John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

• This is an invitation-only funder that does not accept unsolicited requests, so look for clear signals of fit before approaching it.
• Its stated focus is global, U.S. and Chicago priorities, covering climate change, criminal justice reform, revitalising local news in the U.S., artificial intelligence, the well-being of Native communities, and empowering young people in Nigeria, alongside commitments to journalism and democracy and to the strength and vitality of Chicago.
• Most grants to organisations are modest: about 8 in 10 of its 3,678 grants to organisations fall between $450 and $500,000, with a median grant of $85,000, so a request in that range is realistic, while the single $32,500,000 grant to The Miami Foundation, an organisation it funds every year that regrants to others, is not typical of what a new applicant should expect.
• A high share of its support is repeat giving - 77% of grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in recent prior filings - suggesting it favours sustained relationships, so be prepared for ongoing engagement rather than a single approach.
• It will not fund political activities or attempts to influence legislation, scholarships or tuition assistance, unsolicited grants to individuals outside its Fellows Program, annual fundraising drives, institutional benefits, honorary functions, or similar projects, so check these exclusions before applying.

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

• Community Solutions International · To bring the movement to end homelessness in the u.s. to a tipping point
  $21,000,0002024 tax year
• Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors · In support of the governance of artificial intelligence in the public interest
  $10,000,0002024 tax year
• RF Catalytic Capital · In support of invest in our future
  $7,500,0002024 tax year
• Research Foundation of the City University of New York · For data and project management and the coordination of technical assistance and support for the safety and justice challenge network
  $6,500,0002024 tax year
• Windward Fund · In support of the methane hub
  $5,000,0002024 tax year
• Research Foundation of the City University of New York · To support the safety and justice challenge research consortium, a mechanism to administer and manage research projects under the initiative
  $4,500,0002024 tax year
• Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Institute · In support of general operations
  $4,000,0002024 tax year
• Urban Institute · To serve as the coordinator and technical assistance provider for the just home project to advance targeted housing solutions to break the link between housing instability and incarceration under the safety and justice challenge
  $4,000,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.