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John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

Annual Giving
$352.9M
Grant Range
$50K - $100.0M
Decision Time
3mo
0

John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $352.9 million (2024)
  • Total Assets: $9.2 billion
  • Decision Time: Varies by program (30 days for LOI response; longer for full proposals)
  • Grant Range: $50,000 - $850,000 typical; $1M - $10M for major initiatives
  • Geographic Focus: United States and International
  • Application Method: Primarily by invitation; 100&Change is open competition

Contact Details

Website: www.macfound.org Email: answers@macfound.org Phone: 312-726-8000 Address: Chicago, IL

Program-Specific Contacts: Available on individual program pages at macfound.org

Overview

Founded in 1970, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is one of the nation's largest philanthropies with total assets of $9.2 billion as of December 31, 2024. The Foundation paid out $352.9 million in grants and impact investments in 2024 to organizations and individuals in the United States and around the world. MacArthur supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. In 2015, MacArthur reorganized its grantmaking around three modes: Big Bets (time-limited investments with potential for transformative change), Enduring Commitments (long-standing areas intrinsic to the Foundation's identity), and Field Support (entrenching social considerations in broad essential fields). The Foundation announced in February 2025 that it is increasing its annual payout rate to at least 6% for the next two years. MacArthur is known globally for its prestigious MacArthur Fellows Program (the "Genius Grants") and its groundbreaking 100&Change competition awarding $100 million to a single transformative solution.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

MacArthur Fellows Program ("Genius Grants")

  • Amount: $800,000 per fellowship (paid over 5 years in quarterly installments)
  • Description: Unrestricted awards to extraordinarily talented and creative individuals as an investment in their potential
  • Application: No applications or nominations accepted; selection through anonymous nomination process
  • Annual Awards: 22 Fellows in 2024

100&Change Competition

  • Amount: Single $100 million grant
  • Description: Open competition for solutions to critical social challenges
  • Application: Open application process, runs every 3-4 years
  • Timeline: Applications open periodically; review process takes approximately one year
  • Eligibility: Nonprofit and qualifying for-profit organizations (individuals cannot apply)
  • Next Cycle: Finalists announced Spring 2025; Award recipient announced Winter 2025

Project Support Grants

  • Amount: Typically $50,000 - $850,000; some grants $1M - $10M range
  • Description: Strategic, long-term investments aligned with Foundation program strategies
  • Application: Generally by invitation from Program Officers; unsolicited proposals reviewed but rarely funded
  • Type: General operating support and project-specific funding

Expedited Grants (X-Grants)

  • Amount: $1,000 - $30,000
  • Description: For specific activities like meeting attendance, convenings, knowledge building, small research projects
  • Application: By invitation aligned with program strategies

Priority Areas

Big Bets (Time-Limited Transformative Investments)

  • Climate Solutions (winding down 2026): Ensuring Earth stays well below 2°C temperature increase; focuses on altering political discourse, advancing climate-friendly policies, expanding financing, and supporting power building. $458.7 million to 138 organizations invested.

  • Criminal Justice (winding down 2025): Addressing over-incarceration and racial/ethnic disparities by changing how America uses jails through the Safety and Justice Challenge. $323.1 million to 127 organizations invested.

  • Local News (launched 2023): Revitalizing local news to better inform communities and strengthen American democracy through Press Forward, a nationwide donor collaborative.

  • Nuclear Challenges (concluded 2023): Reduced nuclear risks for over three decades; invested roughly $100 million from 2015-2020 alone. $130.2 million to 94 organizations total.

  • On Nigeria (concluded 2024): Reducing corruption in Africa's most populous country. $139.5 million to 124 organizations invested.

Enduring Commitments (Long-Standing Core Areas)

  • Chicago Commitment: Supporting racial equity and inclusivity in Chicago through Culture, Equity, and the Arts (CEA) program; disbursed more than $120 million to 235 organizations in Chicago region (May 2016-February 2022)

  • Journalism & Media: Independent journalism and media in the U.S.; long-standing commitment essential to Foundation identity

Field Support

  • Impact Investments: Catalytic Capital Consortium (C3) initiative with up to $150 million committed; $390.5 million total committed to impact investments as of December 31, 2024
  • Philanthropy: Supporting the philanthropic field and sector infrastructure

What They Don't Fund

  • Scholarships or tuition assistance for undergraduate, graduate, or postgraduate studies
  • Grants to individuals (except MacArthur Fellows Program)
  • Political activities or attempts to influence action on specific legislation
  • Annual fundraising drives, institutional benefits, honorary functions, or ceremonial events
  • Generally does not fund unsolicited proposals (though they are reviewed)

Governance and Leadership

President

John Palfrey - Sixth president of the MacArthur Foundation, leading one of the nation's largest philanthropies. Palfrey emphasizes: "As a global foundation, we trust partners on the ground to know what works better than we do. And in Chicago, we trust local leaders to know what works for their block and their neighborhood better than we do."

Board of Directors

Governed by a Board of Directors of up to 16 persons including the President.

Board Chair: Juan Salgado (elected 2020) - Chairs Nominating Committee and serves ex officio on all Board committees

Recent Board Members (elected 2024):

  • Amy C. Falls - Chief Investment Officer at Northwestern University, chairs Investment Committee
  • William F. Lee - Leading trial, appellate, and intellectual property attorney, chairs Institutional Policy Committee
  • Alondra Nelson - Harold F. Linder Professor of Social Science at Institute for Advanced Study, leads Science, Technology, and Social Values lab

Other Board Members: Cecilia Muñoz, Dr. Mariko Silver, Ruth Simmons, Daniel Huttenlocher

Foundation Values

MacArthur's values guide all work: Creativity; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Empathy; Integrity; and Learning

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For Regular Project Grants:

  1. Review Guidelines: Thoroughly read grant guidelines at macfound.org/info-grantseekers to determine fit with grantmaking strategies
  2. Unsolicited Proposals: Foundation generally does not fund unsolicited proposals but does review them; very few selected for funding
  3. Program Officer Invitation: Most commonly, a Program Officer will invite you to draft a proposal aligned with specific program strategy and work with you to establish deadline
  4. Required Materials: Narrative covering context, proposed activities, project leadership, evaluation, and sustainability; documentation of organization composition, annual budget, project budget, audited financial statements, latest unaudited financial statements
  5. Proposal Review: Program Officer prepares analysis of proposal to share with Foundation leadership for consideration

For 100&Change Competition:

  • Open application process every 3-4 years
  • Time commitment: Majority of applicants report spending over 40 hours on application
  • Eligibility: Any organization or legal entity except government agencies; individuals cannot apply
  • Review stages: Participatory Review (October-November), Wise Head Panel (November-December), Finalists selection (Spring), Award recipient (Winter)

For MacArthur Fellows Program:

  • No applications or nominations accepted
  • Selection through anonymous, constantly changing pool of invited external nominators

Decision Timeline

  • Letter of Inquiry: Response within 30 days
  • Full Proposal: Duration varies depending on program and whether Board approval needed
  • 100&Change: Approximately one year from application to award announcement

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. The Foundation notes that very few unsolicited proposals are selected for funding. For 100&Change, thousands of applications compete for a single $100 million award.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations can submit unsolicited proposals at any time, though success rates are very low. Specific reapplication policies vary by program; consult with Program Officers for guidance on program-specific opportunities.

Application Success Factors

What Makes Applications Stand Out

According to the Foundation, "The strongest applications stood out not just for their vision, but for their intentionality, including clear and accessible language to genuine commitments to equity (including budgeting for reasonable accommodation)."

Evaluation Criteria (from 100&Change)

Feasible: Does the team have skills, capacity, relationships, and experience to deliver? Do budget and plans represent realistic understanding for successful implementation?

Durable: Will the solution have sustained impact? Does it expect to solve a problem in timeframe or create pathway to solving problem over time?

Just: Has team demonstrated commitment to equity, inclusion, and accessibility in ideation, design, staffing, and operations?

Strategic Alignment Factors

  1. Proximate Leadership: Foundation values following and trusting leaders proximate to their communities. As President Palfrey states: "We must prioritize their vision, their needs, and their dreams."

  2. Diversity and Inclusion: "The diversity of those who are doing the work... is essential and the breadth of the communities that are covered and covered well is an essential factor."

  3. Evidence Building: Grants are generally long-term, strategic investments focused on building evidence about what works and finding solutions to often intractable problems

  4. Community Vision: Strong emphasis on community-based leadership and perspectives of those closest to issues

Chicago Arts & Culture Specific (CEA Program)

Applications reviewed using four key attributes with equity lens:

  • Equity: Fair treatment, access, opportunity for all; elimination of barriers
  • Collaboration: Actively working with external partners for mutually beneficial outcomes
  • Connectivity: Using artistic/cultural practices to inspire empathy, encourage empowerment, bridge divides
  • Relevance: Creative work illuminating contemporary social inequities

Recent Funded Projects (2024 MacArthur Fellows Examples)

  • Ebony G. Patterson: Multimedia artist creating visually dazzling works exploring themes of visibility, beauty, race, class, violence, mourning, and regeneration
  • Alice Wong: Writer, editor, disability justice activist increasing political and cultural visibility of people with disabilities
  • Shailaja Paik: Historian exploring intersection of caste, gender, and sexuality in modern India through lives of Dalit women
  • Joseph Parker: Evolutionary biologist studying symbiosis and species interactions through rove beetles coexisting with ants

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Invitation-Based System: MacArthur primarily operates through Program Officer invitations rather than open applications. Building relationships with program staff and demonstrating alignment with specific strategies is crucial. While unsolicited proposals are reviewed, success rates are very low.

  2. Strategic Alignment Is Critical: Thoroughly understand MacArthur's current program strategies (Big Bets, Enduring Commitments, Field Support) before approaching. The Foundation invests in time-limited transformative initiatives and long-standing core commitments, not general charitable work.

  3. Emphasize Equity and Community Leadership: Applications must demonstrate genuine commitment to equity, inclusion, and accessibility throughout design, staffing, and operations. Prioritize perspectives of proximate leaders and those closest to the issues.

  4. Think Long-Term and Transformative: MacArthur seeks strategic, long-term investments that build evidence and tackle intractable problems. Projects should show potential for sustained, durable impact and pathways to solving problems over time.

  5. Clear, Intentional Communication: Use clear, accessible language and demonstrate intentionality in every aspect of the proposal. The strongest applications combine vision with practical feasibility, including realistic budgets and implementation plans.

  6. Consider 100&Change for Transformative Ideas: If you have a bold, evidence-backed solution to a critical social challenge requiring significant resources, the 100&Change competition offers an extraordinary $100 million opportunity, though competition is intense.

  7. Chicago-Based Organizations: Organizations in the Chicago region should explore the Chicago Commitment program, particularly the Culture, Equity, and the Arts (CEA) program, which offers general operating support through a participatory grantmaking approach focused on equity.

References

  1. MacArthur Foundation Official Website - Information for Grantseekers: https://www.macfound.org/info-grantseekers/ (Accessed 2025)

  2. MacArthur Foundation - Grant Guidelines and Funding Cycles: https://www.macfound.org/info-grantseekers/guidelines-funding-cycles (Accessed 2025)

  3. MacArthur Foundation - Financials: https://www.macfound.org/about/financials/ (Accessed 2025)

  4. MacArthur Foundation - MacArthur Fellows Program: https://www.macfound.org/programs/awards/fellows/ (Accessed 2025)

  5. MacArthur Foundation - 100&Change Competition: https://www.macfound.org/programs/awards/100change/applicants (Accessed 2025)

  6. MacArthur Foundation - Board of Directors: https://www.macfound.org/about/people/board-of-directors/ (Accessed 2025)

  7. MacArthur Foundation - About Big Bets: https://www.macfound.org/programs/bigbets/ (Accessed 2025)

  8. MacArthur Foundation - Chicago Commitment Program Strategy: https://www.macfound.org/programs/enduring-commitments/chicago-commitment/strategy (Accessed 2025)

  9. MacArthur Foundation - "Our New Guide to Demystify the Project Support Grant Application Process": https://www.macfound.org/press/perspectives/our-new-guide-to-demystify-the-project-support-grant-application-process (Accessed 2025)

  10. MacArthur Foundation - President's Essay "Returning to Fundamental Truths, Building an Inclusive Future": https://www.macfound.org/about/reflection-annual-essays/2025/president-essay (Accessed 2025)

  11. Inside Philanthropy - MacArthur Foundation Profile: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-m/macarthur-foundation (Accessed 2025)

  12. MacArthur Foundation Press Release - "Three Distinguished Leaders Join MacArthur Board of Directors": https://www.macfound.org/press/press-releases/three-distinguished-leaders-join-macarthur-board-of-directors (Accessed 2025)

  13. NPR - "Here's who made the 2024 MacArthur Fellows list": https://www.npr.org/2024/10/01/nx-s1-5131324/2024-macarthur-fellows (Accessed 2025)

  14. MacArthur Foundation - Frequently Asked Questions: https://www.macfound.org/about/frequently-asked-questions (Accessed 2025)

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