Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies
Contact information:
6889 Rowland Road
Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Phone: (952) 540-4050
Email: info@macphil.org
Website: http://www.macphilanthropies.org/
Type of foundation: Independent
Types of grants: Program, operating
Description: The Philanthropies serves as the umbrella over three grantmaking organizations founded by Margaret A. Cargill:
- The Margaret A. Cargill Foundation: The Foundation, created upon Ms. Cargill’s death in 2006, will have grantmaking programs reflecting her passions and priorities.
- Anne Ray Charitable Trust: During her lifetime, Ms. Cargill created the Trust to support only organizations that she specifically named and that reflect her values.
- Akaloa Resource Foundation: Ms. Cargill created the Foundation to support only organizations she specifically named, mostly serving Southern California, where she lived most of her life.
The Foundation will make grants in the areas of:
- Arts and Culture: This program will include grantmaking for Native arts and culture (grantmaking is underway), as well as arts education and folk arts (in development).
- Environment: The Foundation has launched grantmaking in this area. It will focus on building conservation capacity in nine key regions around the world.
- Relief, Recovery and Development: This program is still in development. It will support disaster relief and preparedness in the U.S. and around the world. The Foundation is developing a subprogram focused specifically on with a special focus on the Midwest Disaster Preparedness, Relief and Recovery.
- Aging Services: This program is still in development.
- Children and Families: This program is still in development.
- Animal Welfare: This program is still in development.
- Planned Health: This program is still in development. Health education for youth is an interest.
The Foundation seeks to make grants that address unmet needs; that give individuals and communities the tools to become self-sufficient; that will be sustainable after the Foundation’s support ends; and that build on and strengthen strong relationships within communities.
Sample grants: Several grants of $50,000 went to public media outlets in 2009 through the Restricted Grant Program, a time-limited grant program. Recipients included WHYY, WITF, WJCT, WMHT, WQED, WXXI and WSKG.
Fit for public broadcasting: There is clear evidence of interest in public media. Several gifts went to public media through a limited grantmaking program in 2009. It appears that future grantmaking to public media may center on television. However, the Foundation is interested in several areas that have convergence with public media’s work, including: disaster preparedness, arts education and aging services.
Eligibility: The Foundation apparently is not interested in making endowment gifts.
Deadline: The Foundation does not accept applications.
How to apply: The Philanthropies do not accept unsolicited proposals. However, inquiries are acceptable.
Giving range: Unclear at this time.
Assets: Currently approximately $2.1 billion. The total assets of the Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies are projected to total $6 billion to $9 billion (after stock sales are completed), which would make it one of the top foundations in the country.
Total giving: Gave $9.6 million through a restricted grants program in 2009.
