John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation
Preselected recipients only
John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation is a private foundation in Chicago, Illinois. In tax year 2024 it gave $303 million in 1,086 grants; the typical grant was $160,000 and the largest $21.0 million. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2024.
- Grants paid, 2024$303 million
- Number of grants1,086
- Typical grant$160,000
- Largest grant$21.0 million
- Assets$9.3 billion
- New grantees40%
Giving in 2024 was down from $339 million the year before.
40% of its 2024 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a sign it is open to new organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $339 million | 1,465 | $8.7 billion |
| 2024 | $303 million | 1,086 | $9.3 billion |
How to apply
John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.
Foundation website IRS filings on ProPublica
What John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its US grants went to recipients in 46 states, the most to New York. It also paid $30.1 million in 122 grants to recipients outside the US.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New York | 143 | $92.8 million |
| Illinois | 363 | $71.7 million |
| District of Columbia | 128 | $54.4 million |
| California | 93 | $32.1 million |
| Massachusetts | 30 | $7.9 million |
| Pennsylvania | 10 | $5.3 million |
| Virginia | 10 | $5.1 million |
| Washington | 11 | $4.6 million |
| Minnesota | 12 | $4.6 million |
| Oregon | 9 | $4.1 million |
Grants paid in 2024
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Community Solutions International Inc | To bring the movement to end homelessness in the u.s. To a tipping point | $21.0 million |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc | In support of the governance of artificial intelligence in the public interest | $10.0 million |
| RF Catalytic Capital Inc | In support of invest in our future | $7.5 million |
| 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 | $6.5 million |
| Windward Fund | In support of the methane hub | $5.0 million |
| 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 | $4.5 million |
| Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Institute | In support of general operations | $4.0 million |
| 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 | $4.0 million |
| United States Energy Foundation | In support of state-level advocacy for clean energy policies | $3.0 million |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | Employee matching gifts program | $3.0 million |
| The Field Foundation of Illinois Inc | In support of "a road together (art), an initiative of the field foundation supported by the macarthur foundation" | $2.8 million |
| The Chicago Community Trust | In support of press forward chicago's leadership in engaging philanthropists and the local journalism community to strengthen and sustain the media organizations and outlets that serve this region's diverse audiences | $2.5 million |
| Justice Innovation Inc DBA Center for Justice Innovation | To provide project coordination and technical assistance to local jurisdictions seeking to safely reduce jail use and address racial and ethnic disparities as part of the safety and justice challenge | $2.1 million |
| Acento Accion Local Asociacion Civil | To strengthen human rights activism in mexico through diversifying philanthropic strategies and increasing equity in access to funds and resources for the mexican states | $2.0 million |
| Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund | In support of general operations | $2.0 million |
| League of Conservation Voters Education Fund | To support local and statewide public education campaigns about clean energy benefits | $2.0 million |
| Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc | In support of activities and grants to support local news organizations to be financially sustainable | $2.0 million |
| Trace Media Inc | In support of general operations | $2.0 million |
| Volcker Alliance Inc | In support of developing leadership pathways for diverse individuals focused on criminal justice reform and advancing racial equity as part of the safety and justice challenge | $2.0 million |
| NDN Collective Inc | In support of general operations | $1.6 million |
| Justice System Partners | For project coordination and technical assistance to local jurisdictions seeking to reduce jail use safely and address racial and ethnic disparities as part of the safety and justice challenge | $1.6 million |
| Humboldt Area Foundation | In support of the klamath river fund | $1.5 million |
| Internews Network | In support of activities and grants to support local news organizations in communities with low civic information scores | $1.5 million |
| Lever for Change | In support of general operations | $1.5 million |
| Neo Philanthropy Inc | In support of the state infrastructure fund | $1.5 million |
| State Voices | In support of general operations | $1.5 million |
| Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism | To strengthen accountability journalism and civic space at lower levels of government in nigeria | $1.5 million |
| Justice Management Institute | For project coordination and technical assistance to local jurisdictions seeking to reduce unnecessary jail use and address racial and ethnic disparities as part of the safety and justice challenge | $1.5 million |
| Nia Tero Foundation | To support the development and execution of an indigenous impact investing program focused primarily on enterprises in pasifika and amazonia | $1.3 million |
| The Tiny News Collective Inc | In support of activities and grants to early-stage local news organizations in underserved communities | $1.3 million |
| Borealis Philanthropy | For flexible support of the racial equity in journalism fund | $1.3 million |
| Justleadershipusa Inc | In support of developing leadership pathways for individuals directly impacted by the criminal justice system who are focused on justice reform and advancing racial equity as part of the safety and justice challenge | $1.3 million |
| The Miami Foundation Inc | In support of newsmatch | $1.2 million |
| The Field Foundation of Illinois Inc | In support of the leaders for a new chicago award program | $1.2 million |
| Pretrial Justice Institute | To organize and convene the safety and justice challenge network comprised of selected local jurisdictions, strategic allies and partners committed to criminal justice reform | $1.1 million |
| Forefront | To assist asylum seekers seeking protection and integration in the chicago metropolitan area | $1.1 million |
| Frameworks Institute | To support implementation of a locally driven digital-first narrative campaign and a model for measuring its impact in two pilot counties to advance current and future systems reform efforts as part of the safety and justice challenge | $1.1 million |
| Mac Services Inc | In support of operations for the philanthropy data commons, a shared sector-wide governance and technical infrastructure | $1.1 million |
| Media Development Investment Fund Inc | To strengthen the revenue generation skills and sustainability of nigerian media organizations | $1.0 million |
| Afef Inc | To support the grassroots for resilience ownership and wellness fund for climate | $1.0 million |
Officers and trustees
- John G Palfrey
- Kenneth M Jones II
- Joshua J Mintz
- Susan E Manske
- Martha L Minow
- Stephanie K Bell-Rose
- Amy Falls As of 0624
- Lillian Constance Jen
- Julie T Katzman Thru 0624
- Paul Klingenstein
- William F Lee As of 0624
- James Manyika Thru 0324
- Sendhil Mullainathan
- Cecilia Munoz
- Alondra Nelson As of 0624
Questions people ask
Does John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation accept grant applications?
No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.
How much does John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation give?
$303 million in tax year 2024, across 1,086 grants, with a typical grant of $160,000.
Who runs John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation?
Its 2024 filing lists John G Palfrey (Director / President), Kenneth M Jones II (Senior VP / Chief Operating Officer), Joshua J Mintz (VP / General Counsel / Secretary) and Susan E Manske (VP / Chief Investment Officer) among 15 officers and trustees.
What does John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly international, education and environment and conservation.