MONMOUTH, Ill. — Monmouth College learned earlier this summer that it has been accepted into the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation’s 2009 Restricted Grant Program.

Monmouth College was among the first of a limited number of higher education institutions contacted by the foundation to apply to be part of the program, and not all of the applications were accepted. The initial gift of $10,000 has arrived, with funding to continue over a five-year period. The grant could ultimately have a value of close to $100,000.

According to the foundation’s Web site, Margaret A. Cargill was a woman of “incredible warmth and uncommon generosity.” The granddaughter of William Cargill, who co-founded Cargill Inc., one of the world’s largest agribusiness companies, Cargill donated a considerable amount of her wealth to causes that were dear to her, including the environment, the arts, disaster relief and children. In particular, teacher education was noted as one of her strongest philanthropic passions. Because her gifts almost always were made anonymously, hers was never a widely-known name in philanthropic circles.

Following her death in 2006, the Margaret A. Cargill Foundation has used her considerable wealth to continue support for those causes that were important to her.

“We are very proud that Monmouth was among the colleges that were asked to apply for and then chosen to receive Cargill Foundation funding,” said MC president Mauri Ditzler. “This is a generous gesture of major commitment to Monmouth and our mission.”