Margaret A Cargill Foundation
Margaret A Cargill Foundation consistently distributes significant assets, with expenses often exceeding revenue, supported by a multi-billion dollar endowment.
EIN: 205434405 · Eden Prairie, MN · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Expenses | $179.0M |
| Program Spending | 90% |
| Net Assets | $2.8B |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Margaret A Cargill Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Margaret A Cargill Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Margaret A Cargill Foundation
Margaret A Cargill Foundation (EIN: 205434405) is a nonprofit organization based in Eden Prairie, MN. The organization reported total revenue of $0 and total assets of $0 according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Margaret A Cargill Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Margaret A Cargill Foundation is a major nonprofit, with 5 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2015). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of -40.5%.
Key Financial Metrics (2015)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $73.2M |
| Total Expenses | $179.0M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-105,763,517 |
| Total Assets | $2.9B |
| Total Liabilities | $95.1M |
| Net Assets | $2.8B |
| Operating Margin | -144.5% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 3.3% |
| Months of Reserves | 192.4 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2015, Margaret A Cargill Foundation reported a deficit of $105.8M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 192.4 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 3.3% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 5 years of filings (2011–2015), Margaret A Cargill Foundation's revenue has declined at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -40.5%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | +11.7% | -10.9% | -5.9% |
| 2014 | -73.8% | +147.2% | -1.4% |
| 2013 | +356.3% | -13.2% | +4.7% |
| 2012 | -90.6% | +96.9% | +15.6% |
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Margaret A Cargill Foundation with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 10%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 0%
According to IRS 990 filings, Margaret A Cargill Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 10%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 0%. With 90% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2015)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $105.8M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 3.3%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The provided data consistently shows 0% officer compensation, which suggests that either no officers are compensated, or their compensation is categorized differently and not reflected in this specific metric, indicating a need for deeper scrutiny of their compensation practices.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Margaret A Cargill Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Consistent 0% officer compensation reported, which may obscure actual executive remuneration if categorized elsewhere.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Margaret A Cargill Foundation:
- Substantial asset base (e.g., $2.8B in 2015) providing long-term financial stability.
- High program spending, with expenses often exceeding revenue, indicating significant grantmaking activity.
- Consistent history of large-scale distributions, demonstrating commitment to mission.
- Strong financial capacity to support its philanthropic goals.
Frequently Asked Questions about Margaret A Cargill Foundation
Is Margaret A Cargill Foundation a legitimate charity?
Margaret A Cargill Foundation (EIN: 205434405) is a registered tax-exempt nonprofit based in Minnesota. Our AI analysis gives it a Mission Score of 85/100. It has 5 years of IRS 990 filings on record. 1 red flag identified. 4 strengths noted. Financial health grade: B.
How does Margaret A Cargill Foundation spend its money?
Margaret A Cargill Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark.
Are donations to Margaret A Cargill Foundation tax-deductible?
Margaret A Cargill Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 205434405). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
Where is Margaret A Cargill Foundation located?
Margaret A Cargill Foundation is headquartered in Eden Prairie, Minnesota and files with the IRS under EIN 205434405.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Margaret A Cargill Foundation have?
Margaret A Cargill Foundation has 5 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends.
Is Margaret A Cargill Foundation a good charity?
Based on the available data, the foundation appears to be a highly effective grantmaking organization, consistently distributing substantial funds to its programs. Its large asset base and significant program spending suggest a strong capacity to fulfill its mission.
How does the foundation manage its expenses relative to its revenue?
The foundation frequently incurs expenses that exceed its revenue, as seen in 2015 ($178.9M expenses vs. $73.1M revenue) and 2014 ($200.8M expenses vs. $65.5M revenue). This indicates a strategy of drawing down from its substantial assets to fund its initiatives rather than relying solely on annual income.
What is the trend in the foundation's assets?
The foundation maintains a very strong asset base, consistently ranging between $2.5 billion and $3.1 billion over the five-year period, indicating long-term financial stability despite significant annual distributions.
Why is officer compensation reported as 0%?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings is unusual for an organization of this size. It could mean that officers are not compensated, or their compensation is reported under a different category, or they are compensated by a related entity. Further investigation into their full IRS Form 990 would be needed to clarify this.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Margaret A Cargill Foundation showing financial trends over 5 years of public records:
Over 5 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2015), Margaret A Cargill Foundation's revenue has declined by 87.5%, moving from $585.2M to $73.2M. Total assets increased by 12.3% over the same period, from $2.6B to $2.9B. Total functional expenses rose by 276.3%, from $47.6M to $179.0M. In its most recent filing year (2015), Margaret A Cargill Foundation reported a deficit of $105.8M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $95.1M in liabilities against $2.9B in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 3.3%), resulting in net assets of $2.8B.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | $73.2M | $179.0M | $2.9B | $95.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $65.5M | $200.9M | $3.1B | $76.1M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $250.4M | $81.3M | $3.1B | $64.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $54.9M | $93.6M | $3.0B | $51.0M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $585.2M | $47.6M | $2.6B | $18.4M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2015: Revenue of $73.2M, expenses of $179.0M, and assets of $2.9B (revenue +11.7% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $65.5M, expenses of $200.9M, and assets of $3.1B (revenue -73.8% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $250.4M, expenses of $81.3M, and assets of $3.1B (revenue +356.3% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $54.9M, expenses of $93.6M, and assets of $3.0B (revenue -90.6% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $585.2M, expenses of $47.6M, and assets of $2.6B.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Margaret A Cargill Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Margaret A Cargill Foundation is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.