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Anne Ray Foundation

Annual Giving
$214.2M
Grant Range
$1000K - $10.0M

Anne Ray Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $214,181,129 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable - invitation only to pre-designated beneficiaries
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Varies widely - from $1M to multi-million annually per beneficiary
  • Geographic Focus: National (United States), with some international work through beneficiaries
  • Total Assets: $4.97 billion (2024)

Contact Details

Address: 6889 Rowland Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55344
Phone: 952-540-4050
Email: info@macphil.org
Website: https://www.macphilanthropies.org

Media Contact:
Leeanne Huber, Director of Communications
Phone: 952-460-7508
Email: lhuber@macphil.org

Overview

The Anne Ray Foundation is a supporting organization established upon the death of Margaret Anne Cargill in August 2006. As an heir to the Cargill Inc. fortune, Margaret Cargill (1920-2006) created two charitable entities: the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation and the Anne Ray Foundation. Together, these organizations form Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies (MACP), which ranks among the top ten foundations in the United States with combined assets exceeding $8 billion. The Anne Ray Foundation is legally structured as a supporting organization, meaning it can only make grants to seven specific beneficiary organizations explicitly named by Ms. Cargill in the foundation's formation documents. In 2023, the foundation distributed 100 grants totaling over $214 million. The foundation earned a perfect 100% score and Four-Star rating from Charity Navigator. The foundation's mission is to provide meaningful assistance and support to society, the arts, and the environment, with particular attention to overlooked causes and community-based programs.

Funding Priorities

Named Beneficiary Organizations

The Anne Ray Foundation can only provide grants to seven organizations specifically designated by Margaret Cargill:

  1. American Red Cross (International Services Division) - Previously received $8 million over three years for AIDS prevention in Siberia
  2. The Nature Conservancy - Environmental conservation work
  3. Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) - Public media and education
  4. YMCA of the USA (National Council of YMCAs) - Community programs and youth development
  5. Berea College (Kentucky) - Received approximately $2.3 million over six years for campus sustainability projects; annual budget $38 million
  6. American Swedish Institute (Minneapolis) - Received $4.2 million during Ms. Cargill's lifetime; operates with $2.2 million annual budget; could receive up to $2.2 million annually
  7. School for Advanced Research (Santa Fe, New Mexico) - Received approximately $1 million over four years for Native American scholar internships; operates with $3 million annual budget

Seven Funding Domains

While restricted to these seven beneficiaries, the foundation's grantmaking reflects strategic priorities across seven programmatic domains:

  • Environment - Conservation of natural resources and protection of natural habitats
  • Quality of Life - Supporting children, young adults, families, and older adults
  • Disaster Relief & Recovery - Emphasis on low-attention disasters
  • Arts & Cultures - Folk arts, Native American art, music, tactile art, and crafts
  • Animal Welfare - Domestic animals and injured wild animals
  • Teachers & Students - Educational support programs
  • Legacy & Opportunity - Multi-generational upward mobility initiatives

Funding Approach

The foundation spends at least 3.5% of its assets on charitable activities over time. In 2023, the average grant size was approximately $2.1 million. The foundation favors community-based, on-the-ground programs rather than policy initiatives or endowments, with particular attention to underserved causes.

Governance and Leadership

Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies Leadership (Shared Leadership Structure)

President: Heather [last name not disclosed] - Appointed April 2023, succeeding Paul Busch

Board Chair: Christy Morse (founding CEO)

Senior Leadership Team (as of 2023):

  • Liz Borer - General Counsel and Secretary of the Boards
  • Ted Chen - Vice President, Equity, Culture, and Learning
  • Kim Christianson - Vice President, Human Resources and Administration
  • Amber Rudell - Vice President, Strategic Planning
  • Leeanne Huber - Director of Communications

Organizational Philosophy

The leadership emphasizes "engaged relationships with grantee partners" and long-term partnerships, investing in grantees' leadership, management, and operational capabilities to create sustainable impact. The organization's founding philanthropist, Margaret A. Cargill, structured the Anne Ray Foundation as a supporting organization to ensure perpetual support for causes she deeply valued.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Anne Ray Foundation does not have a public application process.

As a supporting organization, the Anne Ray Foundation is legally restricted to making grants only to the seven beneficiary organizations specifically named by Margaret A. Cargill in its founding documents. These seven organizations were designated before Ms. Cargill's death in 2006, and no new beneficiaries can be added.

The foundation operates entirely on an invitation basis to its pre-designated beneficiaries. Organizations not among the seven named beneficiaries cannot apply for or receive funding from the Anne Ray Foundation.

For Named Beneficiaries Only

If your organization is one of the seven designated beneficiaries, grant proposals are handled by invitation through direct engagement with MACP program staff. Contact should be directed to the foundation's main office:

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed and vary based on the specific relationship between MACP and each beneficiary organization. The foundation's 2023 data shows a median grant duration of 36 months, with 53% of grants being renewals of existing partnerships.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation only grants to seven pre-designated organizations.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable for external organizations. For designated beneficiaries, the foundation maintains ongoing relationships with 53% of 2023 grants being renewals, indicating strong support for continuing partnerships.

Application Success Factors

For the Seven Named Beneficiaries

While external organizations cannot apply, the foundation's approach to its beneficiaries offers insights:

1. Long-Term Partnership Focus: The foundation emphasizes "engaged relationships with grantee partners" and invests in organizational capacity building, leadership development, and operational capabilities.

2. Community-Based Programs: MACP explicitly favors "community-based, on-the-ground programs rather than policy initiatives or endowments." Programs should demonstrate direct community impact.

3. Attention to Overlooked Causes: The foundation places "particular attention to overlooked causes" - projects addressing underserved populations or neglected issues align with the founder's values.

4. Multi-Year Support: With a median grant duration of 36 months and 53% renewal rate, the foundation supports sustained initiatives rather than one-off projects.

5. Strategic Domain Alignment: Projects should clearly align with one or more of the seven funding domains (Environment, Quality of Life, Disaster Relief & Recovery, Arts & Cultures, Animal Welfare, Teachers & Students, Legacy & Opportunity).

6. Operational Excellence: Given the foundation's investment in grantee capacity, demonstrating strong organizational management, leadership, and sustainability plans is critical.

7. Measurable Impact: The foundation tracks outcomes across 66 countries and maintains detailed records of grantmaking impact.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Not Open to Public Applications: This foundation is legally restricted to seven named beneficiaries only. If your organization is not one of these seven, you cannot receive funding from the Anne Ray Foundation.

  • Consider the Sister Foundation: The Margaret A. Cargill Foundation (MACF), the sister organization, operates on an invitation-only basis but is not restricted to pre-designated beneficiaries. However, unsolicited applications are not accepted there either.

  • Massive Scale: With nearly $5 billion in assets and over $214 million in annual giving to just seven organizations, this represents one of the most significant restricted funding sources in U.S. philanthropy.

  • Beneficiary Advantages: If you are one of the seven named beneficiaries, you have access to substantial, multi-year funding with a focus on organizational capacity building and long-term partnerships.

  • Strategic Focus: Even within the restriction to seven beneficiaries, the foundation maintains strategic priorities across seven domains, suggesting that beneficiary proposals should align with these focus areas.

  • Community-Based Emphasis: The foundation's preference for community-based, on-the-ground programs over policy work or endowments should guide proposal development for beneficiary organizations.

  • Relationship-Driven: With 53% of grants being renewals, maintaining strong relationships and demonstrating impact is key to continued support for beneficiary organizations.

References

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