Fact Sheet: Midwest Climate and Energy
Application
Process
The Midwest Climate & Energy
program uses a closed application process; proposals for
funding are accepted only from
organizations that are invited
by Foundation staff to apply.
v
About McKnight
Founded in 1953 and independently endowed by William and
Maude McKnight, the Minnesota-based family foundation
had assets of approximately
$2 billion and granted about
$86 million in 2013. McKnight
makes grants in support of
education and learning, region
and communities, the environment, the arts, neuroscience
research, and select international efforts.
Program Goal and Strategies
The goal of McKnight’s Midwest Climate &
Energy grantmaking is to help the Midwest
become an international model in addressing climate change by reducing heat-trapping
emissions in all economic sectors, while
employing a sustainability lens that both
informs strategies and catalyzes action.
McKnight’s climate-related work pursues
an integrated approach, engaging with the
region’s public and private leaders, decisionmakers, and communities while aiming to
scale up Midwest successes to national and
global levels. Three key objectives drive the
work:
•
v
Mission
The McKnight Foundation, a
Minnesota-based family foundation, seeks to improve the
quality of life for present and
future generations. Through
grantmaking, collaboration,
and encouragement of strategic
policy reform, we use our
resources to attend, unite, and
empower those we serve.
v
Contact
Aimee Witteman
Program Officer
[email protected]
The McKnight Foundation
710 South Second Street #400
Minneapolis, MN 55401
tel: 612-333-4220
fax: 612-332-3833
www.mcknight.org
Climate and energy policy. Support for
grantees and networks to advance related Midwest policies in energy generation, efficiency, transmission, agriculture,
and transportation.
•
Community engagement. Support to advance
scaleable community-level actions that
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
foster sustainability.
•
Resilient clean energy economy. Support to
facilitate private-sector leaders and networks to develop, promote, and implement climate and energy objectives for
the Midwest.
Program Background
We believe that decisions made in the next
few years will affect the planet’s climate and
its people for generations. These challenging times call for extraordinary actions. The
McKnight Foundation recognizes a responsibility to act now and to act decisively to address this global issue with its striking local
implications.
McKnight’s climate-related strategies
emerged from our identity as a place-based
family foundation in Minnesota with a longstanding environment program. In 2008,
McKnight’s board committed $100 million
over five years to a strategy to mitigate catastrophic global climate change. This financial
commitment supported innovative efforts
regionally and globally. The multifaceted approach included partnering with regional and
global foundations to support organizations
that work towards reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2013, McKnight announced the Midwest
Climate & Energy program, building directly
on that 2008 commitment and over 20 years
of support to promote renewable energy in
Minnesota and the Midwest.
Today, we work primarily with two intermediary organizations: RE-AMP, a regional network of nonprofits and foundations across
eight Midwestern states working on climate
and energy policy; and the Energy Foundation, helping the Midwest contribute to our
nation’s sustainable, low-carbon energy supply through national policy efforts.
Please note: The Midwest Climate & Energy program
uses a closed application process; proposals for funding
are accepted only from organizations that are invited by
Foundation staff to apply.
v
Questions?
Please visit www.mcknight.org
or call us at 612-333-4220.
January 2014