A new series for Stanford Social Innovation Review brings together foundation leaders, community partners, and a mutual aid organizer to reflect on Minnesota’s response to Operation Metro Surge and what the field can learn.

As the Minnesota Initiative Foundations mark 40 years of service, the McKnight Foundation is announcing a total $6 million investment in the people, ideas, and locally led solutions shaping rural communities across the state.

Belonging to the Entire Universe, a new large-scale mural by Leslie Barlow, marks the first original artwork commissioned for McKnight’s new headquarters and launches a new rotating series created to spotlight Minnesota’s diverse creative voices.

At McKnight, we believe the future is not finished. It is being shaped right now by the choices we make, the truth we tell, and whether we match the courage of everyday people with the tools we offer. That’s why we’re committing another $20 million to strengthen our communities and our democracy in 2026, on top of another record-breaking grantmaking year in 2025.