MacArthur Foundation

🎉 Today we announce a $100M grant commitment to nonpartisan orgs and coalitions defending the essential elements of our democracy, including protecting fair and safe elections, civic freedoms, and the rule of law. “Democracy thrives when people are informed, engaged, and feel like their voices matter,” says our President, John Palfrey. Learn more ⬇️ macfound.org/press/press-re…

"It’s more important to me to look into what intelligence means as opposed to what it can do for me." #MacFellow Paul Chan speaks with @cultured_mag about his project, "Paul'," an exploration of the intersection of art and AI. Read more ⬇️ culturedmag.com/article/2026/0…

Over 1,000 AI-related bills have been introduced in the U.S. in the last three years. The Center for Technological Responsibility, Reimagination, and Redesign at @BrownUniversity has created a portal to make sense of the AI legislation landscape. More👇 macfound.org/press/grantee-…

An @Earthworks report on oil and gas pollution showed communities in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Viginia were unwittingly exposed to cumulative emissions of over 162,000 pounds of methane per hour. Read their findings ⬇️ macfound.org/press/grantee-…

AI's design, adoption, and governance is a reflection of human decisions, priorities, and power. Today, March 15, at #SXSW2026, our President, John Palfrey, will moderate "Reclaiming our Humanity in the Age of AI" — a panel discussion exploring what it means for people to have a genuine stake in shaping the technology that is reshaping all of us. Details ⬇️ schedule.sxsw.com/2026/events/PP….

Nothing about AI is inevitable — its design, adoption, and governance is a reflection of human decisions, priorities, and power. Sunday, March 15 at #SXSW2026, our President, John Palfrey, will moderate "Reclaiming our Humanity in the Age of AI" — a panel discussion between Karen Hao and Timnit Gebru exploring what it means for people, communities, and society to have a genuine stake in shaping the technology that is reshaping all of us. Details ⬇️ schedule.sxsw.com/2026/events/PP….

Our colleagues in Abuja recently organized an interfaith iftar to celebrate the Lenten and Ramadan seasons. Peers and neighbors enjoyed dates, bean cake, millet gruel, jollof rice, slow-braised-clay-pot chicken, golden fried yams, potatoes, zobo, and oxtail pepper soup!

U.S.-based journalists face escalating safety threats as they cover dangerous and unpredictable environments. Grantees @pressfreedom and the @IWMF are equipping journalists with safety tools through the U.S. Journalist Rapid Response fund. Learn more ⬇️ macfound.org/press/grantee-…

America’s working lands hold enormous potential for climate progress if producers are supported. Watch as Rural Investment to Protect our Environment (RIPE) shows how farmer- and rancher-led approaches are advancing regenerative practices. More ⬇️ macfound.org/press/grantee-…

For decades, @paniindia_pani has worked alongside rural communities in India to build environmental stewardship from the ground up. Learn how community-driven development and sustainable resource management are shaping lasting climate solutions ⬇️ macfound.org/press/grantee-…

Last February, we committed to increase our payout to at least six percent in calendar years 2025 and 2026. Our actual charitable spending in 2025, $190 million more than we had anticipated, exceeded 7 percent. In a new Perspective, our President, John Palfrey, shares how we met our commitments ⬇️ macfound.org/press/perspect…

"Civic bravery is contagious." Looking back at our work to meet the moment in Chicago, Stephanie Platz, Managing Director, Programs, reflects on how our community showed its courage and resilience. Read the full Perspective ⬇️ macfound.org/press/perspect…

In 2025, in the United States and abroad, sharp funding cuts, policy shifts, and market disruptions have increased need and intensified challenges in almost every arena. Considering the tumultuous landscape, we asked our Program Directors to share reflections on, “What’s the biggest lesson you learned from the field in this unparalleled year?” Read their responses and sign up for our newsletter to be first to read our annual MacArthur in Chicago essay ⬇️ macfound.org/press/perspect…

Eight Chicago-based organizations will receive a total of $340,000 for community-led arts projects as part of Elevating Culture Near Transit. Meet the inaugural cohort of grantees and sign up for our newsletter to be first to read our annual MacArthur in Chicago essay ⬇️ macfound.org/press/grantee-…

#MacFellow Kenneth Catania is a neuroscientist whose research on the star-nosed mole provides insight into the sensory cortex. Speaking with @_TheTransmitter, he shares how studying these blind moles' food-seeking behavior can further our understanding of anatomy. More ⬇️ thetransmitter.org/neuros-ark/neu…

Last year, in the wake of federal SNAP disruptions, we contributed $1.5 million in rapid-response funding to address heightened food insecurity across Chicago. Learn about the grantees and sign up for our newsletter to be first to read this year's MacArthur in Chicago essay ⬇️ macfound.org/press/press-re…

🎧 How the Catalytic Capital Consortium is mobilizing hundreds of millions of dollars while bringing funders together in partnership. Urmi Sengupta of @macfound joins @KrisztinaTora on a new episode of the "Women Changing Finance" podcast. hubs.li/Q043ZwHb0

Hanif Abdurraqib is a critic, essayist, and poet who uses the lens of popular music to examine culture. Jacqueline Woodson is a writer redefining children’s and young adult literature in works that reflect the complexity of today's world. As part of our Fellows in Conversation series, they spoke about the intersection of sound and language. #MacFellow Full convo ⬇️ macfound.org/videos/fellows…

From boatmen to farmers, over 1,200 wetland mitras, meaning "friends of the wetlands," are helping safeguard India’s lakes and rivers and reviving biodiversity in the process. Learn more about how community action is bolstering conservation efforts ⬇️ thebetterindia.com/environment/ww…

U.S.-based journalists face escalating safety threats as they cover dangerous and unpredictable environments. Grantees @pressfreedom and the @IWMF are equipping journalists with safety tools through the U.S. Journalist Rapid Response fund. Learn more ⬇️ macfound.org/press/grantee-…