Logo for InfluenceWatch InfluenceWatch

Donate
Non-profit

John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

MacArthur Foundation logo, current as of March 2013 (link)
Website:

www.macfound.org
Location:

CHICAGO, IL
Tax ID:

23-7093598
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)-PF

Budget (2023):

Revenue: $613,786,298
Expenses: $415,250,452
Assets: $8,672,283,398
Type:

Grantmaking organization
Formation:

1970
Board Chair:

Marjorie Scardino
President:

John Palfrey

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation (also known as the MacArthur Foundation) was the 20th-largest foundation in the world as of 2024, with total assets over $8 billion. 1 From 2000 to 2017, MacArthur granted an average of just over $200 million each year to programs in support of higher education, the arts, mental health, and a large number of left-of-center causes including human rights, international affairs, disarmament, environmentalist policy, population control, abortion access, economic development, affordable housing, and juvenile justice policy. 2

Many left-of-center grantees have received more than $5 million in MacArthur grants since 1987, among them Planned Parenthood, the Population Council, the Carter Center, ProPublica, Union of Concerned Scientists, Environmental Defense Fund, ClimateWorks, and International Crisis Group.3 Since 2015, the foundation has focused its grantmaking on “Big Bets” — program areas that include climate change, criminal justice reform, and nuclear nonproliferation.4

The MacArthur Foundation also funds a Fellows Program, popularly known as “Genius Grants.” Fellowships are five-year, unrestricted “stipends” to individuals “who show exceptional merit and promise of continued creative work.” In 2025, the stipend was for $800,000. 5 67 Most fellows are not noticeably political, but a sizeable minority are recognized because of their left-of-center political activism. Grantees have included a number of environmentalists and community organizers, 8 9 and transgender performer. 5 The left-of-center weekly Chicago Reader wrote in 2015: “There could hardly be a more liberal grant than the MacArthur Fellowship.” 10

The Foundation was started by John D. MacArthur, a banker and insurance salesman who was one of two billionaires alive at the time of his death. He created the MacArthur Foundation and staffed its board with right-of-center individuals and Republicans, including two Bankers Life and Casualty executives, radio commentator Paul Harvey, and former Nixon administration Treasury Secretary William Simon. MacArthur’s son J. Roderick MacArthur, however, was left-of-center and appointed like-minded individuals to the board. By 1981, nearly all right-of-center members on the board except for Paul Harvey had resigned. 11

History

John D. MacArthur was the sole owner of Bankers Life and Casualty, which he bought in 1935 for $2,500 and grew to be the largest privately held insurance company in the United States.11 He reinvested much of his profits in real estate, which included thousands of acres in and around Palm Beach, Florida and 19 office buildings and 6,000 apartments in New York City. At the time of his death in 1978, Bankers had more than $1 billion in assets and MacArthur was one of only two billionaires in America.12

Lewis Beman has written in Fortune that MacArthur was a “staunch conservative with political views to suit his nineteenth-century personality.” Concurring, New York Daily News reporter Kiki Levathes described MacArthur as an “arch conservative” who complained, “The liberals have destroyed what makes this country great.”12

Early Political Division (1970-1981)

When the MacArthur Foundation was created in 1970, it had six board members: William Kirby, two executives from Bankers Life and Casualty, radio commentator Paul Harvey, MacArthur’s wife Catherine, and MacArthur’s son Roderick. “I made the money,” MacArthur told the board, “you guys will have to figure out what to do with it.”13

In a 1976 interview with the Chicago Tribune, MacArthur said, “I’ve seen too many people, including Henry Ford, try to administer their estates from the grave. You have changing times. Besides, you lay down rules and people don’t follow them. So, I’ll trust in the Almighty that my trustees will do more good for the country than I would.”14 Bankers Life president Robert Ewing, who was the foundation’s first chairman of the board, said, “We’re mostly a bunch of Midwestern businessmen devoted to free enterprise and opposed to more government controls. That’s the way we operate our businesses, and that’s the way we will run this foundation.”15

When MacArthur died of cancer on January 6, 1978, the foundation assumed his assets. Roderick MacArthur began to angle for control, and the foundation made its first two grants of $50,000 each to Amnesty International and the California League of Cities.13

According to an interview then-MacArthur Foundation Fellow program director Kenneth Hope gave to the New York Times, “Rod MacArthur was the kind of guy who harangued total strangers in restaurants about PCB levels in whitefish,” MacArthur Foundation Fellow program director Kenneth Hope told the New York Times Magazine.16

Alleging conflicts of interest and misuse of the foundation’s assets by two board members who were top executives of Bankers Life, Roderick threatened lawsuits. As a compromise, the board agreed to expand. The Bankers Life executives appointed two new members, former Nixon White House Treasury Secretary William Simon and former University of Illinois president John Corbally. Rod MacArthur appointed two left-of-center members, scientist Jonas Salk and physicist Murray Gell-Mann. Three other members with no ties to either Rod MacArthur or Bankers Life were appointed, Ford administration Attorney General Edward Levi, former M.I.T. president Jerome Wiesner, and former First National Bank of Chicago board chairman Gaylord Freeman. 17 15

The board argued over the direction of the foundation. Roderick and Simon “fought openly,” wrote Brenda Shapiro in Chicago magazine. “Board members, unable to work together, established separate fiefdoms not only for grant-making decisions but for the complex affair of getting Bankers ready for sale.” By 1981, all right-of-center board members except for Harvey had resigned from the board, and Roderick MacArthur began to move the foundation towards left-of-center. 18

Left-of-center Leaning and Creation of the Genius Awards (1981-1989)

One of Roderick MacArthur’s earliest initiatives was the MacArthur Fellows Program, nicknamed “Genius Grants” by the media. With the first grants in 1981, the program was ridiculed by detractors on both the left and the right. They argued that too many of the grantees, which included scientists, writers, academics, artists, and musicians, were already at the height of their careers. Left-of-center Commentator Michael Kinsley argued, “Not one of the first MacArthur Fellows is suffering from lack of recognition for his or her talents… not one really faces financial obstacles to exercising his or her creativity.”19

Several left-of-center grantees included the American Civil Liberties Union‘s (ACLU) Morton Halperin, Population Bomb author Paul Ehrlich, global population control advocate John Holdren, leader of the unilateral nuclear freeze movement Randall Forsberg, and founders of the socialist periodical Dissent Irving Howe and Meyer Schapiro.89 Additional fellows included advocates for a variety of left-of-center causes including homelessness, environmentalism, abolishing the death penalty, prisoners’ rights, and the peace movement. Writing in U.S. News & World Report, John Leo described MacArthur fellows as “gender ideologues” and “low-luster laborers in the traditional vineyards of the left.”20 Sam Worley, Deputy Editor of the leftist “alternative” weekly Chicago Reader, wrote, “There could hardly be a more liberal grant than the MacArthur Fellowship.”21

Another initiative started by Roderick in 1980 was the foundation’s $19 million bailout of Harper’s Magazine. A few years later, the foundation turned the magazine over to a new Harper’s Magazine Foundation, and Roderick’s son Rick was named publisher. With Rick MacArthur leading, Harper’s Magazine began a left-of-center perspective in publications. 22

The foundation’s first president, John Corbally, supported Roderick’ MacArthur’s left-of-center agenda and launched initiatives in support of public radio, peace and security, mental health, and the environment.13

Adele Simmons Era (1989-1999)

Adele Simmons became president in 1989 after twelve years as president of Hampshire College, an experimental alternative school providing “individualized” learning, no strict curriculum requirements, and “narrative evaluations” rather than traditional grades.23 Simmons launched the foundation’s Population Program, paving the way for tens of millions of dollars in grants to abortion providers or advocates including Planned Parenthood, the Population Council, and the Population Reference Bureau. 24

During Simmons’s tenure, the foundation awarded $100,000 to a juvenile justice program led by former Weather Underground leader Bernardine Dohrn. In the 1960s, Dohrn had celebrated as a “revolutionary” act the murder of Sharon Tate by the Charles Manson “family,” and her Underground had at one point “declared war” on the United States.25

Expansion of Left-of-center Grantmaking (1999-2024)

MacArthur’s third president Jonathan Fanton, who led the foundation from 1999 through 2009, oversaw grants to organizations that opposed the death penalty, advocated for increased environmental regulation, supported public housing programs, and funded the International Criminal Court. 26 27 Fanton’s successor, Robert Gallucci, who led the foundation from 2009 through 2014, launched the Democracy project, which provided over $30 million to left-of-center organizations focused on voting rights24

Julia Stasch became the president of the MacArthur Foundation in 2014. Stasch joined the MacArthur Foundation in 2001 as vice president for U.S. programs, where she was responsible for programs focused on justice, housing, education, community and economic development, and social and economic policy. Prior to joining the foundation, she served as Department of Housing Commissioner for the City of Chicago and Chief of Staff to then-Mayor Richard M. Daley (D). During President Bill Clinton’s first term, Stasch served as Deputy Administrator of the General Services Administration. 28

Under the leadership of Stasch, the foundation has focused its grantmaking on what it calls “Big Bets.” These programs include Climate Solutions, Criminal Justice, Impact Investments, and Nuclear Challenges. 4 In 2014, the foundation categorized its grantmaking in the U.S. as follows: $20.5 million for Juvenile Justice, $25 million for Digital Media and Learning, $15 million for Community and Economic Development, and $9.5 million for Housing. Internationally, the foundation granted $20.5 million to Conservation and Sustainable Development, $17.6 million to Human Rights and International Justice, $11.3 million to Population and Reproductive Health, and $15.5 million to International Peace and Security. 29

Palfrey Era (2019-)

As of May 2025, the president of the MacArthur Foundation is John Palfrey, who was named president of the foundation in 2019. Palfrey was a former executive director of the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society and former head of school for the northeastern preparatory boarding school Phillips Academy Andover. 30

During this time, the MacArthur Foundation continued its sizeable grantmaking to left-of-center organizations, especially to climate change and racial justice-focused organizations. 31

In May 2025, the MacArthur Foundation helped to informally convene other major foundations, including the left-of-center Ford Foundation and Gates Foundation as well as the right-of-center Charles Koch Foundation, in order to plan opposition to second Trump administration efforts to target the tax-exempt statuses of politically charged nonprofit organizations. The foundations discussed whether to seek legal representation individually or as a class if they were targeted, and some of the foundations also contributed to communications efforts to push back against the Trump administration initiative. 32

As of September 2025, the MacArthur Foundation was listed as one of several organizations, including the Ford Foundation and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, to fund a new media-based initiative started by the Public Media Co. intended to provide $100 million towards roughly 1,600 funding local radio station and media groups following the National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) losing federal funding earlier in the year. 33

Activities

Among the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s main activities are its “Big Bets” initiative, which, as of May 2025, includes programs on climate change, criminal justice, local news, and Nigeria. 34

Other programs include its fellowship program, also known as the “Genius Grant,” and many other grant programs. 31

Climate Change

MacArthur advocates for placing “a price on carbon,” curbing methane emissions, reducing reliance on fossil fuels, increasing the use of renewable sources, and securing international climate agreements.35 A primary mechanism for pursuing these goals has been the foundation’s participation in the Energy Foundation, a collaborative “pass-through” effort launched in 1991 with the Pew Charitable Trusts and Rockefeller Foundation. 36 The Energy Foundation bundles donations in order to make large grants to environmentalist and other left-of-center causes and organizations. These include the Natural Resources Defense Council, Union of Concerned Scientists, Sierra Club Foundation, Environmental Defense Fund, the U.S Climate Action Network (US-CAN), and the Center For American Progress. 37 From 1991 through 2018, the MacArthur Foundation provided more than $84 million to the Energy Foundation. 38

Additionally, from 2015 through 2018, MacArthur Foundation gave $13.5 million to the environmentalist “pass-through” bundler ClimateWorks and tens of millions of dollars more to left-of-center groups like Earthworks, Natural Resources Defense Council, Climate Group, Environmental Defense Fund, New Venture Fund, World Resources Institute, Climate Central, ecoAmerica, and Sierra Club. 39

Criminal Justice

A primary mechanism for pursuing its criminal justice goals is MacArthur’s Safety and Justice Challenge, which funds projects throughout the U.S. that develop plans for “creating fairer, more effective local justice systems using innovative, collaborative, and evidence-based solutions.”40

As part of its 2017 funding round, MacArthur funded Mayors for Smart on Crime, an initiative of the Center for American Progress founded by Democratic Party operative John Podesta. Led by 10 Democratic mayors, the initiative rejected what it claimed were “outdated tough on crime approaches” due to being “short-sighted, ineffective, and disproportionate in their effect on black and Latino communities.”41 Instead, Mayors for Smart on Crime advocated for “fair laws,” “just and proportional responses,” and “comprehensive approaches outside of the justice system—in public and behavioral health, education, jobs, and housing.”42

Another example of the MacArthur Foundation’s preference for left-of-center policy towards criminal justice was its support for the William J. Brennan Center for Justice report, “Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Jails: Recommendations for Local Practice.” The report alleged that disparities in arrest and incarceration rates were related to the controversial concept of “implicit racial bias” and proposed numerous methods to reduce this supposed bias.43

MacArthur also funded efforts to discover and support journalists supportive of criminal justice reform policies. In 2017, the foundation gave $200,000 to the left-of-center Poynter Institute “to design and convene a series of regional workshops for reporters… aimed at providing them with the practical skills, technical assistance, and access to sources they need in order to report effectively on local criminal justice systems and jail overuse.” 44

The MacArthur Foundation is one of 16 organizations that fund the Democracy Frontlines Fund, an activist group created in 2020 as a project of the left-of-center Libra Foundation to combat “systemic racism.” 45 Other notable groups include the JPB Foundation, the Heising-Simons Foundation, the Hewlett Foundation, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and the Schmidt Family Foundation. According to Democracy Frontlines Fund’s 2023 report, from 2020 through 2023, the funding groups donated roughly $79 million to the Fund. 46

Local News

Beginning in 2023, the MacArthur Foundation began making grants to support local news in an initiative called “Press Forward.” From 2023 to 2024 the MacArthur Foundation gave 72 grants totaling $93.7 million to 67 organizations, including millions of dollars to support journalism focused on climate change. 47

Nigeria

Beginning in 2016, the MacArthur Foundation began giving grants to support public services, accountable governance, and civil society in Nigeria. From 2015 to 2024, the MacArthur Foundation gave 340 grants totaling $154.1 million to 135 organizations as part of its Nigeria initiative. 48

Chicago Commitment

The MacArthur Foundation describes its “Chicago Commitment” as an “enduring commitment.” The purpose of this initiative is to “advance racial equity and build a more inclusive Chicago.” Through this initiative, the MacArthur Foundation supports civic leaders devoted to critical race theory concept of racial equity as well as artists in Chicago. The Chicago Commitment has been ongoing since 1979. In that time, the MacArthur Foundation has given $1.7 billion to nearly 1,800 Chicago organizations and individuals. 49

The Courage Project

In 2025, the MacArthur Foundation joined a coalition of groups to launch The Courage Project, a national initiative recognizing “everyday acts of civic bravery” by individuals and nonprofit organizations across the United States. The project was established with an initial $5 million commitment and provides awards ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 to support grassroots civic engagement efforts.50

Meet the Moment Initiative

In 2025, the MacArthur Foundation partnered with the Trust Based Philanthropy Project through their “Meet the moment” initiative. This initiative seeks to bring its supporters together “in solidarity with nonprofits.” The group claims that the political climate could pose risks to nonprofits through reductions in funding, legal concerns, and lack of staff. 51

Past Activities

American Democracy

MacArthur launched an American Democracy project that ran from 2012 to 2016, granting more than $30 million to mostly left-0f-center advocacy organizations focused on voting access. Grantees included the American Civil Liberties Union, American Democracy Program, Advancement Project, Brennan Center for Justice, Common Cause, Democracy 21, Voting Rights Institute, and Justice at Stake. 52 Recipients of American Democracy grants have advocated for automatic voter registration, elimination of photo identification requirements, minimum early voting periods, restoring voting rights to criminals with felony convictions, public financing of presidential and congressional elections, and government funding of political campaigns.53 54 55

Voter Registration Grants

According to its 2021 tax filings, the MacArthur Foundation made a $1 million grant to left-of-center voting and redistricting organization New Georgia Project. According to the form, the grant was listed as being granted to the organization, “in support of general operations.” 56 In addition the 2021 tax form liste  grants towards local election-related initiatives in Nigeria. 56

Safety and Justice Challange

The Safety and Justice Challange was a collaborative project of the MacArthur Foundation that advocated for “reducing jail incarceration and increasing equity for all.” 57 According to its website, the Challange created a network of funding local cities and jurisdictions for the purpose of reforming their criminal justice policy through, “reducing jail populations and eliminating racial and ethnic disparities.” 58 According to the MacArthur Foundation’s 2021 990 tax form, several grants were provided to nonprofit organizations and projects for the purpose of the Safety and Justice Challenge. This included the Urban Institute in Washington D.C as well as the Vera Institute for Justice in Brooklyn, New York City; and Shelby County, Tennessee. 56

Lever for Change

Lever for Change is an affiliate of the MacArthur Foundation created in 2019 to raise $1 billion in funds towards philanthropic endeavors by 2023 to address issues such as racial and gender inequality, inability to access economic opportunities, and climate change. 59

Yield Giving Open Call is a $250 million initiative started in March 2023 by Lever for Change and MacKenzie Scott, ex-wife of Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos. The initiative was created so that nonprofits could apply for donations to be used to improve their communities in areas including health care, economic development, education, and housing. Scott has admitted to using the initiative as a means of directing her wealth to groups that register for the program in order to create a “new pathway to support […] organizations making positive change in their communities.” 60 61

Biden Community Violence Intervention Collaborative

In June 2021, the Biden Administration announced a program to combat rising gun violence and violent crime using a collaborative composed of government and nonprofit organizations funding community violence intervention (CVI) measures. The MacArthur Foundation was reported to be a funder of the collaborative, along with California Endowment, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Joyce Foundation, and the Kellogg Foundation. Other foundations funding the initiative include the Kresge Foundation, Arnold Ventures, the Emerson Collective, the Heising-Simons Foundation, George Soros’ Open Society Foundations, and the Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies. Proponents argued that CVI strategies “act as an alternative to heavy-handed policing” through focusing on a minority of citizens who are perpetrators or targets of violent crime. CVI also claims to treat violence as a disease while acting to prevent its “spread.” 62

Financials

According to tax filings, in 2023 the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation reported $613,786,298 in revenue, $415,250,452 in expenses, and $8,672,283,398 in assets. 31

That same year, the MacArthur Foundation directed grants to a large number of left-of-center and climate change focused organizations, including $350,000 to AFEF Inc. for climate mitigation in India, $53,293 to Activating Change Inc. to promote criminal justice reform, $500,000 to the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy, $1,000,000 to Alliance for Open Society International to support the Ukrainian Democracy Fund, $100,000 to Allied Media Projects to support illegal immigrant filmmakers, $500,000 to Borealis Philanthropy to support “racial equity in journalism,” and $1,000,000 to the Environmental Defense Fund to reduce methane emissions. 31

References

  1. “World’s 100 largest philanthropic foundations list.” Arco. Accessed May 29, 2025. https://www.arcolab.org/en/worlds-100-largest-philanthropic-foundations-list/.
  2. The MacArthur Foundation Annual Reports, 2005-2014. Accessed April 7, 2018. https://www.macfound.org/about/annual-reports/
  3. Wooster, Martin Morse. “The MacArthur Foundation: A donor without a cause spawns a foundation with an agenda.” Foundation Watch, Capital Research Center. September 6, 2005. https://capitalresearch.org/article/the-macarthur-foundation-a-donor-without-a-cause-spawns-a-foundation-with-an-agenda/
  4. “About our Big Bets.” MacArthur Foundation. Accessed March 31, 2018. https://www.macfound.org/pages/about-our-big-bets/
  5. “MacArthur Fellows.” MacArthur Foundation. Accessed May 29, 2025. https://www.macfound.org/programs/awards/fellows/about.
  6. “MacArthur Fellows Program.” MacArthur Foundation. Accessed April 7, 2018. https://www.macfound.org/programs/fellows/
  7. “About MacArthur Fellows Program.” MacArthur Foundation. Accessed April 7, 2018. https://www.macfound.org/programs/fellows/strategy/
  8. Wooster, Martin Morse. How Great Philanthropists Failed and You Can Succeed at Protecting Your Legacy. Capital Research Center. Washington, DC. 2017. P. 68
  9. Muravchik, Joshua. “MacArthur’s Millions.” The American Spectator. January 1992. P. 37
  10. Worley, Sam. “Can the MacArthur Foundation Find Its Mojo?” Chicago. Published August 17, 2015. Accessed March 25, 2018. http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/September-2015/Julia-Stasch-MacArthur-Foundation/
  11. “About John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur.” MacArthur Foundation. Accessed February 08, 2018. https://www.macfound.org/about/our-history/about-the-macarthurs/
  12. Wooster, Martin Morse. How Great Philanthropists Failed and You Can Succeed at Protecting Your Legacy. Capital Research Center. Washington, DC. 2017. P. 61
  13. “Our History.” MacArthur Foundation. Accessed March 24, 2018. https://www.macfound.org/about/our-history/
  14. Wooster, Martin Morse. How Great Philanthropists Failed and You Can Succeed at Protecting Your Legacy. Capital Research Center. Washington, DC. 2017. P.67
  15. Muravchik, Joshua. “MacArthur’s Millions.” The American Spectator. January 1992. P. 36
  16. Wooster, Martin Morse. How Great Philanthropists Failed and You Can Succeed at Protecting Your Legacy. Capital Research Center. Washington, DC. 2017. P. 63.
  17. Wooster, Martin Morse. How Great Philanthropists Failed and You Can Succeed at Protecting Your Legacy. Capital Research Center. Washington, DC. 2017. P. 67
  18. Wooster, Martin Morse. How Great Philanthropists Failed and You Can Succeed at Protecting Your Legacy. Capital Research Center. Washington, DC. 2017. PP. 67-68.
  19. Kinsley, Michael. “What’s So Great About Excellence?” The New Republic. June 6, 1981. https://newrepublic.com/article/108017/whats-so-great-about-excellence
  20. Scott, Janny. “MacArthur ‘Genius’ Grants Get Some Heat and a New Head.” The New York Times. Published December 9, 1997. Accessed March 25, 2018. https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/09/giving/macarthur-genius-grants-get-some-heat-and-a-new-head.html
  21. Worley, Sam. “Can the MacArthur Foundation Find Its Mojo?” Chicago. Published August 7, 2015. Accessed March 25, 2018. http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/September-2015/Julia-Stasch-MacArthur-Foundation/
  22. Muravchik, Joshua. “MacArthur’s Millions.” The American Spectator. January 1992. P. 38
  23. “Hampshire College.” Forbes. Accessed April 5, 2018. https://www.forbes.com/colleges/hampshire-college/
  24. “Our History.” MacArthur Foundation. Accessed April 11, 2018. https://www.macfound.org/about/our-history/
  25. Muravchik, Joshua. “MacArthur’s Millions.” The American Spectator. January 1992. P. 41
  26. Wooster, Martin Morse. How Great Philanthropists Failed and You Can Succeed at Protecting Your Legacy. Capital Research Center. Washington, DC. 2017. P. 71
  27. Fanton, Jonathan F. “Sign Treaty For An International Criminal Court.” Chicago Tribune. December 27, 2000. Accessed April 11, 2018. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2000-12-27/news/0012270121_1_treaty-permanent-court-yugoslavia-and-rwanda
  28. “President Julia Stasch.” MacArthur Foundation. Accessed March 31, 2018. https://www.macfound.org/about/people/president/
  29. Program Budgets MacArthur Foundation Annual Report, 2014. Accessed March 31, 2018. https://www.macfound.org/annual-report/2014/program-budgets/
  30. “John Palfrey Named New MacArthur President.” MacArthur Foundation, March 5, 2019. https://www.macfound.org/press/press-releases/john-palfrey-named-new-macarthur-president/.
  31. John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Return of an Organization Exempt From Income Tax (From 990-PF). 2023.
  32. Chung, Juliet and Emily Glazer. “America’s Richest Foundations Team Up Against Feared Trump Assault.” Wall Street Journal. May 9, 2025. Accessed June 2, 2025. https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/nonprofit-foundations-prepare-trump-fight-884f6016.
  33. Husock, Howard. “The Left’s Plan to Keep Control of Public Broadcasting.” Wall Street Journal Opinion, September 23, 2025. https://www.wsj.com/opinion/the-lefts-plan-to-keep-control-of-public-broadcasting-20060166?st=L6J9tF&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
  34. “Big Bets.” MacArthur Foundation. Accessed May 29, 2025. https://www.macfound.org/programs/bigbets/.
  35. “Climate Solutions.” MacArthur Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2018. https://www.macfound.org/programs/climate/strategy/
  36. “About Us.” Energy Foundation. Accessed February 8, 2018. https://www.ef.org/about-us/
  37. “Grants Database.” Energy Foundation. Accessed February 08, 2018. https://www.ef.org/grants-database/
  38. “Energy Foundation.” MacArthur Foundation. Accessed February 8, 2018. https://www.macfound.org/grantees/1593/
  39. “Grant Search.” MacArthur Foundation. Accessed February 08, 2018. https://www.macfound.org/grants/
  40. “Criminal Justice Grantmaking Guidelines.” MacArthur Foundation. Accessed February 13, 2018. https://www.macfound.org/info-grantseekers/grantmaking-guidelines/criminal-justice-grant-guide/
  41. “RELEASE: The Center for American Progress and Mayors From 10 Cities Launch New ‘Mayors for Smart on Crime’ Initiative as Movement Against Outdated Public Safety Approaches Grows.” Center for American Progress. Accessed February 13, 2018.  https://www.americanprogress.org/press/release/2018/02/01/445672/release-center-american-progress-mayors-10-cities-launch-new-mayors-smart-crime-initiative-movement-outdated-public-safety-approaches-grows/
  42. “An Equitable Approach to Justice That Works.” Smart on Crime. Accessed February 13, 2018. https://www.smartoncrime.us/
  43. Eaglin, Jessica, and Solomon Danyelle. Reducing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Jails: Recommendations for Local Practice. Brennan Center for Justice. New York University School of Law. New York City. 2015. PP. 32-40. http://www.safetyandjusticechallenge.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Racial-Disparities-Report-062515.pdf
  44. “Poynter Institute.” MacArthur Foundation. Accessed February 12, 2018. https://www.macfound.org/grantees/1707/
  45. “New Initiative Rallies Philanthropy behind Black-Led Grassroots Organizing.” The Libra Foundation, September 10, 2020. https://www.thelibrafoundation.org/2020/09/new-initiative-rallies-philanthropy-behind-black-led-grassroots-organizing.
  46. “Home.” Democracy Frontlines Fund, Accessed September 11, 2024. https://year-three.democracyfrontlinesfund.org/#main
  47. “Local News.” MacArthur Foundation. Accessed May 29, 2025. https://www.macfound.org/programs/bigbets/local-news/.
  48. “On Nigeria.” MacArthur Foundation. Accessed May 29, 2025. https://www.macfound.org/programs/bigbets/on-nigeria/.
  49. “Chicago Commitment.” MacArthur Foundation. Accessed May 29, 2025. https://www.macfound.org/programs/enduring-commitments/chicago-commitment/
  50. Matthiessen, Connie. “Big Funders Take a Symbolic Stand through the Courage Project.” Inside Philanthropy, June 30, 2025. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/big-funders-take-a-symbolic-stand-through-the-courage-project. 
  51. “Meet the Moment – Trust-Based Philanthropy.” Trust Based Philanthropy . Accessed September 29, 2025. https://www.trustbasedphilanthropy.org/meet-the-moment#signatories.
  52. “American Democracy.” MacArthur Foundation. Accessed February 2, 2018. https://www.macfound.org/programs/democracy/
  53. “Voting Reform Agenda.” Brennan Center for Justice. Published February 10, 2018. Accessed March 11, 2018. https://www.brennancenter.org/issues/voting-reform-agenda
  54. “About.” Voting Rights Institute. Accessed March 11, 2018. https://www.votingrightsinstitute.org/about/
  55. “Small Political Donors Need a Voice in Campaigns.” The New York Times. Published August 22, 2012. Accessed March 11, 2018. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/23/opinion/small-political-donors-need-a-voice-in-campaigns.html
  56. Return of Private Foundation Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. 2021. Part XIV. Line 3a. https://www.macfound.org/media/article_pdfs/macarthur-foundation-2021-form-990-pf-(full-version)-2.pdf
  57. Safety and Justice Challange, Accessed February 22, 2023. https://safetyandjusticechallenge.org/
  58. “Our Network.” Safety and Justice Challange, Accessed February 22, 2023. https://safetyandjusticechallenge.org/our-network/
  59. “Lever for Change.” MacArthur Foundation, Accessed March 31, 2023. https://www.macfound.org/programs/lever-change/#:~:text=In%202019%2C%20Lever%20for%20Change%20became%20a%20nonprofit,and%20provided%20support%20to%20more%20than%20145%20organizations.
  60. Gamboa, Glenn. “MacKenzie Scott Sets New ‘Open Call’ to Donate $250 Million.” The Chronicle of Philanthropy, March 21, 2023. https://www.philanthropy.com/article/mackenzie-scott-sets-new-open-call-to-donate-250-million
  61. “Yield Giving Open Call.” Lever for Change, Accessed March 31, 2023. https://www.leverforchange.org/challenges/explore-challenges/yieldgivingopencall/
  62. Rojc, Philip. “Backing Up Biden: Grantmakers Get Behind a New Federal Anti-Violence Collaborative.” Inside Philanthropy. Inside Philanthropy, July 6, 2021. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/home/2021/7/1/backing-up-biden-grantmakers-get-behind-a-new-federal-anti-violence-collaborative?utm_source=Funding%2BNews%2B%26%2BTips&utm_campaign=f22df871f4-newsletterdaily&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c776dbf0df-f22df871f4-95098585
  See an error? Let us know!

Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: February 1, 1971

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2023 Dec Form PF $613,786,298 $415,250,452 $8,672,283,398 $608,794,263 $0 $0 $0 $0
    2022 Dec Form PF $-1,307,634 $260,263,897 $8,229,029,493 $601,049,481 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2021 Dec Form PF $781,295,998 $559,609,585 $9,462,296,474 $756,749,937 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2020 Dec Form PF $537,302,289 $303,541,809 $8,209,542,030 $609,784,672 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2019 Dec Form PF $595,397,688 $282,345,153 $7,208,352,632 $554,838,356 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2015 Dec Form PF $284,907,209 $388,881,036 $6,196,280,734 $391,533,222 $0 $0 $0 $0
    2014 Dec Form PF $575,393,355 $264,344,006 $6,469,167,430 $327,364,389 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2013 Dec Form PF $430,126,421 $286,012,311 $6,323,307,217 $347,952,532 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2012 Dec Form PF $454,513,951 $297,907,247 $5,987,438,524 $340,721,339 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF
    2011 Dec Form PF $246,602,511 $256,118,992 $5,703,076,554 $309,524,627 $0 $0 $0 $0 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

    140 S DEARBORN ST STE 1200
    CHICAGO, IL 60603-5285