Financial Information

Assets and grantmaking

Year	Assets	New Grants	Approved	Payout
2019	$2,424,843,251	488	$155,146,399	$133,711,354
2018	$2,271,386,220	425	$157,028,547	$105,335,420
2017	$2,473,340,121	623	$88,528,014	$117,929,820
2016	$2,256,756,854	482	$93,859,603	$127,865,430
2015	$2,301,502,477	599	$150,688,190	$126,796,384
2014	$2,443,818,246	531	$148,564,966	$130,284,911
2013	$2,395,608,862	434	$80,483,204	$120,694,865
2012	$2,179,634,480	414	$92,352,685	$112,063,584
2011	$2,192,836,756	380	$77,999,962	$112,604,594
2010	$2,305,269,825	318	$79,299,067	$104,920,549
2009	$2,191,136,614	276	$141,693,088	$105,887,097
2008	$1,972,507,394	263	$140,243,278	$116,206,414
2007	$2,618,700,006	290	$162,068,078	$121,267,122
2006	$2,342,624,401	191	$73,479,294	$104,310,000
2005	$2,142,876,996	286	$78,224,147	$92,577,000
2004	$1,939,340,905	329	$98,274,880	$90,358,608
2003	$1,845,869,048	349	$119,795,670	$90,400,477
2002	$1,718,236,238	459	$80,949,242	$85,617,981
2001	$1,900,829,942	319	$86,433,075	$85,569,297
2000	$2,198,985,122	356	$93,365,465	$69,983,125
1999	$1,888,543,168	311	$69,541,641	$53,142,772

Investment summary

Target Asset allocation (12/31/2019)

Fixed income and cash: 16%
Private equity and real estate: 17%
Global equity: 39%
Hedge funds: 20%
Commodities: 8%

Diversifying investment management:

Woman- and minority-owned firms currently manage 39% of the Knight Foundation endowment

Since 2010, Knight Foundation has intentionally sought diversity in the ownership of the asset management firms where it invests. As of December 31, 2019, the foundation had invested $875 million with firms that are substantially- or majority-owned by women or minorities, representing 39 percent of its endowment.

Summary of Knight Foundation Woman- and Minority-Owned Managers

RESEARCH

report

Diversity of Asset Managers in Philanthropy

A study to assess the representation of women and racial or ethnic minorities among investment firms used by the country’s top 50 charitable foundations

[…]

February 12, 2020

report

Diversifying Investments: A Study of Ownership Diversity and Performance in the Asset Management Industry

Research across a multitude of fields and industries has identified the potential economic and social benefits of diversity. Yet the asset management industry continues to struggle with a lack of diversity. […]

January 28, 2019

report

Diversifying Investments

A study of ownership diversity in the asset management industry

May 3, 2017

Financial Resources

Tax returns ( Form 990-PF )

For more schedules, email us at [email protected].

Tax Return Investment Appendices

As required by the instructions to the 990PF tax return, Knight Foundation provides a detailed list of all its investment managers investing in Corporate Stock (Part II, Line 10b), Corporate Bonds (Part II, Line 10c) and Other Investments (Part II, Line 13) and the fair market value of those investments.

Though it is not required in preparing the tax return, but in an effort to provide additional transparency, the Foundation has prepared a separate INVESTMENT APPENDIX that provides a detailed list of its investment managers with balances in Savings and Temporary Cash Investments (Part II, Line 2), U.S. and State Government Obligations (Part II, Line 10a) and Other Receivables (Part II, Line 15).

Audited financial statements

More information

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