John S and James L Knight Foundation
Between its 2022–2024 filings, John S and James L Knight Foundation made 346 grants to Florida organizations totaling $96,206,759 — median $110,350. Here is what they actually funded, from their IRS 990-PF filings. A note on dates: 990-PF filings become public one to two years after the fiscal year they cover, so 2024 is the newest year on public record — giving patterns persist, but always confirm current priorities with the funder.
Winnability verdict
Apply Our reading as of October 11, 2026, from filings through 2024.
- Their filing publishes an application route — the door is open (details under “How to approach them” below).
- A real pattern, not a one-off: 115 grants in arts & culture on their Florida record ($25,557,134).
- Size the ask from their record: median grant $110,350, largest $4,000,000.
Deadline: Deadline, per their filing: “| Deadlines: EACH FUNDING OPPORTUNITY WILL HAVE ITS OWN APPLICATION CRITERIA AND DEADLINES.”
The verdict is our judgment from public filings — the funder’s own process statements are quoted where they exist, and funders make their own decisions. Verify with the funder before applying.
What they actually fund
- Arts & culture — 115 grant(s), $25,557,134
- Youth & family services — 26 grant(s), $12,141,659
- Education & literacy — 23 grant(s), $7,649,380
- Animal welfare — 10 grant(s), $10,112,188
A grant that serves more than one cause is counted under each cause it fits, so the totals above can overlap — the headline grant count above is the true total.
Where their Florida grants land: Miami, Miami Beach, Coral Gables, Tallahassee, St Petersburg.
Grants on the record
The largest itemized Florida grants in their filings, one row per recipient. “Grants” counts how many times they funded that recipient in the years on record; the amount and purpose are from the largest of those grants.
| Years | Recipient | Grants | Largest grant | Stated purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022–2024 | The Miami Foundation | 53 | $4,000,000 | To Provide Up to $10,000,000 Towards the Administrative Costs of Press Forward to Ensure That the Entire Press Forward Initiative Maximizes Opportunities, Especially in Its Early Stages, for Positive Impact in Sustainable Local Journalism While Being Efficiently Run. |
| 2022–2024 | Florida International University Foundation Inc | 8 | $3,500,000 | To Support the Growth of the School of Computing and Information Sciences (scis) at Florida International University As It Seeks to Become a Leading School for Computer Science and Engineering in Florida and the Go-to Talent Pipeline for Industry in the Region. |
| 2022–2024 | New World Symphony Inc | 8 | $1,666,667 | To Support the Use of Evolving Technologies to Reimagine the Concert Experience, Expand the Symphony's Educational Network, and Build Larger Audiences Who Have a Greater Understanding of Classical Music. |
| 2022–2024 | Various - Matching Gifts to Public Charities | 3 | $1,199,635 | Other Description |
| 2022–2024 | Institute of Contemporary Art Miami Inc | 3 | $1,000,000 | To Expand and Digitally Equip the Facilities of the Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami By Purchasing and Renovating a Building Adjacent to Its Current Site. |
| 2022–2024 | Miami Dade College Foundation Inc | 10 | $1,000,000 | To Provide a 1:1 Match of Miami-dade Countys $5,000,000 Contribution and City of Miamis $2,000,000 Contribution of American Rescue Plan Act Funding to Miami Dade College for the Creation of New Degree and Certificate Programs in Applied Ai and Related Emerging Technologies, and the Hiring of Key Fac |
| 2023–2024 | Miami Waterkeeper | 2 | $1,000,000 | To Support the Growth of Miami Waterkeeper, a Climate Resilience Nonprofit Organization, Through the Hiring of Executive Leadership and the Development and Implementation of a Digital Communications and Product Strategy. |
| 2022–2024 | Miami-dade Innovation Authority Inc | 3 | $1,000,000 | To Support the Establishment of the Miami-dade Innovation Authority (mdia), a Nonpartisan Initiative to Accelerate Adoption of Technologies That Improve Community Outcomes in Climate Resiliency, Health and Financial Inclusion in Miami-dade County, Especially By Local Government. |
How to approach them
Apply: THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, KNIGHT FOUNDATION ISSUES OPEN CHALLENGES OR CALLS FOR PROPOSALS FOCUSED ON SPECIFIC FUNDING PRIORITIES. YOU CAN RECEIVE UPDATES AND NOTIFICATIONS ABOUT UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES BY GOING TO OUR WEBSITE, WWW.KF.ORG, AND SUBSCRIBING TO OUR NEWSLETTER. | Deadlines: EACH FUNDING OPPORTUNITY WILL HAVE ITS OWN APPLICATION CRITERIA AND DEADLINES. | Restrictions: ANY RESTRICTIONS OR LIMITATIONS ON AWARDS, SUCH AS BY GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS, CHARITABLE FIELDS, KIND OF INSTITUTIONS OR OTHER FACTORS: -MEDICAL RESEARCH, ORGANIZATIONS OR PROJECTS WHOSE MISSION IS TO PREVENT, ERADICATE AND/OR ALLEVIATE THE EFFECTS OF A SPECIFIC DISEASE -POLITICAL CAMPAIGNS AND LEGISLATIVE LOBBYING EFFORTS -PROJECTS THAT EXCLUSIVELY SERVE RELIGIOUS PURPOSES -DIRECT SUPPORT FOR INDIVIDUALS | Website: https://www.kf.org | ~513 grants/yr, median $85,300
Source: 990-PF Part XV via grantmakers.io.
Full filings on ProPublica · EIN 650464177
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Data: itemized grants from IRS 990-PF filings through 2024, via public records. Page updated October 11, 2026. Winnable Grants is not affiliated with John S and James L Knight Foundation; figures are our reading of public filings — verify with the funder before applying. Nothing here is legal or financial advice.