30 Years of The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
www.macfound.org About the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
The MacArthur Foundation is one of the nation’s largest independent foundations The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation with assets of $7 billion and annual giving of approximately $300 million. Through the support it provides, the Foundation fosters the development of knowledge, supports creative people and effective institutions nurtures individual creativity, strengthens institutions, helps improve public committed to building a more just, verdant, and policy, and provides information to the public, primarily through support for public peaceful world. In addition to the MacArthur Fellows, interest media. we work to defend human rights, advance global The Foundation makes grants and loans through four programs. conservation and security, make cities better places,
The Program on Global Security and Sustainability focuses on international and understand how technology is changing children issues, including human rights and international justice, peace and security, and society. conservation and sustainable development, higher education in Nigeria and Russia, migration and human mobility, and population and reproductive health. MacArthur grantees work in about 60 countries; the Foundation has offices in India, Mexico, Nigeria, and Russia.
The Program on Human and Community Development addresses issues in the United States, including community and economic development; housing, with a focus on the preservation of affordable rental housing; juvenile justice reform; education, with an emerging interest in digital media and learning; and policy research and analysis on crosscutting domestic concerns.
The General Program supports public interest media, including public radio, documentary programming, and work to explore the use of digital technologies to reach and engage the public. Grants are also made to arts and cultural institutions in the Chicago area and for special initiatives.
The MacArthur Fellows Program awards five-year, unrestricted fellowships to individuals across all ages and fields who show exceptional merit and promise of continued creative work.
More information is available at www.macfound.org. About John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur
The name John D. MacArthur is well recognized, as the Foundation he and his wife, Catherine, created provides approximately $300 million annually to nearly 500 effective organizations helping to build a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. But in post–World War II America, when MacArthur earned his millions, he was the least known of the nation’s wealthiest men.
Even after he earned his great wealth in insurance and real estate, MacArthur lived in relative simplicity with Catherine at a Florida hotel he owned, and he often boasted that he did not know his own financial worth. When he died in 1978, he left over $1 billion in assets to the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. Today, the MacArthur Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the world.
2 MacArthur at 30 3 John D. MacArthur rose from humble means to become one of the richest men in America. Born on the south end of Singer Island; located on a breathtaking stretch of beach, it became the couple’s home. March 6, 1897, in Pennsylvania, MacArthur was the son of an itinerant Baptist preacher and missionary A table in the Colonnades coffee shop served as his office. Indeed, he was often mistaken for the hotel who expected his seven children to be devout Christians. The family never had much and moved handyman. Media called him “the accessible billionaire.” frequently because of the father’s work. By the time MacArthur was 16, he had left school and moved Despite a frugal lifestyle, the MacArthurs quietly donated to worthy causes, including the North to Chicago where he worked with an older brother in the insurance industry. This career move paid off. Palm Beach YMCA and Palm Beach Atlantic University. They made the ballroom at the Colonnades At just 19, John sold more than $1 million in insurance in one year. available free of charge for charitable causes. In 1928, MacArthur purchased his first insurance company, Marquette Life, at 140 South Dearborn John’s longtime friend and attorney William T. Kirby convinced him that a foundation would allow Street, in the same Marquette Building where the Foundation is now headquartered. A decade later, his money to go to good use long after he was gone. On October 18, 1970, the documents for the he bought Bankers Life and Casualty Company, which quickly became the centerpiece of his emerging John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation were completed. John intentionally left the business business empire. The company succeeded because of his simple, but revolutionary, idea: door-to-door of what to fund to the Foundation’s first board of directors, which included Catherine; Kirby; his son, salesmen were replaced with mass marketing techniques to keep down cost and make coverage Roderick; radio commentator Paul Harvey, a friend from Chicago whose popular program carried ads affordable for the “everyday man.” By 1956, Bankers Life was the largest health and life insurance for Bankers Life; and Louis Feil, a business associate from New York. “I made the money; you guys company in the United States. will have to figure out what to do with it,” MacArthur told the board. This direction presented the John met Chicago-native Catherine Hyland at his brother’s insurance company where she worked Foundation’s first board with two challenges: how to divest responsibly the assets and how to shape as a secretary. Catherine, one of five children, was raised on the South Side by Irish immigrant parents. a forward-looking organization that could change with society’s evolving challenges. John was the public face of their business ventures, while Catherine often worked behind the scenes, When John died of cancer on January 6, 1978, the Foundation assumed his assets, estimated tracking details and accounts. He always acknowledged Catherine’s role in his business success. “She at $1 billion. In less than a year, the board began to award grants. Early grant recipients included helped build it up,” he said of her when drawing up the paperwork to create the MacArthur Foundation. Amnesty International and the John D. MacArthur Beach State Park. Thirty years after John’s death, After building their fortune together and making a home in Chicago, the couple moved to Florida in the Foundation the MacArthurs created has provided nearly $4 billion in grants in the United States and 1958. There, the MacArthurs began to accumulate their vast real estate holdings. By the time John died, more than 60 countries around the world. he had purchased more than 100,000 acres of Florida land. He also bought the Colonnades Hotel on
4 MacArthur at 30 5 A global foundation
Moscow, Russia
30 years of grantmaking Chicago, United states 58 countries where MacArthur supports work
New Delhi, mexico city, India mexico abuja, 5 Nigeria offices
7,100 Afghanistan Egypt Lithuania Sierra Leone grant recipients Countries where Bangladesh Fiji Madagascar Singapore MacArthur Belarus France Melanesia Solomon Islands supports work Belgium Gabon Mexico South Africa Bhutan Germany Mozambique South Korea MacArthur offices Bolivia Ghana Myanmar Spain Brazil Haiti Nepal Sudan Cambodia India Netherlands Switzerland $ 3.8 billion Canada Iran Nigeria Uganda in grants awarded China Iraq Papua New Guinea United Kingdom Colombia Italy Peru United States Congo Jamaica Philippines Vanuatu Cuba Japan Russia Vietnam Dominican Republic Kenya Rwanda Ecuador Laos Senegal
6 MacArthur at 30 7 30 years at a glance
Foundation Assets (in billions) Cumulative Grantmaking (in billions)
$ 4.0
$ 8.0 3.5
7.0 3.0
6.0 2.5 5.0 2.0 4.0 1.5 3.0 1.0 2.0 Nearly
1.0 A $ 7 billion $ 4 billion 0.5
0 foundation in total giving 0 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 05 07 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 05 07
Cumulative Number of Grants Awarded Annual Grantmaking (in millions)
20,000
18,000
16,000 $ 300 14,000 250 12,000
200 More than 10,000
8,000 150 18,500 grants awarded to 6,000 100 Approximately more than 7,100 4,000 50 $300 million individuals and 2,000
0 in annual giving organizations 0 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 92 94 96 98 00 02 04 06 08 79 81 83 85 87 89 91 93 95 97 99 01 03 05 07
8 MacArthur at 30 9 macarthur at 30: 1978–2008
1983: The first of 24 MacArthur research networks is created.
1979
John E. Corbally Foundation President 1979–1989
Paul D. Doolen elected Board Chair 1983 A major initiative is launched to fight 1970 MacArthur Fellows Program is established parasitic diseases, which afflict more than to provide five years of no-strings-attached half the world’s population. The invest- John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur and support for the recipients. ment brings fundamental new approaches Paul Doolen sign documents establishing to research on these diseases. the MacArthur Foundation. Health Program is set up to focus on 1981 issues in mental health. Over first two Catherine MacArthur dies of cancer, The first research networks are created years, $15.2 million in grants doubles 1978 leaving part of her estate to charity, to investigate the roots of mental health private-sector funding for the field. 1980 including $12 million to Palm Beach and illness. A total of 24 Foundation After John D. MacArthur’s death, the Atlantic University. networks unite scientists, practitioners, $1 million grant helps establish Foundation takes on assets of Bankers Special Grants Program (later named and policy experts and shed light on 1984 Life, estimated at $1 billion. Assets Chicago office of Local Initiatives Support Community Initiatives Program) is First class of MacArthur Fellows is areas ranging from human development Bankers Life and Casualty Company, from Citizens Bank and Trust Company Corporation to improve low-income formed to support Chicago cultural announced with awards to 41 people, to economics. the main asset left to the Foundation of Park Ridge establish the Retirement neighborhoods. and community activities. including poets and physicists, novelists by John D. MacArthur, is sold. Research Foundation. and historians, an arts educator, and Support for Chicago’s ShoreBank, General Grants Program begins, support- a social activist. the nation’s first and largest community Program on Peace and International Board awards first grants toA mnesty ing areas of interest not addressed by development bank, marks beginning Cooperation is created to strengthen and International and California League the Health, Fellows, or Special Grants of more than $275 million of program- broaden the understanding and practice of Cities. programs. 1982 related investments. of peacemaking and international security.
Expressing its belief in literary excellence, especially in writing about public policy, the humanities, and the arts, the Foundation devotes $12.5 million to the rescue of Harper’s Magazine. foundation grants are used to establish foundation gives 82 acres of prime the World Resources Institute, which oceanfront property in Palm Beach would educate decision makers about County, valued at $22.1 million, to the the scientific basis for global warming, state of Florida for John D. MacArthur among other contributions. Grants to WRI Beach State Park. ultimately total more than $43 million.
10 MacArthur at 30 11 1992: Offices open in Mexico and Russia. 1994: Offices open in India and Nigeria.
1986
Thorton F. Bradshaw elected Board Chair Foundation launches decade-long Project 1989 on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods, the largest research study Adele E. Simmons to date on the impact of neighborhood MacArthur begins supporting the work Foundation President changes and the psychological develop- of PBS’s Bill Moyers through a $5 million 1989–1999 ment of young people. grant for the series A World of Ideas.
Fund for Leadership Development William T. Kirby is created to support emerging leaders elected Board Chair in the developing world working on 1993 population, reproductive health, and Researchers in MacArthur’s Network natural resource management. on Successful Aging report that most Research and Writing Competition is of the factors that predict successful World Environment and Resources 1985 launched to support independent scholars aging are not solely genetic but at least Program is created to focus on conserva- and analysts writing on issues of peace 1991 equally related to lifestyle. The Network The Foundation creates the Fund for tion issues worldwide. and international cooperation. Over its Grants to build partnerships among later produces a best-selling book, Neighborhood Initiatives, a program aimed 18-year history, the Competition awards neighbors and police form a research Successful Aging. at revitalizing some of Chicago’s poorest more than 600 grants totaling nearly Population Program is created to address and demonstration base that leads to communities. In its first year, the program $35 million to researchers in 52 countries. the challenges posed by population community policing in Chicago. distributes grants totaling $720,000 to More than $9 million is awarded to growth and meeting the reproductive 30 neighborhood groups. 1994 conservation groups to stimulate long- health needs of the developing world. term solutions to the global ecological U.S. Cooperative Threat Reduction 1987 1992 The Foundation sells 11 properties in crisis. The resulting work is central to Program is established, reflecting MacArthur is a founding funder of P.O.V., $40 million over 10 years is committed New York City for $500 million, the the development of the new concept of Responding to the post–Cold War proposals of a consortium supported by the PBS program that becomes the to Chicago’s school reform initiative. largest sale of residential real estate global biodiversity, which now underpins opportunities, the Foundation creates MacArthur and the Carnegie Corporation longest-running television showcase for in the city’s history. most large-scale conservation efforts. a major initiative in the former Soviet aimed at encouraging joint U.S.-Russia independent documentary storytelling. Union to support Russia’s academic work to dismantle nuclear weapons and 1990 and scientific infrastructure. secure fissile material. Education Program is created to advance literacy, numeracy, and critical thinking. Elizabeth J. McCormack elected Board Chair U.S. Tropical Initiative focuses on endangered tropical ecosystems in U.S. — Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Florida Keys, and U.S. Virgin Islands. The Foundation receives the George Foster Peabody Award for supporting “inventive, inspired and important 1988 television.” Health Program launches a research initiative in mental health law, which leads Three foundations, MacArthur, Pew, and to a better understanding of the link Rockefeller, create the Energy Foundation between mental health and violence in to advance energy efficiency and offices are opened in Mexico foundation opens offices in India the community. renewable energy. and Russia. and Nigeria.
12 MacArthur at 30 13 2002: The Responsibility to Protect creates a new norm for humanitarian intervention.
1996 1995 MacArthur awards an initial grant to the Coalition for the International Criminal Court to coordinate activities of human John E. Corbally 1997 rights and other non-governmental elected Board Chair 2000 organizations working to establish the Board of Directors endorses a new International Criminal Court. program structure for the Foundation, Foundation creates the Partnership with the majority of grantmaking to for New Communities to galvanize be carried out through two integrated civic and corporate support for the Large-scale research initiative launched to foundation begins supporting research programs: the Program on Human Plan for Transformation of Chicago’s change the discourse about equality and on adolescent development and juvenile and Community Development and public housing. decision making in the field of economics. justice. the Program on Global Security and In celebration of its 25th anniversary, Sustainability. MacArthur provides the first of a series of 2002 the Foundation authorizes $42 million grants to human rights groups to support in unsolicited grants to arts and culture activities related to the prosecution of organizations in Chicago and South Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot 1998 former Chadian dictator Hissène Habré on Florida and to several major national elected Board Chair Biodiversity conservation work expands charges of crimes against humanity and and international organizations. with a new initiative in Africa that as an accomplice to torture. focuses on the Great Lakes of East Africa, foundation becomes founding partner Madagascar, and the Central African The Responsibility to Protect, a report of the Critical Ecosystems Partnership forest belt, joining earlier commitments by a Foundation-funded international Fund with a grant of $25 million to to protect hotspots in Asia and commission, creates a new norm for strengthen biodiversity preservation in Latin America. humanitarian intervention. threatened areas.
The Foundation provides support for civil society organizations from developing countries to attend the Rome Diplomatic Conference on the International Criminal Court.
MacArthur partners with the Carnegie, 1999 Ford, and Rockefeller Foundations to commit $100 million to strengthen higher education in Africa. Funding is increased Jonathan F. Fanton to $350 million in 2005. Foundation President 1999–2009 2001
Foundation supports ambitious $1.3 billion Models for Change, the Foundation’s Plan for Transformation of public housing juvenile justice reform initiative, in Chicago with the goal of developing begins with an initial commitment new mixed-income communities and of $40 million, which is increased to helping residents improve their lives. $100 million in 2006.
14 MacArthur at 30 15 2005: The U.S. Supreme Court, citing the work of a MacArthur research network, outlaws the death penalty for juveniles.
2003 $50 million contribution launches Window of Opportunity, an initiative to preserve and improve affordable rental homes 2007 across the country. Funding is increased to $150 million in 2007. 2005 Robert E. Denham Foundation launches exploratory elected Board Chair in partnership with the Chicago grantmaking to understand a role office of the Local Initiatives Support for philanthropy in virtual worlds. Corporation, MacArthur creates the New Communities Program, an effort Foundation commits $25 million to new With MacArthur support, the Law and to improve 16 low-income Chicago research on the ways housing matters to Neuroscience Project begins, marking neighborhoods. the first systematic effort to consider MacArthur starts Research Network children, families, and communities. how courts should handle new brain MacArthur Funds for the Arts created on Advancing Conservation in a Social imaging techniques as they apply to at the Prince Charitable Trusts and the Context and a five-year effort to develop With MacArthur support, MIT Press matters of law. Richard H. Driehaus Foundation to provide experimental approaches on adaptation launches the International Journal of The U.S. Supreme Court, citing operating support to small and mid-size of biodiversity conservation to climate Learning and Media, providing a the work of the MacArthur Research Chicago-area arts groups. change. scholarly vehicle and online community Network on Adolescent Development for the emerging field of digital media 2008 and Juvenile Justice, outlaws the death and learning. National Public Radio receives $14 million penalty for juveniles. $50 million is committed to a new from the Foundation, the largest grant in initiative to help understand how digital NPR’s history. media is changing how young people $10 million MacArthur grant spurs the 2006 think, learn, play, socialize, make judg- development of the Encyclopedia of Life, ments and participate in civic life, and an unprecedented global effort to create 2004 Four-year restoration of the historic implications for institutions like schools, Web pages for all 1.8 million known Marquette Building, the Foundation’s first research grant awarded to assess In partnership with the Rockefeller museums, and libraries. species on earth. headquarters, is completed. Work includes the anti-shock garment, a lower body suit Foundation and the governments of re-creating the cornice, restoring the that helps stop postpartum hemorrhage. Norway and Canada, MacArthur helps façade, and reconstructing the original In 2007, the Foundation expands support to launch Security Council Report, an windows. for the garment and a broader package independent source of information on of interventions against this leading cause the UN Security Council. of maternal death in the developing world. The Foundation launches a new initiative Science, Technology, and Security Initiative on Global Migration and Human Mobility. in recognition of the Foundation’s is launched to encourage a new genera- 30th anniversary, the MacArthur Award for tion of scientists and technicians to Nine organizations in five countries are International Justice is awarded to former address the threat posed by weapons selected to receive the Foundation’s first UN Secretary-General KofiA nnan. of mass destruction. annual MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions. MacArthur leads effort to create the Foundation awards $20 million to the 2016 Fund for Chicago Neighborhoods Community Foundation of Palm Beach and New project on the power of measuring to ensure that the city’s Olympics bid Martin Counties to create the John D. and social benefits seeks to improve public provides lasting benefits to neighborhoods Catherine T. MacArthur Fund for grant- policymaking through understanding how and local residents. making in the arts, education, community social policies that invest in individuals in development, and the environment. need can benefit society at large.
16 MacArthur at 30 17 30 years of foundation leadership Members of the board of directors
Board Members Chairs
John D. MacArthur 4 Edward H. Levi 13 Adele Smith Simmons 2 Paul D. Doolen 6
1 2 3 1970–1978 1979–1984 1988–1999 Chair: 1979–1984 Member: 1970–1984 Catherine T. MacArthur 5 Jonas Salk 14 Walter E. Massey 22 1970–1981 1979–1995 1989–1991 Thornton F. Bradshaw 28
4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Chair: 1986–1988 Paul D. Doolen 6 William E. Simon 15 William H. Foege 23 Member: 1985–1988 1970–1984 1979–1981 1991–2005 William T. Kirby 29 Louis Feil 7 Jerome B. Wiesner 16 John P. Holdren 24 Chair: 1989 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 1970–1978 1979–1994 1991–2005 Member: 1970–1990
Paul Harvey 8 Weston R. Christopherson 17 George A. Ranney, Jr. 25 Elizabeth J. McCormack 30 1970–2002 1984–1986 1991–2005 Chair: 1990–1995 Member: 1986–2002 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 John Roderick MacArthur 9 Shirley Mount Hufstedler 18 Thomas C. Theobald 26 1970–1985 1984–2002 1995–2006 John E. Corbally 1 Chair: 1995–2002 Robert P. Ewing 10 James M. Furman 19 Laura D’Andrea Tyson 27 Member: 1979–2002
34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 1978–1996 1985–2002 1997–1999 Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot 31 Gaylord Freeman 11 Margaret E. Mahoney 20 Chair: 2002–2007 1979–1986 1985–2002 Member: 1991–2007
Murray Gell-Mann 12 Alan M. Hallene 21 Robert E. Denham 32 1979–2002 1987–2002 Chair: 2007–present John E. Corbally 1 Adele E. Simmons2 Jonathan F. Fanton3 Member: 2000–present MacArthur Foundation President MacArthur Foundation President MacArthur Foundation President 1979–1989 1989–1999 1999–present
Former President of the University of Illinois Former President of Hampshire College Former President of New School University Current Board of Directors As board member, and later as president, Established the Foundation’s global reach, Deepens investment in some of the helped shape the Foundation’s intellectual, opening offices in Russia to strengthen Foundation’s most promising areas Robert E. Denham 32 Jonathan F. Fanton 3 Alan B. Krueger 38 Donald R. Hopkins 41 scientific, and research tone through universities and policy institutes, and of work including human rights and 2000 1999 2007 2005 early programs including the MacArthur launching the Population Program with international justice, juvenile justice, Fellows, support for public radio, and field offices in Mexico, Nigeria, Brazil, affordable housing, and community Lloyd Axworthy 33 Jamie S. Gorelick 36 Mario J. Molina 39 William I. Miller 42 investments in peace and security, mental and India. and economic development. 2000 2001 2002 2005 health, and the environment. Increased collaboration with other Seeks out and supports major new ideas, Drew S. Days, III 34 Mary Graham 37 Jack Fuller 40 Marjorie M. Scardino 43 Steered the board through the process foundations. such as the Encyclopedia of Life and the 1996 2001 2005 2005 of divesting Bankers Life and Casualty Law and Neuroscience Project. John Seely Brown 35 assets. Completed the transfer of management from the board to the staff and combined Emphasizes fewer grants but for larger 2000 nine separate Foundation programs into amounts and longer periods of time four — international, domestic, General, to increase the impact of MacArthur’s and Fellows. grantmaking.
18 MacArthur at 30 19 macarthur offices
Headquarters (Chicago) The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Office of Grants Management 140 South Dearborn Street Chicago, IL 60603-5285 Phone: (312) 726-8000 Fax: (312) 920-6258 TDD: (312) 920-6285 E-mail: [email protected] www.macfound.org
India Nigeria MacArthur Foundation India MacArthur Foundation Nigeria India Habitat Centre Fourth Floor Amma House Zone VA, First Floor Plot 432 Yakubu Pam Street Lodhi Road (Opposite National Hospital) New Delhi 110 003 Central Business District, Abuja India Nigeria Phone 1: (91-11) 2464-4006 Phone: (234-9) 234-8053 or Phone 2: (91-11) 2461-1324 (234-9) 234-8054 Fax: (91-11) 2464-4007 Fax: (234-9) 234-8046 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] www.nigeria.macfound.org Mexico MacArthur Foundation México Russia Vito Alessio Robles 39-103 MacArthur Foundation Russia Ex-Hacienda de Guadalupe, Khlebnyi Pereulok 8, Suite 2 Chimalistac Moscow 121069 México, D.F. 01050 Russia México Phone: (7-495) 737-0015 Phone and Fax: (52-55) 3004-1692 Fax: (7-495) 956-6358 (within NIS) E-mail: [email protected] (7-503) 737-0015 (international satellite) E-mail: [email protected] www.macfound.ru
20 MacArthur at 30 September 2008