MacArthur Foundation

Faster housing, lasting impact 🏠

Through our support of Community Solutions's Housing Fund, we’ve helped acquire over 1,000 apartment homes in six Built For Zero cities and house over 270 individuals exiting homelessness.

Learn more: https://community.solutions/press/community-solutions-raises-135-million-from-impact-investors-focused-on-housing-and-homelessness/

Criminal Justice reforms are not linked to violent crime.

According to new findings by CUNY Institute for State & Local Governance on communities participating in the Safety and Justice Challenge, 75% percent of people released pretrial were not rebooked into jail, and 98% did not return to jail for a violent crime.

Learn more about their report ⬇️

Criminal Justice Reforms Not Linked to Violent Crime The MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. In addition to selecting the MacArthur Fellows, we work to defend human rights, advance global conservation and security, make cities better places, and unders...

Pressure to adhere to gender norms makes both men and women more likely to engage in corrupt activities.

A series of blogs on Corruption in Fragile States, produced by Besa Global’s Corruption, Justice and Legitimacy Program, in collaboration with Nigeria-based Policy Innovation Centre, explores how gender expectations relate to corruption.

Read more of their findings ⬇️

Pressure to Meet Gender Norms Can Worsen Corruption The MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. In addition to selecting the MacArthur Fellows, we work to defend human rights, advance global conservation and security, make cities better places, and unders...

🎉 📚 21 MacArthur Fellows are represented on The New York Times' list of the most important and influential books of the era!

The Fellows include:
▪ Fiction Writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
▪ Cartoonist and Graphic Memoirist Alison Bechdel
▪ Investigative Journalist Katherine Boo
▪ Blogger, Memoirist, and Journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates
▪ Writer and Translator Lydia Davis
▪ Fiction Writer Junot Diaz
▪ Urban Sociologist Matthew Desmond
▪ American Historian Annette Gordon-Reed
▪ Literary Scholar and Cultural Historian Saidiya Hartman
▪ Speculative Fiction Writer NK Jemisin
▪ Writer Edward P. Jones
▪ Writer Kiese Laymon
▪ Narrative Journalist Adrian Nicole LeBlanc
▪ Writer Ben Lerner
▪ Writer Maggie Nelson
▪ Fiction Writer and Cultural Critic Viet Than Nguyen
▪ Novelist Richard Powers
▪ Poet Claudia Rankine
▪ Writer George Saunders
▪ Fiction Writer Jesmyn Ward
▪ and Writer Colson Whitehead!

Read the full list ⬇

The 100 Best Books of the 21st Century As voted on by 503 book lovers — with a little help from the staff of The New York Times Book Review.

Happening Friday! At the Algorithmic Justice League's Summit, experts will convene to discuss the expansion and resistance to facial recognition at airports, and the ever-growing Opt Out Club.

Speakers include:
▪️ Dr. Joy Buolamwini, President of the Algorithmic Justice League
▪️ Dr. Simone Browne, author of "Dark Matters"
▪️ Evan Greer, Executive Director of Fight for the Future
▪️ Dr. Avriel Epps, Cornell University Civic Science Postdoctoral Fellow

RSVP ⬇️
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/freedom-flyers-summit-resisting-airport-face-scans-tickets-937524439837?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

Americans’ understanding of climate change has increased since 2008.

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication's Climate Change in the American Mind (CCAM) Explorer shares data visualizations of how Americans’ understanding of and attitude towards climate change has shifted over time.

Explore the tool ⬇️

More Americans Understand Risks of Climate Change The MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. In addition to selecting the MacArthur Fellows, we work to defend human rights, advance global conservation and security, make cities better places, and unders...

Local news organizations in Chicago are innovating to strengthen their news coverage and better serve communities.

City Club of Chicago recently hosted a conversation about strengthening local news in Chicago and its impact on our community.

Featuring remarks by our President, John Palfrey, and The Chicago Community Trust President and CEO Andrea Sáenz, the event brought together philanthropic leaders, media experts, and local journalists, including two Pulitzer Prize-winning Chicago journalists.

Watch the recording:
https://www.macfound.org/press/grantee-news/discussion-of-funding-chicago%E2%80%99s-news-oasis
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Panelists:
Sarah Conway of City Bureau
Jacqueline Serrato of South Side Weekly
Trina Reynolds-Tyler of Invisible Institute
Mackenzie Warren of Medill Local News Initiative
Moderated by Olivia Obineme of Public Narrative

Discussion of Funding Chicago’s News Oasis The MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. In addition to selecting the MacArthur Fellows, we work to defend human rights, advance global conservation and security, make cities better places, and unders...

In 2023, nonprofit leaders saw grantmakers affirm commitments to streamline processes and reduce burdens on nonprofits.

According to the Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP)'s report on the State of Nonprofits 2024, organizations emphasized the need for general operating support to help them build infrastructure, support staff wellness, and foster longevity.

Read more of their findings ⬇️

Nonprofit Survey Aims to Inform Funder Practices The MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. In addition to selecting the MacArthur Fellows, we work to defend human rights, advance global conservation and security, make cities better places, and unders...

Only about one fifth of Chicago residents pay subscriptions for or donate to local news.

According to findings in In the report from Northwestern University’s Medill Local News Initiative, 51 percent of respondents also said no one should pay for local news.

Learn more about Chicagoans' perceptions of local news ⬇️

Most Chicagoans Consume But Do Not Pay for Local News The MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. In addition to selecting the MacArthur Fellows, we work to defend human rights, advance global conservation and security, make cities better places, and unders...

Nearly 250 community-led summer and fall programs will help increase the peace in Chicago neighborhoods.

The Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities (PSPC) provided $1.9 million in grants to support residents running programs in 24 neighborhoods that are hardest hit by gun violence.

Learn more about the grant recipients 👇

Residents Strengthen Peaceful Communities through Summer Programs The MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. In addition to selecting the MacArthur Fellows, we work to defend human rights, advance global conservation and security, make cities better places, and unders...

Often taken for granted, trees contribute to the quality of life and play a direct role in counteracting hotter summers.

Openlands reaches out to residents, especially in historically marginalized neighborhoods, and supports them in planting and maintaining trees.

Learn about their work to support the greening of urban communities on our website!
https://www.macfound.org/press/grantee-stories/growing-regional-and-neighborhood-solutions-to-climate-change
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Converted from an industrial warehouse in West Garfield Park into a trove of tools and equipment, Chicago Tool Library provides equitable access to a collection of 50,000 tools ranging from jigsaws to ice cream makers.

Learn more about the library, which recently received the 2024 Creative Places Award at the Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards 👇

Building Community, One Tool at a Time The MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. In addition to selecting the MacArthur Fellows, we work to defend human rights, advance global conservation and security, make cities better places, and unders...

During the International Anti-Corruption Conference in Lithuania last month, our team held an evening of storytelling with grantee partners to share lessons from our nine-year, multifaceted systems approach to tackling corruption.

Speakers included:
▪ Hamzat Lawal, Connected Development, Founder/Chief Executive
▪Abdulkareem Mohammed, Moving Image Limited, Managing Director
▪Mary Omoyeme Musa, MAVIC Enable Foundation, President/Founder and On Nigeria External Advisor
▪Chido Onumah, African Centre for Media & Information Literacy, Coordinator
▪Ejiro Joyce Otive-Igbuzor, Emerald International Development Services Ltd, Manager Director/CEO

The conversation was moderated by Amina A. Salihu, MacArthur Foundation, Deputy Director, Nigeria, and featured remarks by Erin Sines and Kole Shettima.

Thank you to all who attended! Learn more about our findings: https://www.macfound.org/press/article/on-nigeria-big-bet-learning-products

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"MacArthur will use all the legally available tools and processes to pursue our goals of racial justice."

Our President, John Palfrey, reaffirms our commitment to racial justice after recent U.S. Court decisions challenging programs working toward racial equity.

Read the full Perspective ⬇️

Affirming Our Continued Commitment to Racial Justice The MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. In addition to selecting the MacArthur Fellows, we work to defend human rights, advance global conservation and security, make cities better places, and unders...

We had an awesome time celebrating !

Pride is a time for all of us, especially in philanthropy, to reaffirm support for a world where everyone, wherever they are on the LGBTQ+ spectrum, can be treated with dignity, find belonging and joy, and truly thrive.

Check out some highlights from the parade👇

We are thrilled to support the third cohort of Social Science Research Council's Just Tech Fellowship, which provides unrestricted awards for researchers and practitioners imagining radically different tech futures that embrace joy, hope, self-determination, and equity.

The program foregrounds questions of power, equity, and the public impact of new technologies while imagining and creating more just technological futures.

Learn more ⬇️
https://www.macfound.org/press/grantee-news/just-tech-fellows-lead-inclusive-futures

We’re a proud sponsor of today’s 30th Annual Chicago Neighborhood Development Awards, recognizing Chicago’s best new neighborhood developments and developers!

"With philanthropy’s wide diversity of approaches and practices, there remains a need for more trust-based and unrestricted funding."

Claire Poelking of our Philanthropy Field Support program recently spoke with Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) about changes in our grantmaking practices, from reducing funding restrictions to increasing transparency, that strive to improve the experiences of our nonprofit partners and program staff.

Read her reflections ⬇️

Let’s Go Beyond ‘One Foundation’: The Promise of Changing Practices in Philanthropy | The Center for Effective Philanthropy The changes we have made to our grantmaking processes as an institution are because we are listening, and we want to be good partners.

We're proud to be one of the founding funders of the Disability Culture Lab (DCL).

Through creative campaigning, strategic communications, and a central resource hub, DCL aims to shift the narrative on disability from fear and pity to solidarity and liberation.

“We view the Disability Culture Lab as a 21st-century civil and human rights organization using the power of media, technology, and popular culture to make lasting change,” says Jennifer Humke of our Journalism and Media Program.

Learn more about DCL's strategies for narrative change ⬇️

Disability Culture Lab Shifts Narrative on Disability and Ableism The MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. In addition to selecting the MacArthur Fellows, we work to defend human rights, advance global conservation and security, make cities better places, and unders...

Latino Public Broadcasting is looking to fund a wide variety of projects that celebrate and reflect the diverse Latino experience and bring new audiences to public media!

These can include full-length documentaries for broadcast, and short form fiction and documentaries for digital media.

Projects applying can be in the genres of the arts, history, science, biography, health, personal storytelling, current events, social issues, and mixed genre.

Applications close tomorrow, June 26. Learn more 👇
https://lpbp.org/funding-applications/

Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP)’s recent State of Nonprofits report highlighted that burnout remains a top concern for nonprofit leaders, but how are funders approaching grantee well-being?

How concerned are funders about well-being, and what practices are most common to support well-being?

CEP’s new Research Snapshot examines these and other questions. Read more ⬇️

How Foundations Are Supporting Grantee Staff Well-Being | The Center for Effective Philanthropy CEP Research Snapshots are brief, data-informed research reports.

Conflict and crisis have displaced nearly 37M children, and only 31% have access to pre-primary education.

Ahlan Simsim, which means "Welcome Sesame" in Arabic, has delivered critical educational opportunities to children raised amidst conflict in Syria.

Learn how Sesame Workshop and International Rescue Committee, the recipients of our inaugural award, addressed a critical need in their final impact report ⬇️

Ahlan Simsim Impact Report - Sesame Workshop A critical need, historic response, profound impact

"Today we have the job of coming to grips with our history and charting a new path for those who come after us."

Our President, John Palfrey, shares why we must remember the work that Frederick Douglass called upon us all to do remains unfinished.

Read his reflection at Common Dreams ⬇️

A Juneteenth Reflection on America’s Unfinished Business | Common Dreams This year, as we celebrate the end of chattel slavery in the United States, we must remember the work that Frederick Douglass called upon us all to do remains unfinished.

Funders of Partnership for Safe and Peaceful Communities (PSPC) recently met in our Chicago office to discuss PSPC's journey from its inception and look ahead to the future.

Tawa Mitchell of our Chicago Commitment team moderated a fireside chat with our former President, Julia Stasch, The Joyce Foundation President, Ellen Alberding, and CEO of Polk Bros. Foundation, Gillian Darlow.

Visit our website to learn more about how we're leveraging civic partnerships to advance racial equity and build a more inclusive Chicago ⬇️
https://www.macfound.org/programs/enduring-commitments/chicago-commitment/civic-partnerships/
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Pictured (L-R):
Esther Franco Payne, Executive Director, Partnership of Safe and Peaceful Communities

Julia Stasch, Former President, MacArthur Foundation

Gillian Darlow, CEO, Polk Bros. Foundation

Ellen Alberding, President, The Joyce Foundation

Tawa Mitchell, Partnership of Safe and Peaceful Communities co-chair

Jen Keeling, Partnership of Safe and Peaceful Communities co-chair

City Club Chicago recently hosted a conversation about strengthening local news in Chicago and its impact on our community.

Featuring remarks by our President, John Palfrey, and The Chicago Community Trust President and CEO Andrea Sáenz, the event brought together philanthropic leaders, media experts, and local journalists, including two Pulitzer Prize-winning Chicago journalists.

By making philanthropic investments in a diverse range of news outlets, Press Forward Chicago aims to ensure residents have access to relevant, credible, and trusted information.

Learn more about Chicago:
🔗 https://bit.ly/45mmVvQ
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Panelists:
Sarah Conway of City Bureau
Jacqueline Serrato of South Side Weekly
Trina Reynolds-Tyler of Invisible Institute
Mackenzie Warren of Medill Local News Initiative
Moderated by Olivia Obineme of Public Narrative

In partnership with The Field Foundation of Illinois, we’re excited to announce the 2024 Leaders for a New Chicago!

Now in its sixth year, this program seeks to build a more inclusive city by recognizing leaders who are designing new approaches to civic discourse and action.

Each of the 2024 awardees will receive a no-strings-attached award of $25,000, and their affiliated organizations will receive an additional $25,000 general operating grant.

Congratulations to these 10 trailblazers, who are bringing transformative change to their communities!

Learn more ⬇️
https://www.macfound.org/press/grantee-news/leaders-recognized-for-transformative-change-in-communities

🔎 We’re looking for bold ideas that promise significant and durable change!

We just launched the third round of – a competition for a single $100 million grant to help solve one of the world's most critical social challenges.

Organizations and collaborations working in any field, anywhere in the world are encouraged to apply.

Proposals must identify a problem and offer a solution that promises significant and durable change.

Interested organizations must register to apply before 5 p.m. U.S. Central Time on Thursday, August 15, 2024.

Learn more ⬇️
https://www.macfound.org/programs/awards/100change/

"Specificity matters when practicing and aligning work with values."

Chris Cardona, our Managing Director of Discovery, Exploration, and Programs, shares why we added “just” to the criteria for evaluating proposals for our competition.

Read his Perspective to learn how our scoring rubric aligns with our organizational values ⬇️

The Angel’s in the Details: Aligning 100&Change with our DEI Values The MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. In addition to selecting the MacArthur Fellows, we work to defend human rights, advance global conservation and security, make cities better places, and unders...