John D and Catherine T Macarthur Foundation
Invitation OnlyChicago, Illinois · EIN 23-7093598 · Private foundation · Website
Grants paid (2024)$356.1M
Organizations funded969
Typical grant$200,000
Total assets$9.3B
Half of its grants to organizations were between $75,000 and $327,000.
From the return
How to apply
On its return for tax year 2024 the foundation checked the box saying it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
70% of grants went outside Illinois.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community Solutions International Inc | New York, NY | To bring the movement to end homelessness in the u.s. to a tipping point | $21,000,000 |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc | New York, NY | In support of the governance of artificial intelligence in the public interest | $10,000,000 |
| Rf Catalytic Capital Inc | New York, NY | In support of invest in our future | $7,500,000 |
| Research Foundation of the City University of New York | New York, NY | For data and project management and the coordination of technical assistance and support for the safety and justice challenge network | $6,500,000 |
| Windward Fund | Washington, DC | In support of the methane hub | $5,000,000 |
| Research Foundation of the City University of New York | New York, NY | To support the safety and justice challenge research consortium, a mechanism to administer and manage research projects under the initiative | $4,500,000 |
| Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Institute | Summit, IL | In support of general operations | $4,000,000 |
| Urban Institute | Washington, DC | To serve as the coordinator and technical assistance provider for the just home project to advance targeted housing solutions to break the… | $4,000,000 |
| United States Energy Foundation | San Francisco, CA | In support of state-level advocacy for clean energy policies | $3,000,000 |
| American Online Giving Foundation Inc | Newark, DE | Employee matching gifts program | $2,985,897 |
| The Field Foundation of Illinois Inc | Chicago, IL | In support of "A road together (art), an initiative of the field foundation supported by the macarthur foundation" | $2,750,000 |
| The Chicago Community Trust | Chicago, IL | In support of press forward chicago's leadership in engaging philanthropists and the local journalism community to strengthen and sustain… | $2,500,000 |
| Justice Innovation Inc Dba Center for Justice Innovation | New York, NY | To provide project coordination and technical assistance to local jurisdictions seeking to safely reduce jail use and address racial and… | $2,075,000 |
| Acento Accion Local Asociacion Civil | Mexico City, MX | To strengthen human rights activism in mexico through diversifying philanthropic strategies and increasing equity in access to funds and… | $2,000,000 |
| Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund | Washington, DC | In support of general operations | $2,000,000 |
| League of Conservation Voters Education Fund | Washington, DC | To support local and statewide public education campaigns about clean energy benefits | $2,000,000 |
| Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc | Havertown, PA | In support of activities and grants to support local news organizations to be financially sustainable | $2,000,000 |
| Trace Media Inc | Brooklyn, NY | In support of general operations | $2,000,000 |
| Volcker Alliance Inc | New York, NY | In support of developing leadership pathways for diverse individuals focused on criminal justice reform and advancing racial equity as part… | $2,000,000 |
| Ndn Collective Inc | Rapid City, SD | In support of general operations | $1,563,000 |
| Justice System Partners | Salem, OR | For project coordination and technical assistance to local jurisdictions seeking to reduce jail use safely and address racial and ethnic… | $1,550,000 |
| Humboldt Area Foundation | Bayside, CA | In support of the klamath river fund | $1,500,000 |
| Internews Network | Arcata, CA | In support of activities and grants to support local news organizations in communities with low civic information scores | $1,500,000 |
| Lever for Change | Chicago, IL | In support of general operations | $1,500,000 |
| Neo Philanthropy Inc | New York, NY | In support of the state infrastructure fund | $1,500,000 |
| State Voices | Washington, DC | In support of general operations | $1,500,000 |
| Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism | Lagos, NI | To strengthen accountability journalism and civic space at lower levels of government in nigeria | $1,500,000 |
| Justice Management Institute | Arlington, VA | For project coordination and technical assistance to local jurisdictions seeking to reduce unnecessary jail use and address racial and… | $1,470,000 |
| Nia Tero Foundation | Seattle, WA | To support the development and execution of an indigenous impact investing program focused primarily on enterprises in pasifika and amazonia | $1,340,000 |
| The Tiny News Collective Inc | Philadelphia, PA | In support of activities and grants to early-stage local news organizations in underserved communities | $1,275,000 |
| Borealis Philanthropy | Minneapolis, MN | For flexible support of the racial equity in journalism fund | $1,250,000 |
| Justleadershipusa Inc | New York, NY | In support of developing leadership pathways for individuals directly impacted by the criminal justice system who are focused on justice… | $1,250,000 |
| The Miami Foundation Inc | Miami, FL | In support of newsmatch | $1,200,000 |
| The Field Foundation of Illinois Inc | Chicago, IL | In support of the leaders for a new chicago award program | $1,188,400 |
| Pretrial Justice Institute | Baltimore, MD | To organize and convene the safety and justice challenge network comprised of selected local jurisdictions, strategic allies and partners… | $1,125,000 |
| Forefront | Chicago, IL | To assist asylum seekers seeking protection and integration in the chicago metropolitan area | $1,113,000 |
| Frameworks Institute | Washington, DC | To support implementation of a locally driven digital-first narrative campaign and a model for measuring its impact in two pilot counties… | $1,100,000 |
| Mac Services Inc | Chicago, IL | In support of operations for the philanthropy data commons, a shared sector-wide governance and technical infrastructure | $1,100,000 |
| Media Development Investment Fund Inc | New York, NY | To strengthen the revenue generation skills and sustainability of nigerian media organizations | $1,005,000 |
| Afef Inc | New York, NY | To support the grassroots for resilience ownership and wellness fund for climate | $1,000,000 |
| All Voting Is Local | Washington, DC | In support of general operations | $1,000,000 |
| Alliance for Youth Organizing | Washington, DC | In support of general operations | $1,000,000 |
| Ceres Inc | Boston, MA | In support of general operations | $1,000,000 |
| Chicago Community Foundation | Chicago, IL | In support of the "heartland alliance - sustaining our impact" donor advised fund | $1,000,000 |
| Chicago Community Foundation | Chicago, IL | In support of the chicago community foundation's activities related to the partnership for safe and peaceful communities' initiative,… | $1,000,000 |
| Climate Leadership Initiative Inc | San Francisco, CA | In support of general operations | $1,000,000 |
| Demos a Network for Ideas and Action Ltd | New York, NY | In support of general operations | $1,000,000 |
| Earthjustice | San Francisco, CA | In support of general operations | $1,000,000 |
| Florida International University | North Miami, FL | In support of its jack D. gordon institute for public policy to advance prosecutorial fairness and effectiveness through data innovation as… | $1,000,000 |
| Free Press | Washington, DC | In support of its future of civic media project to advance state-based policies that nurture healthy local media ecosystems | $1,000,000 |
| Hbcu Library Alliance Inc | Mcdonough, GA | In support of the project "empowering hbcu libraries with civil rights preservation, digital innovation, and transformative professional… | $1,000,000 |
| Health Care Without Harm | Reston, VA | For general operating support | $1,000,000 |
| Hip Hop Caucus Education Fund | Washington, DC | In support of general operations | $1,000,000 |
| Hopewell Fund | Washington, DC | In support of its project free election fund | $1,000,000 |
| Independent Television Service Inc | San Francisco, CA | In support of general operations | $1,000,000 |
| Issue One | Washington, DC | In support of general operations | $1,000,000 |
| New Venture Fund | Washington, DC | In support of alaska venture fund | $1,000,000 |
| New Venture Fund | Washington, DC | In support of new venture fund's collective action fund for accountability, resilience, and adaptation | $1,000,000 |
| New Venture Fund | Washington, DC | To support its project, the trusted elections fund | $1,000,000 |
| Nia Tero Foundation | Seattle, WA | In support of general operations of nia tero | $1,000,000 |
Showing the 60 largest of 969 grants to organizations.
The return also lists 117 grants to individuals ($16,200,000). We do not publish the names of individual recipients.
Grants approved for future payment
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund | Washington, DC | In support of general operations | $4,000,000 |
| The Field Foundation of Illinois Inc | Chicago, IL | In support of the leaders for a new chicago award program | $3,500,000 |
| United States Energy Foundation | San Francisco, CA | In support of state-level advocacy for clean energy policies | $3,500,000 |
| Partnership for Southern Equity | Atlanta, GA | In support of general operations | $3,000,000 |
| Lever for Change | Chicago, IL | In support of general operations | $2,500,000 |
| Chicago Community Foundation | Chicago, IL | In support of the affinity funds at the chicago community foundation | $2,200,000 |
| Afef Inc | New York, NY | To support the grassroots for resilience ownership and wellness fund for climate | $2,000,000 |
| Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy Inc | Charlestown, RI | In support of the indigenous power and light fund | $2,000,000 |
| Institute for Nonprofit News | Los Angeles, CA | In support of general operations | $2,000,000 |
| Local Independent Online News Publishers Inc | Havertown, PA | In support of activities and grants to support local news organizations to be financially sustainable | $2,000,000 |
| Windward Fund | Washington, DC | In support of its project, the hive fund for climate and gender justice | $2,000,000 |
| Council on Energy Environment and Water | New Delhi, | In support of general operations | $1,500,000 |
| Internews Network | Arcata, CA | In support of activities and grants to support local news organizations in communities with low civic information scores | $1,500,000 |
| Mac Services Inc | Chicago, IL | In support of operations for the philanthropy data commons, a shared sector-wide governance and technical infrastructure | $1,500,000 |
| Common Counsel Foundation | Oakland, CA | For flexible support of its color congress initiative project | $1,400,000 |
| New Venture Fund | Washington, DC | To support the catalytic capital consortium initiative, which aims to increase the knowledge, awareness, and use of catalytic capital among… | $1,400,000 |
| Resource Centre for Human Rights & Civic Education | Kano, | To create a historical repository and enhance the capacity of original inhabitants in nigeria's federal capital territory, abuja | $1,290,000 |
| The Marshall Project Inc | New York, NY | For general operating support | $1,150,000 |
| International Documentary Association Inc | Los Angeles, CA | In support of general operations | $1,100,000 |
| Southern Environmental Law Center | Charlottesville, VA | In support of general operations | $1,100,000 |
| Alliance for Tribal Clean Energy Inc | Charlestown, RI | In support of general operations | $1,000,000 |
| American University | Washington, DC | In support of the center for media and social impact (cmsi) | $1,000,000 |
| Capital Impact Partners | Arlington, VA | To support expanding the equitable development initiative to chicago | $1,000,000 |
| Chicago Community Foundation | Chicago, IL | In support of establishing a regranting program for creative placemaking and placekeeping | $1,000,000 |
| Contina Impact | Berkeley, CA | To provide support for the guardian fund | $1,000,000 |
| Digital Public Library of America Inc | Boston, MA | In support of general operations | $1,000,000 |
| Independent Television Service Inc | San Francisco, CA | In support of general operations | $1,000,000 |
| Ndn Collective Inc | Rapid City, SD | In support of general operations | $1,000,000 |
| Regents of the University of California | Berkeley, CA | In support of the india energy and climate center | $1,000,000 |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc | New York, NY | In support of the just transition fund | $1,000,000 |
| The Miami Foundation Inc | Miami, FL | In support of the press forward international fund, a collaborative initiative managed by press forward that will support international… | $1,000,000 |
| The Tiny News Collective Inc | Philadelphia, PA | In support of activities and grants to early-stage local news organizations in underserved communities | $1,000,000 |
| Url Collective Inc | Jackson Heights, NY | In support of general operations | $1,000,000 |
| Acadia Center | Rockport, ME | To facilitate subnational climate and power grid coordination | $925,000 |
| Aapi Civic Engagement Fund | Los Angeles, CA | In support of general operations | $900,000 |
| National Conference of State Legislatures | Denver, CO | To provide information and assistance to its membership on effective reforms to safely reduce unnecessary jail incarceration as part of the… | $900,000 |
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles, CA | In support of the annenberg innovation lab and its usc civic media fellowship | $900,000 |
| Austin Coming Together | Chicago, IL | In support of general operations | $825,000 |
| Far South Cdc | Chicago, IL | In support of general operations | $825,000 |
| Garfield Park Rite to Wellness Collaborative | Chicago, IL | In support of general operations | $825,000 |
| Go Green Development Group | Chicago, IL | In support of general operations | $825,000 |
| Greater Southwest Development Corporation | Chicago, IL | In support of general operations | $825,000 |
| Latinos Progresando | Chicago, IL | In support of general operations | $825,000 |
| Lawndale Christian Development Corporation | Chicago, IL | In support of general operations | $825,000 |
| Northwest Side Cdc | Chicago, IL | In support of general operations | $825,000 |
| South Shore Chamber Community Development Corporation | Chicago, IL | In support of general operations | $825,000 |
| The Puerto Rican Cultural Center | Chicago, IL | In support of general operations | $825,000 |
| The Chicago Community Trust | Chicago, IL | In support of press forward chicago's leadership in engaging philanthropists and the local journalism community to strengthen and sustain… | $800,000 |
| Trustees of Princeton University | Princeton, NJ | In support of the bridging divides initiative | $800,000 |
| Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York | New York, NY | In support of the tow center for digital journalism | $750,000 |
| Witness Inc | Brooklyn, NY | In support of general operations | $750,000 |
| Alliance for Safety and Justice | Oakland, CA | To uplift and mobilize crime survivors and justice-impacted people in alternative public safety solutions under the safety and justice… | $600,000 |
| Association of Independents in Radio Inc | Boston, MA | In support of general operations | $600,000 |
| Capital B News Inc | New York, NY | In support of general operations | $600,000 |
| Caring Across Generations Inc | New York, NY | In support of general operations | $600,000 |
| Ceed Foundation | Old Bridge, NJ | To develop a sustainable and just energy transition roadmap for jharkhand | $600,000 |
| Council on Foreign Relations Inc | New York, NY | In support of its technology initiative | $600,000 |
| Data & Society Research Institute Inc | New York, NY | In support of general operations | $600,000 |
| Justice System Partners | Salem, OR | To support implementation of the extension of california medicaid services for the provision of transitional services and care to people… | $600,000 |
| New Rising Ventures | Sacramento, CA | In support of general operations | $600,000 |
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $356,090,979 | 1,416 |
| 2023 | $320,782,584 | 1,791 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Nov 12, 2025 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202503169349102460
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 23-7093598
- Profile updated Nov 4, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.