Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies is a U.S.-based grantmaker supporting society, the arts, environment, animal welfare, education, disaster recovery, and quality of life.
MACP works to provide practical and meaningful support to communities, cultural and artistic work, environmental protection, animal welfare, and efforts that improve quality of life.
Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies is the umbrella for grantmaking entities funded by the late Margaret A. Cargill. MACP began in 1995 with the formation of Akaloa Resource Foundation, a name chosen to protect the founder’s anonymity and keep attention on grantee work. Margaret Cargill supported organizations globally, nationally, and in Southern California, often anonymously. After her death in 2006, Margaret A. Cargill Foundation was formed. MACP later integrated its grantmaking strategy across its entities and now operates through two grantmaking foundations: Margaret A. Cargill Foundation and Anne Ray Foundation.
MACP uses an invitation-based grantmaking model in defined interest areas and geographies. Its approach emphasizes long-term partnerships with capable organizations, measurable impact, community-based work, learning, and support for underserved or low-attention issues. MACP shares staff, strategies, processes, and platforms across its two grantmaking foundations to maximize resources for charitable activities. The organization favors strategic relationships with grantees and invests in their leadership, management, and operational capacity.
MACP has made more than $3 billion in cumulative grantmaking. In 2024, it paid $313.77 million across 392 grants. Its work spans seven domains, including quality of life, environment, disaster relief, arts, education, animal welfare, and legacy geographies. The 2024 annual report notes improvements in more than 15 measures in MACP’s third Grantee Perception Report, with grantees recognizing MACP as a long-term funder that provides relationship-based support beyond grant dollars.
MACP describes grantees as partners and co-learners. Its 2024 work included collaboration with organizations such as The Minneapolis Foundation and Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation for community responsiveness funding through the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation Fund. The organization also works with grantees, community members, strategic partners, vendors, consultants, and investment managers through its broader grantmaking and organizational practices.
MACP is composed of two grantmaking foundations: Margaret A. Cargill Foundation, a private foundation, and Anne Ray Foundation, a supporting organization. Margaret A. Cargill Foundation spends at least 5% of its assets on charitable activities over time. Anne Ray Foundation makes grants to organizations named in its formation documents and spends at least 3.5% of its assets on charitable activities over time. The two entities have different governance structures but share staff, strategies, processes, and platforms.
MACP’s 2024 grantmaking by domain was:
• Quality of Life: $74,340,000.
• Environment: $62,450,000.
• Disaster Relief & Recovery: $48,800,000.
• Legacy Programs / Legacy Giving: $43,000,000.
• Teachers & Students: $30,955,000.
• Arts & Cultures: $27,271,000.
• Animal Welfare: $12,500,000.
• Legacy & Opportunity / Local Initiatives: $12,212,000.
• Other: $2,239,000.
MACP’s stated values include making a difference, respect, learning, integrity, excellence, and humility. Its DEIJ approach emphasizes removing systemic barriers, supporting a culture of belonging, and working with grantees and communities through trust-based, long-term relationships.