Margaret a Cargill Foundation
The Margaret A. Cargill Foundation is a private foundation based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. It supports efforts to improve quality of life, relieve suffering, preserve and promote the environment and arts, and encourage humane treatment of animals.
Key facts about Margaret a Cargill Foundation
In short: Margaret a Cargill Foundation gave $146.7M across 312 grants in 2024 (avg $470K), top state Minnesota. 30% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 37-1758406
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $146,746,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 312
- Average grant
- $470,340
- Median grant
- $250,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (76 of 256, 2024)
- Total assets
- $3,269,094,860
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (17% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- Grant proposals are by invitation, and the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.3B
+0.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$146.7M
-10.0% YoY
Grant Count
312
+8.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$470K
-16.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Margaret a Cargill Foundation reported a distributable amount of $156.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Margaret a Cargill Foundation open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 76 of 256 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $224K; repeat grants $721K. How we count
Medians: $23K first-time, $421K repeat.
- 55% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+5%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 106% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
MACP’s mission is to provide meaningful assistance and support to society, the arts, and the environment. Its seven domains are Animal Welfare, Arts & Cultures, Disaster Relief & Recovery, Environment, Legacy & Opportunity, Quality of Life, and Teachers & Students. The foundation’s website describes work in these areas as including animal wellbeing, folk and Native American arts, disaster preparedness and recovery, natural resource conservation, support for people at different stages of life, and teaching and student success.
The foundation says it partners with capable organizations, favors community-based, on-the-ground programs over policy initiatives or endowments, and invests in grantee partners’ leadership, management, and operational capacity. Examples of grantees’ stated missions illustrate the kinds of organizations it supports: First Peoples Fund says it honors and supports First Peoples artists and culture bearers; Mid Atlantic Arts says it nurtures and funds diverse artistic expression; and Maliasili Initiatives says it accelerates community-based conservation through local organizations.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 312 grants totaling $146,746,000. Grant amounts ranged from $250 to $3,662,000, with a median grant of $250,000.
Among its largest 2024 grants were $3,662,000 to The Minneapolis Foundation for support for the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation Fund; $3,550,000 to Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation for a donor-advised fund; and $3,405,000 to the Humane Society of the United States for its Pets for Life program. Other large grants included $2,575,000 to First Peoples Fund for traditional arts across Turtle Island, $2,400,000 to Mid Atlantic Arts for folklife traditions and art in communities, and $2,382,000 to Oxfam-America for community preparedness, rapid response, and recovery in Asia.
Invitation Only
Grant proposals are by invitation, and the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. It makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
Ready to take the next step with Margaret a Cargill Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
MACP identifies the Upper Midwest and Southern California as specific geographies of importance to its founder within the Legacy & Opportunity domain. The foundation’s 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Minnesota (17%), Washington, DC (16%), Maryland (8%), and New York (7%), among other locations. Its listed grants also include work in Asia, Guatemala, East Africa, and the an individual recipient
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 312 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $132.7M (2020) to $163.0M (2023). In 2024 it made 312 grants totaling $146.7M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation ($4.8M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $35.4M.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($100,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,656 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 678 grants of 1,656 (41%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Minneapolis Foundation Minneapolis, MN | Support for the margaret a. Cargill foundation fund at the minneapolis foundation | $3,662,000 |
| Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation Saint Paul, MN | Support for a donor advised fund at the mn community foundation | $3,550,000 |
| Humane Society of the United States Washington, DC | Support for Its Pets for Life Program | $3,405,000 |
| First Peoples Fund Rapid City, SD | Support for Traditional Arts Across Turtle Island | $2,575,000 |
| Mid Atlantic Arts Baltimore, MD | Support for Folklife Traditions and Art in Communities | $2,400,000 |
| Oxfam-America Inc Boston, MA | Strengthening community preparedness, rapid response and recovery in asia | $2,382,000 |
| The Regents of the University of Minnesota Minneapolis, MN | Support for Its Partners for Wildlife Program | $2,065,000 |
| Lutheran Services in America Incorporated Washington, DC | Support for Its Rural Aging Action Network | $2,000,000 |
| Maliasili Initiatives Inc Essex Junction, VT | Supporting growth and impact of conservation efforts in east africa | $2,000,000 |
| Management Sciences for Health Inc Arlington, VA | Utz nan: supporting healthy mothers and babies in guatemala | $2,000,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3,269,094,860 | $87,823,175 | $189,969,985 | $146,746,000 |
| 2023 | $3,254,260,683 | $92,623,926 | $227,342,307 | $163,002,065 |
| 2022 | $3,270,710,714 | -$12,974,325 | $163,821,284 | $147,739,261 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,269,094,860 | $3,254,260,683 | $3,270,710,714 |
| Revenue | $87,823,175 | $92,623,926 | $-12,974,325 |
| Expenses | $189,969,985 | $227,342,307 | $163,821,284 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $166,104,567 | $180,700,087 | $167,725,068 |
| Net Investment Income | $94,754,501 | $113,378,754 | $45,654,022 |
| Distributable Amount | $156,599,882 | $155,576,071 | $176,690,188 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Christine Morse as board chair; Right Reverend John Chane, Win Neuger, Stuart Tobisman, and Paul Busch as directors; Kathy Annette, Kevin Washington, and Antonia Hernandez as program committee members; Heather Kukla as president; and Naomi Horsager as treasurer/CFO.
Margaret a Cargill Foundation is led by Heather Kukla, President since 2024 (on filings since 2020); 12 of 13 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Heather Kukla
President
Secretary, Vice President & General Counsel → Secretary, 2023
Secretary → President, 2024
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$547K (2020) → $898K (2024)
Christine Morse
Board Chair
On filings since 2020
9 hrs/week
$57K (2020) → $105K (2024)
Paul Busch
Director
Director, President & CEO → President & Ceo-Emer, 2023
President & Ceo-Emer → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$1.3M (2020) → $64K (2024)
Right Reverend John Chane
Director
On filings since 2020
4.5 hrs/week
$38K (2020) → $52K (2024)
Win Neuger
Director
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$41K (2020) → $64K (2024)
Stuart Tobisman
Director
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Naomi Horsager
Treasurer & CFO
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$547K (2020) → $632K (2024)
Shawn Wischmeier
Chief Investment Officer
On filings since 2020
50 hrs/week
$1.5M (2020) → $2.6M (2024)
Kurian Thomas
Vice President of Programs
On filings since 2022
50 hrs/week
$178K (2022) → $444K (2024)
Elizabeth Borer
Secretary & General Counsel
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$358K (2023) → $425K (2024)
Kathy Annette
Program Committee Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
$32K (2023) → $29K (2024)
Kevin Washington
Program Committee Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
$34K (2023) → $26K (2024)
Antonia Hernandez
Program Committee Member
New on the 2024 filing
3 hrs/week
$37K (2024)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Terrence Meersman (2020–2022) — Vice President of Programs
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $2.6M, to Shawn Wischmeier (Chief Investment Officer). 12 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 6889 Rowland Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Phone: (952) 540-4053
Website: https://www.macphilanthropies.org
Frequently asked questions about Margaret a Cargill Foundation
How much does Margaret a Cargill Foundation give each year?
Margaret a Cargill Foundation gave $146.7M across 312 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $163.0M across 289 grants.
What is Margaret a Cargill Foundation's typical grant size?
Margaret a Cargill Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $250,000, and its average grant was $470,340, across 312 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Margaret a Cargill Foundation that year got $224K on average.
Where does Margaret a Cargill Foundation give grants?
Margaret a Cargill Foundation's top state is Minnesota, with 17% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (16%) and Maryland (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (31 grants), Minneapolis, MN (26 grants), St. Paul, MN (20 grants) and New York, NY (14 grants).
Does Margaret a Cargill Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 18% of Margaret a Cargill Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (56 of 312) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Employee Service Award" (43 grants) and "Capacity Building Support" (3 grants).
Who are Margaret a Cargill Foundation's largest grantees?
Margaret a Cargill Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation ($4,750,000 across 2 grants), World Wildlife Fund Inc ($3,980,000 across 7 grants) and The Minneapolis Foundation ($3,662,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($100,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 8% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Margaret a Cargill Foundation?
Margaret a Cargill Foundation reported $3.3B in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $166.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $156.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Margaret a Cargill Foundation fund?
MACP’s mission is to provide meaningful assistance and support to society, the arts, and the environment. Its seven domains are Animal Welfare, Arts & Cultures, Disaster Relief & Recovery, Environment, Legacy & Opportunity, Quality of Life, and Teachers & Students. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Margaret a Cargill Foundation?
Grant proposals are by invitation, and the foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Margaret a Cargill Foundation's EIN?
Margaret a Cargill Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 37-1758406. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Margaret a Cargill Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
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