Cargill Corporate Gifts to Higher Education
What
Established in 1996, Cargill's Higher Education Initiative seeks to build mutually beneficial relationships with key schools that provide measurable value to Cargill businesses. Our primary objective is to increase Cargill's access to the best people and ideas relevant to our business' future by supporting projects with strategic grants at select schools. At this point, only US-based schools are supported through this initiative.
All parties involved benefit from Cargill’s Higher Education Initiative:
• Students gain improved programming and facilities; exposure to industry; career development and experience; scholarships and internships; and expanded career opportunities.
• Faculty members gain increased exposure to industry; new access to resources for programs; facilities and fellowships; and improved interaction and exchange with industry.
• Cargill gains improved recognition and visibility; access to students; relationship-building with faculty; access to critical thinking; and increased interaction among Cargill, the university and alumni.
Who
Eligibility for funding may be based on either previous activities or a well-established need for developing future relationships with particular colleges and universities. Key criteria includes: recruiting history and hiring success, fit with future Cargill needs, business and employee involvement, senior level management involvement, previous and ongoing business unit interaction, previous Cargill grantmaking, and commitment to excellence in targeted academic programs.
To date, a total of US $7.2 million has been committed to selected colleges and universities. These schools are:
• Cornell University
• Dartmouth College • Florida A & M University • Iowa State University • Kansas State University • North Carolina A & T • North Dakota State University • Purdue University • South Dakota School of Mines & Technology • St. Cloud State University • Texas A & M University • University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign • University of Memphis • University of Minnesota • University of North Dakota • University of Notre Dame • University of Texas-Austin • University of Washington • University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire • University of Wisconsin-Madison |
How
Cargill's Higher Education Initiative is coordinated at the corporate level by Cargill's Community Relations and HR-Talent Recruiting departments. Steering committees are established for designated schools to help determine the most strategic use of funds. Designated liaisons from each school work directly with Cargill steering committees and representatives from Community Relations and HR. Reports on the use of the grants are requested from the schools at the end of each grant cycle.
We invite representatives from educational institutions to review our grant application guidelines, which list the information to submit with your funding proposal to Cargill’s Higher Education Initiative.
For More Information
Mark Murphy
Community Relations Manager
(952) 742-2792