projected pay.

Pay for the position

Board President pay fell 5% from 2021 to 2024, while revenue fell 48%.

$782k in 2021 to $740k in 2024.
  • Board Vice President pay rose 30% from 2021 to 2024.
  • Board Secretary pay rose 46% from 2021 to 2024.

Pay for the position itself, not any one person. The officeholder may have changed between 2021 and 2024.

Highest reported compensation in each year. Volunteer board members and partial-year payouts are filtered out.

This is a private foundation. Peers are foundations of similar asset size ($1B+), because foundation pay scales with assets under management, not revenue.

Among peers

Revenue and top compensation, plotted against similar organizations. This organization is highlighted in cyan.

FAQ

Common questions about The McKnight Foundation

What does the Board President of The McKnight Foundation earn?

In 2024, the Board President of The McKnight Foundation received $739,674 in total compensation. This pay is in the top 10% for Board President roles among Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking organizations in Minnesota: at least 9 in 10 comparable filings report less. Based on IRS Form 990 data.

How does Board President pay at The McKnight Foundation compare with similar nonprofits?

Compared with the same role at Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking organizations in Minnesota, the 2024 pay of the Board President at The McKnight Foundation falls in the top 10%. In 2024, the highest total compensation at The McKnight Foundation equaled 0.4% of the organization's total expenses. The median for philanthropy, voluntarism & grantmaking organizations is 15%.

What are The McKnight Foundation's revenue and expenses?

In 2024, The McKnight Foundation reported $189.4M in total revenue and $209.4M in total expenses on its IRS Form 990.

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This is a private foundation. Peers are foundations of similar asset size ($1B+), because foundation pay scales with assets under management, not revenue.