Summary
The MacArthur Foundation is Chicago's largest philanthropy, with assets of more than $6.4 billion in 2007. It disburses about $260 million a year in grants, loans and other program-related investments. The foundation was created from the life insurance and real estate fortune of billionaire John D. MacArthur, who died in 1978, and his wife, Catherine T., who died in 1981. Its MacArthur Fellows program, though the smallest of its four principal program areas, has captured the public imagination with its no-string "genius" grants, most recently of $500,000 over five years, given seemingly out of the blue to some two dozen people annually who are considered to be extremely creative and promising in their resp...
The MacArthur Foundation is Chicago's largest philanthropy, with assets of more than $6.4 billion in 2007. It disburses about $260 million a year in grants, loans and other program-related investments. The foundation was created from the life insurance and real estate fortune of billionaire John D. MacArthur, who died in 1978, and his wife, Catherine T., who died in 1981. Its MacArthur Fellows program, though the smallest of its four principal program areas, has captured the public imagination with its no-string "genius" grants, most recently of $500,000 over five years, given seemingly out of the blue to some two dozen people annually who are considered to be extremely creative and promising in their respective disciplines in the arts, humanities and sciences. MacArthur's largest grant-making area is global security and sustainability, in which it gives to groups involved in human rights and international justice, peace and security, conservation, population and reproductive health, higher education and human migration. Its human and community development program addresses such local and national issues as community development, education, mental health and, with increasing emphasis, affordable housing and juvenile justice. Its general program funds independent documentarians, Chicago arts and cultural groups, and groups involved in intellectual property research. Recently, the foundation refocused its educational giving on the impact of the Internet and other new media on learning by and social participation of youths. Its recent interest in new media also has included virtual communities such as Second Life. Since 1999, the foundation has been headed by Jonathan Fanton, a former president of the New School University who has a long history of participation with international human rights groups.
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21 items on John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
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Fund to help areas in path of Olympics
Chicago Tribune reporterA philanthropic fund to help South and West Side neighborhoods in the probable path of a Chicago Olympics has grown to more than $4.72 million and is disbursing its first grants, totaling $415,000. The 2016 Olympics Fund for Chicago Neighborhoods is...Tags: Economic Policy, Boeing Co., Metropolitan Planning Council, Multi-Sport Events, Olympics Chicago 2016
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Gov. Blagojevich slashes funding to Illinois Arts Council
Chicago Tribune reporterGov. Rod Blagojevich is becoming "Veto Corleone" to the state's arts community, shooting down for the second year in a row a planned budget increase for the Illinois Arts Council. Last week the governor erased $1.4 billion from the fiscal 2009 budget...Tags: Emergency Planning, Executive Branch, Glendale Heights, Hospitals and Clinics, Frankfort
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MacArthur Foundation exec is charged with unauthorized videotaping of women
An Arlington Heights man charged with using a small camera to take photos under women's skirts during the northwest suburb's 4th of July festivities is the managing director of real estate for the Chicago-based John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur...Tags: Arlington Heights, MacArthur Foundation
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Journalism program to expand with $11 million infusion
Chicago Tribune reporterResponding to the current crisis in the news media, two foundations are stepping up their efforts to train a new generation of journalists to reshape the industry. The Carnegie Corp. of New York and the Miami-based John S. and James L. Knight...Tags: Northwestern University, Colleges and Universities, Victory Gardens Theatre, Health and Safety at School, University of Chicago
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MacArthur top job: No college president pedigree required
Tribune reporterThe hunt is on for a new chief of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Here's good news for prospects: You don't have to be a college or university president to apply. A college presidency "is not a requirement, but we won't rule it out,"...Tags: Michael Reese, Health Organizations, Colleges and Universities, Relief and Aid Organizations, Academic Progress
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MacArthur Foundation's Fanton to end his tenure as president
Tribune reporterJonathan Fanton, president of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, said Monday he will step down from Chicago's largest private philanthropy in September 2009. Fanton, 65, said that he is abiding by the foundation's term limits, which...Tags: National Government, Government, MacArthur Foundation, Chicago Jobs
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Cheryl Hayashi spins web of spider research with 'genius' grant
Los Angeles Times Staff WriterCheryl Hayashi is not afraid of spiders. She keeps black widows, tarantulas and jumping spiders, to name a few, at her lab at UC Riverside. Last fall, the associate biology professor's promising work on spider silk helped her win a coveted $500,000, no-...Tags: Family, Animal Science, Metal and Mineral, Research, Building Material
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Caught in spider's web
Chicago Tribune NewspapersLOS ANGELES — Cheryl Hayashi keeps black widows, tarantulas and jumping spiders, to name a few, at her laboratory at the University of California, Riverside. Last fall, the associate biology professor's promising work on spider silk helped her...Tags: Animal Science, Metal and Mineral, Research, Building Material, Riverside (Riverside, California)
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Public money fades a little
Tribune reporterIn hard times, the arts often get shoved to the back of the begging line. From that unfortunate position, pleas of arts advocates in Illinois may be hard to hear as the state legislature tries to wrap up its regular session this week and complete a...Tags: Chicago Park District, Target Corporation, Energy, Energy KD
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MacArthur, Community Trust strengthen ties with new fund
Tribune reporterThe working relationship between Chicago's two largest foundations continues to deepen, with one establishing a $10 million fund at the other. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation said it is giving that amount to set up what is known as an...Tags: Charity, Medicine, Colleges and Universities, Management Change, Clubs and Associations
Jul 24, 2008
|Story| Chicago Tribune
Jul 17, 2008
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Jul 9, 2008
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Jul 10, 2008
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Jun 26, 2008
|Story| Chicago Tribune
Jun 24, 2008
|Story| Chicago Tribune
Jun 21, 2008
|Story| Los Angeles Times
Jun 27, 2008
|Story| Chicago Tribune
May 25, 2008
|Story| Chicago Tribune
May 15, 2008
|Story| Chicago Tribune
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