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Daryl Alberca - MacArthur Foundation
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This is a basic informational blog post about the MacArthur Foundation; it has minimal direct relevance to AI safety, though the foundation does fund some technology ethics and digital media work tangentially related to the field.
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Summary
This page provides a brief overview of the MacArthur Foundation, one of the largest private foundations in the US, covering its history, funding areas, and leadership. The foundation is known for its 'genius grants' (MacArthur Fellows) and supports work in areas including international peace, human rights, digital media, and public interest media.
Key Points
- •The MacArthur Foundation was established in 1978 with 92% of John D. MacArthur's estate, and has awarded over $4 billion in grants since inception.
- •Focus areas include international peace and security, human rights, conservation, digital media and learning, juvenile justice, and public radio.
- •The foundation is best known for its MacArthur Fellows ('genius grants') program, supporting exceptional individuals across many fields.
- •Maintains a global presence with offices in Mexico, India, Nigeria, and Russia in addition to Chicago headquarters.
- •Endowment exceeds $6 billion, providing approximately $225 million annually in grants and low-interest loans.
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# John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
* * *
| Founded | 1975 |
| Focus | Public affairs, the media, thearts |
| Location | - Marquette Building, Chicago,Illinois |
| Key people | John D. MacArthur (co-founder)<br>Catherine T. MacArthur (co-founder) |
| Endowment | $5.70 billion (12/31/11) |
The **John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation** is one of the largest private foundations in the United States. Based in Chicagoand supporting non-profit organizations that work in 50 countries, MacArthur has awarded more than US$4 billion since its inception in 1978. With an endowment over $6 billion, the foundation provides approximately $225 million annually in grants and low-interest loans.
In addition to selecting the MacArthur Fellows, also known as “genius grants”, topics of interest to the foundation include internationalpeace and security, conservation and sustainable development, population and reproductive health, human rights, international migration, community development, affordable housing, digital media and learning, juvenile justice, and public interest media, includingpublic radio and independent documentary film. The Foundation also gives grants to more than 300 arts and cultural institutions in the Chicago area.
# HISTORY
* * *
John D. MacArthur (1897–1978) owned Bankers Life and Casualty and other businesses, as well as considerable property in Florida and
[](https://darylalberca.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/john_d_macarthur_200.jpg) John D. Mcarthur
New York. His wife Catherine T. MacArthur(1908–1981) held positions in many of these companies. John MacArthur’s attorney William T. Kirby, along with **Paul Doolen**, MacArthur’s CFO, suggested that the MacArthurs create a foundation to be endowed by their vast fortune. The legal document that created the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation was two pages long and written by Kirby in plain language.
When John died on January 6, 1978, he was worth in excess of $1 billion and was reportedly one of the three richest men in the United States. MacArthur left 92 percent of his estate to begin the
[](https://darylalberca.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/catherine_macarthur_200.jpg) Catherine Macarthur
John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. The composition of the Foundation’s first Board of Directors, per John D. MacArthur’s will, also included Catherine, J. Roderick MacArthur (a son from John D. MacArthur’s first marriage), two other officers of Bankers Life and Casualty, and radio commentator Pa
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