The foundation concentrates transformational philanthropy in Oregon, making very large, strategic gifts to higher-education and health institutions while also supporting neighborhood-level nonprofits in Portland. Its funding mixes capital and program-designated gifts for biomedical research, clinical care, and campus initiatives with general operating support for community organizations, and it occasionally funds national policy and scale-focused intermediaries.
Knight Foundation Attn Lisa Mckillips has made two of its largest recent commitments to the University of Oregon Foundation for the Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact, including a $182 million gift in 2025 and a $100 million gift in 2023. Those awards frame a portfolio built around large, designated institutional support in Oregon, especially for university research, clinical programs, and community organizations. The foundation also backed major health and research work in Portland, including $70 million to the Ohsu Foundation for the Knight Cancer Institute and repeated multimillion-dollar support for Providence St Vincent Medical Foundation. Its giving also reaches beyond campus and hospital settings. In Portland, the foundation supported Albina Head Start, Sei Inc, and the 1803 Fund with general operating support, while in California it backed Stanford University for the Phil and Penny Knight Initiative for Brain Resilience and the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program. A smaller number of grants went to national intermediaries and policy organizations, including Blue Meridian Partners and The Brookings Institution, showing a mix of place-based and scale-oriented philanthropy.
In higher education and research, the foundation gave $182 million to University of Oregon Foundation for the Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact, and previously $100 million for the same campus initiative. Biomedical and clinical giving is also central: it awarded $70 million to Ohsu Foundation for the Knight Cancer Institute and $10 million to Providence St Vincent Medical Foundation for the cardiology program. The foundation has supported brain resilience research at Stanford University with $6.25 million for the Phil and Penny Knight Initiative for Brain Resilience and an additional $4.5 million for the same initiative. It has also funded scholar development, giving Stanford University $1 million for the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program. In Portland, community support includes $10 million to Albina Head Start and $8.5 million to the 1803 Fund, both for general operating support.
Typical grant sizes are large: the 25th percentile is $1.75 million, median is $5 million, and 75th percentile is $8.125 million. The pattern is grantmaking by major designated awards rather than many small gifts, with repeated support to the same institutions across 2023 and 2025, especially in Oregon and at Stanford. The foundation is a regular funder and does not fund individuals. The recent record also shows a small number of capital and general operating gifts alongside program-restricted support.
$226.5M
$4.5B
$520M
$277.5M
Most grants fall between $1.8M and $8.1M, with a median of $5M.
25th Percentile
$1.8M
Median
$5M
75th Percentile
$8.1M
About 58% of grants go to recipients in OR.
PHILIP H KNIGHT
PRESIDENT/TREAS
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Knight Foundation Attn Lisa Mckillips.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 20 | $438.7M | 95.2% |
| 2 | Ireland | 1 | $335K |
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Highly concentrated, transformational giving: a small number of very large, often multi-million-dollar or multi-year gifts to repeat institutional grantees (universities and medical centers) supplemented by sizable general operating grants to select local community organizations and occasional national partners.
Notable grantees: University of Oregon Foundation, OHSU Foundation, Albina Head Start, Stanford University, 1803 Fund
Grants are concentrated in Oregon, which accounts for 58% of grants and is the top state by grant count. Recent Oregon recipients include Eugene-based University of Oregon Foundation and Fanconi Anemia Research Fund, plus Portland-based Ohsu Foundation, Providence St Vincent Medical Foundation, Albina Head Start, Sei Inc, and the 1803 Fund. Outside the U.S., one grant went to Portlaoise Gaa Club in Portlaoise. The remaining non-Oregon U.S. grants in the recent list went to Stanford University in Stanford, California; Blue Meridian Partners in New York, New York; and The Brookings Institution in Washington, DC.
The grant-size distribution is heavily weighted toward large awards. The 25th percentile is $1.75 million, the median is $5 million, and the 75th percentile is $8.125 million.
The recent list shows universities, hospitals and medical foundations, community nonprofits, and a few national intermediaries. Examples include the University of Oregon Foundation, Ohsu Foundation, Providence St Vincent Medical Foundation, Albina Head Start, and Blue Meridian Partners.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including the University of Oregon Foundation, Providence St Vincent Medical Foundation, Stanford University, Albina Head Start, Sei Inc, Fanconi Anemia Research Fund, and The Brookings Institution.
The recent grants include scientific impact and campus initiatives, cancer research and care, cardiology and heart transplant services, brain resilience research, scholar development, foreign policy programming, and general operating support for Portland-area community organizations.
Oregon receives the largest share, with 58% of grants. Recent Oregon recipients are based in Eugene and Portland, while the list also includes Stanford, California; New York, New York; Washington, DC; and Portlaoise.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
4.8% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF OREGON FOUNDATION | EUGENE, OR | $182,000,000 | 2025 | THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR THE CAMPUS FOR ACCELERATING SCIENTIFIC IMPACT (THE "CASI PROGRAM") AS WELL AS GENERAL OPERATING AND PROGRAM SUPPORT. |
| ALBINA HEAD START | PORTLAND, OR | $10,000,000 | 2025 | THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT. |
| SEI INC | PORTLAND, OR | $10,000,000 | 2025 | THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT. |
| 1803 FUND | PORTLAND, OR | $8,500,000 | 2025 | THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT. |
| PROVIDENCE ST VINCENT MEDICAL FOUNDATION | PORTLAND, OR | $7,500,000 | 2025 | THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED TO THE CARDIOLOGY PROGRAM. |
| BLUE MERIDIAN PARTNERS | NEW YORK, NY | $5,213,000 | 2025 | THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT. |
| THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,000,000 | 2025 | THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR THE FOREIGN POLICY PROGRAM. |
| FANCONI ANEMIA RESEARCH FUND | EUGENE, OR | $1,000,000 | 2025 | THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT. |
| PORTLAOISE GAA CLUB | PORTLAOISE | $335,000 | 2025 | THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT. |
| UNIVERSITY OF OREGON FOUNDATION | EUGENE, OR | $100,000,000 | 2023 | THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR THE CAMPUS FOR ACCELERATING SCIENTIFIC IMPACT (THE "CASI PROGRAM"). |
| OHSU FOUNDATION | PORTLAND, OR | $70,000,000 | 2023 | THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR THE KNIGHT CANCER INSTITUTE |
| PROVIDENCE ST VINCENT MEDICAL FOUNDATION | PORTLAND, OR | $10,000,000 | 2023 | THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED TO THE CARDIOLOGY PROGRAM. |
| PROVIDENCE ST VINCENT MEDICAL FOUNDATION | PORTLAND, OR | $7,500,000 | 2023 | THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED TO THE PROVIDENCE HEART INSTITUTE FOR THE HEART TRANSPLANT PROGRAM. |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | STANFORD, CA | $6,250,000 | 2023 | THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR THE PHIL AND PENNY KNIGHT INITIATIVE FOR BRAIN RESILIENCE. |
| ALBINA HEAD START | PORTLAND, OR | $5,000,000 | 2023 | THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT. |
| SEI INC | PORTLAND, OR | $5,000,000 | 2023 | THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT. |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | STANFORD, CA | $4,500,000 | 2023 | THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR THE PHIL AND PENNY KNIGHT INITIATIVE FOR BRAIN RESILIENCE. |
| THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION | WASHINGTIN DC, DC | $2,000,000 | 2023 | THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR THE FOREIGN POLICY PROGRAM. |
| FANCONI ANEMIA RESEARCH FUND | EUGENE, OR | $1,000,000 | 2023 | THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT. |
| STANFORD UNIVERSITY | STANFORD, CA | $1,000,000 | 2023 | THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR THE KNIGHT-HENNESSEY SCHOLARS PROGRAM. |
| THE PHOENIX CENTER | NUTLEY, NJ | $250,000 | 2023 | THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT. |
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON FOUNDATION
$182,000,000THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR THE CAMPUS FOR ACCELERATING SCIENTIFIC IMPACT (THE "CASI PROGRAM") AS WELL AS GENERAL OPERATING AND PROGRAM SUPPORT.
ALBINA HEAD START
$10,000,000THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT.
SEI INC
$10,000,000THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT.
1803 FUND
$8,500,000THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT.
PROVIDENCE ST VINCENT MEDICAL FOUNDATION
$7,500,000THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED TO THE CARDIOLOGY PROGRAM.
BLUE MERIDIAN PARTNERS
$5,213,000THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT.
THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION
$2,000,000THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR THE FOREIGN POLICY PROGRAM.
FANCONI ANEMIA RESEARCH FUND
$1,000,000THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT.
PORTLAOISE GAA CLUB
$335,000THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT.
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON FOUNDATION
$100,000,000THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR THE CAMPUS FOR ACCELERATING SCIENTIFIC IMPACT (THE "CASI PROGRAM").
OHSU FOUNDATION
$70,000,000THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR THE KNIGHT CANCER INSTITUTE
PROVIDENCE ST VINCENT MEDICAL FOUNDATION
$10,000,000THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED TO THE CARDIOLOGY PROGRAM.
PROVIDENCE ST VINCENT MEDICAL FOUNDATION
$7,500,000THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED TO THE PROVIDENCE HEART INSTITUTE FOR THE HEART TRANSPLANT PROGRAM.
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
$6,250,000THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR THE PHIL AND PENNY KNIGHT INITIATIVE FOR BRAIN RESILIENCE.
ALBINA HEAD START
$5,000,000THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT.
SEI INC
$5,000,000THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT.
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
$4,500,000THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR THE PHIL AND PENNY KNIGHT INITIATIVE FOR BRAIN RESILIENCE.
THE BROOKINGS INSTITUTION
$2,000,000THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR THE FOREIGN POLICY PROGRAM.
FANCONI ANEMIA RESEARCH FUND
$1,000,000THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT.
STANFORD UNIVERSITY
$1,000,000THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR THE KNIGHT-HENNESSEY SCHOLARS PROGRAM.
THE PHOENIX CENTER
$250,000THIS GIFT HAS BEEN DESIGNATED FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT.