The McKnight Foundation, a Minnesota-based family organization that grants funds to support a better life for current community residents and future generations, recently approved more than $14 million through 124 grants in its fourth-quarter round of grantmaking.

A significant portion of these funds - $1.2 million - was allocated to environmental causes that aim to improve the quality of water in the Mississippi River, which runs through Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa.

"The water quality of the Mississippi River directly impacts 18 million people and countless wildlife that depend on it for their health and livelihoods," says Ted Staryk, McKnight's board chair. "McKnight is proud to support organizations like these and others who explore creative and forward-thinking farming solutions to protect this vital national resource."

Washington, D.C.-based American Rivers, Inc. received grants to promote better river management policies including regulations for the Mississippi and to support the Restoring the Mississippi River Wetlands to Manage Floods program. The Agriculture's Clean Water Alliance, the Allamakee Soil and Water Conservation District and the American Farmland Trust all received grants through this goal as well.

Foundations and organizations that provide annual funding might benefit from nonprofit accounting software, which can help board members audit funds and make sure the correct amounts are being distributed to various programs each year.