The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is a private, independent charitable organization founded by John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur in 1978 and headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

According to its Web site, its activities are nonpolitical and independent of the U.S. government and are intended “to support independent research and creative approaches to addressing pressing societal issues.” The Foundation supports projects in the field of environmental protection, human rights and freedoms, promotion of international peace and security, improvement of reproductive health, development of secondary and higher education, research in the humanities and social sciences, energy and natural sciences. The forms of support are grants for individual research, participation in conferences, and special projects.

The MacArthur Foundation is one of the largest independent charitable institutions in the United States, with $6.3 billion in assets (2013). Each year, the organization awards about $200 million in grants to universities, nongovernmental organizations and individuals in the United States and 50 countries around the world. In 2013, $228.4 million was awarded. Total since 1978. – $5.5 billion.

The foundation’s president is Julia Stasch, and its board of directors is chaired by Marjorie Scardino.

Official website – www.macfound.org