Margaret a Cargill Foundation

EDEN PRAIRIE, MN EIN: 37-1758406
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Margaret A. Cargill Foundation (MACF) is a private grantmaking foundation based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Established in 2006 following the passing of Margaret Anne Cargill, an heir to the Cargill fortune, the foundation operates as part of Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies (MACP), an umbrella organization that also includes the Anne Ray Foundation. MACP ranks among the top ten foundations in the United States by combined assets.

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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

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

Mission: To provide meaningful assistance and support to society, the arts, and the environment.

The foundation supports efforts to enhance quality of life and prevent and relieve suffering of children, families, and older adults; preserve and promote the environment and the arts; and encourage the humane treatment of animals.

MACP develops and implements integrated grantmaking strategies across seven programmatic domains:

  • Arts & Cultures
  • Disaster Relief & Recovery
  • Environment
  • Animal Welfare
  • Quality of Life
  • Teachers & Students
  • Legacy & Opportunity

Within these domains, the foundation's program strategies are anchored in compelling issues where it partners to make meaningful, measurable, and sustainable difference in a defined period of time.

Grantmaking

The foundation made 250+ grants totaling approximately $120 million in 2024.

Grant Range

** Varies significantly by program, ranging from thousands to multi-million dollar grants. Typical awards range from $100 to $8,100,000.

Invitation Only

** Grant proposals are by invitation only.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

National focus with emphasis on the Upper Midwest and international presence across 66 countries. The foundation supports initiatives in numerous states and international locations including Bali, Bangkok, and Nairobi.

Grant Distribution by State

41states
+33 more states

States

AlaskaAlabamaArizonaCaliforniaColoradoConnecticutDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaGeorgiaHawaiiIowaIllinoisIndianaKentuckyMassachusettsMarylandMichiganMinnesotaMissouriMontanaNorth CarolinaNorth DakotaNebraskaNew HampshireNew JerseyNew MexicoNew YorkOhioOklahomaOregonPennsylvaniaRhode IslandSouth CarolinaSouth DakotaTennesseeTexasVirginiaVermontWashingtonWisconsinWest Virginia

Cities

AberdeenAddisonAlexandriaAnchorageAnnandaleAnnandaleonhudsonAnokaApple ValleyArcataArden HillsArlingtonAshevilleAshlandAtlantaBaltimoreBeloitBemidjiBensonBereaBerkeley

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Assets: $3.27 billion (MACF alone); $8.5 billion combined (MACF and Anne Ray Foundation)

2024 Financial Data:

  • Total Revenue: $87.8 million
  • Total Expenses: $190 million
  • Total Giving: $146.7 million
  • Annual Giving (combined MACP entities): $313.8 million

Staffing: 122 employees as of 2024

Since Founding: The organization has distributed more than $3 billion in grants since its establishment in 2006.

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$79M$158M$236M$315M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
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

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$41M$82M$122M$163M523 grants2020258 grants2021274 grants2022289 grants2023312 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

CLIMATEWORKS FOUNDATION$1.9MCOOPERATIVE FOR ASSISTAN…$1.8MCATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES$1.6MCOMMUNITY ACTION PARTNER…$1.5MCONCERN WORLDWIDE US INC$1.5MCATHOLIC RELIEF SERVICES$1.2MCENTER FOR DISASTER PHIL…$1.1MALIA$1.0MAMERICAN UNIVERSITY$1.0MAMHERST H WILDER FOUNDAT…$1.0M

Grant Size Distribution

250 grants across all recorded years

6<$50K5$50–100K38$100–250K50$250–500K80$500K–1M70$1–5M1$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

  • Christine Morse – Board Chair
  • Heather Kukla – President
  • Paul Busch – Former President/CEO
  • Shawn Wischmeier – Chief Investment Officer
  • Naomi Horsager – Chief Financial Officer
  • Kurian Thomas – Vice President of Programs
  • Leeanne Huber – Director of Communications

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

SHAWN WISCHMEIERCHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER$2.6MHEATHER KUKLAPRESIDENT$898KNAOMI HORSAGERTREASURER/CFO$632KKURIAN THOMASVP OF PROGRAMS$444KELIZABETH BORERSECRETARY & GEN COUNSEL$425KCHRISTINE MORSEBOARD CHAIR$105KPAUL BUSCHDIRECTOR$64KWIN NEUGERDIRECTOR$64KRIGHT REVEREND JOHN …DIRECTOR$52KANTONIA HERNANDEZPROGRAM COMMITTEE MEMBER$37KKATHY ANNETTEPROGRAM COMMITTEE MEMBER$29KKEVIN WASHINGTONPROGRAM COMMITTEE MEMBER$26K

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
CHRISTINE MORSEBOARD CHAIR9$105,280
RIGHT REVEREND JOHN CHANEDIRECTOR4.5$52,350
WIN NEUGERDIRECTOR6$63,700
STUART TOBISMANDIRECTOR4—
PAUL BUSCHDIRECTOR6$64,000
KATHY ANNETTEPROGRAM COMMITTEE MEMBER2$29,200
KEVIN WASHINGTONPROGRAM COMMITTEE MEMBER2$25,600
ANTONIA HERNANDEZPROGRAM COMMITTEE MEMBER3$37,300
HEATHER KUKLAPRESIDENT50$897,649
NAOMI HORSAGERTREASURER/CFO50$631,982
ELIZABETH BORERSECRETARY & GEN COUNSEL50$424,774
KURIAN THOMASVP OF PROGRAMS50$444,239
SHAWN WISCHMEIERCHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER50$2,600,920

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

2024

The foundation released its 2024 Annual Report titled "The Power of Stories," featuring stories from its seven domains along with financial information. Recent initiatives include supporting rural teachers and strengthening communities, with particular focus on Montana's rural education landscape. The foundation has also announced new governance leadership and board transitions.

Foundation Takes Pains to Answer, \u2018What Would Margaret Do?\u2019 -\

Contact Information

Main Office:

Media Contact:

Local Initiatives (Minnesota) Inquiries:

Grantee Portal: https://macp.fluxx.io/user_sessions/new

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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