MacArthur Foundation

06/03/2026

and mixed media artist Mark Bradford's 38-foot painting, “City of the Big Shoulders,” is one of several site-specific works featured at the Obama Presidential Center.

“Maps. Land. Power. It’s all there," he says of the piece.

Learn about the inspiration behind the work at The New York Times ⬇️
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/20/arts/design/obama-presidential-center-mark-bradford-chicago-art.html?unlocked_article_code=1.nFA.4HnU.tsvaBxnj75lU&smid=url-share

“City of the Big Shoulders” reflects the city’s strength and complexity. It took the artist five years to complete, mapping migration patterns and structural racism.

06/02/2026

Inside Philanthropy recently explored how several funders are meeting the moment by supporting nonpartisan organizations working on safe and fair elections, voting rights, and civic freedoms.

"MacArthur has been funding the democracy field for years, and the
foundation’s additional $100 million commitment this March was a
welcome influx."

Subscribers can read more below ⬇️

"Where are the funders?” Some advocates are asking the question in the run-up to November. Here are several grantmakers that are on the case.

06/02/2026

A new study from the Council on Energy, Environment and Water found that India's organic waste could become a $51B market by 2047.

The study, which assessed three pathways for India’s organic waste sector, identified ways to cut up to 101 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions.

Read more at Business Standard ⬇️

An accelerated policy push could create a $51 billion organic waste market and 26 lakh direct jobs by 2047 while significantly reducing emissions, says a CEEW study

06/01/2026

Deeply Rooted Dance Theater (DRDT) reimagines contemporary dance by uniting modern, classical, American, and African American traditions in dance and storytelling.

DRDT co-founder Gary Abbott recently spoke with Audrina Sinclair of CBS News Chicago to talk about how the theater is celebrating its 30th anniversary.

Watch the interview ⬇️

For 30 years now, the Deeply Rooted Dance Theater has been bringing celebrations of love, joy and resistance to Chicago. Now, the theater is preparing to end its 30th anniversary season with a must-see show. Cofounder Gary Abbott joins Audrina Sinclair.

05/29/2026

“Sustainable development requires that we...begin at the bottom of the pyramid and invest up because everyone counts."

Amina A Salihu, Deputy Director of our Nigeria office, recently spoke at the School of Politics, Policy, and Governance (SPPG) about prioritizing inclusivity and community to bring about lasting change.

Read more of her reflections at TheCable ⬇️

Amina Salihu, deputy director at the MacArthur Foundation Africa office, says development in Nigeria must have an….

05/27/2026

How often are people visiting your neighborhood library? How many local news sources does your community have?

These factors are among a range of indicators that the Civic Information Index shares to help explore civic health in counties across the U.S.

Learn how the Index, created by Listening Post Collective, uses data like library visits and voter participation to create an overall Index score.

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The MacArthur Foundation supports creative people and effective institutions committed to building a more just, verdant, and peaceful world. In addition to selecting the MacArthur Fellows, we work to defend human rights, advance global conservation and security, make cities better places, and unders...

05/26/2026

For 45 years, MacArthur Fellows have expanded the boundaries of possibility by questioning conventions, crossing disciplines, and driving collective progress.

Throughout 2026, we're celebrating the ground-breaking work of the Fellows and inspiring public dialogue through a series of nationwide events and conversations.

At "We The Publics," Fellows Imani Perry and Emmanuel Pratt, along with educator and activist Omo Moses, discussed how regenerative design can be a tool for systemic justice and educational empowerment.

"We the Publics," hosted at Sweet Water Foundation's Civic Arts Church, is a planned year-long series covering themes of freedom and overcoming.

Learn about the series and view upcoming Fellows at 45 events ⬇️
https://www.macfound.org/events/defying-boundaries-macarthur-fellows-at-45?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=events-fellows-45-soft-5-26

05/21/2026

The freedom to give is essential to a free, open, and civil society.

Our President, John Palfrey, recently joined President and CEO of DonorsTrust, Lawson R. Bader, and The Cato Institute Senior Fellow, Walter Olson, to discuss the importance of philanthropic freedom.

Watch the full conversation:
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A free, open, and civil society depends on the freedom of individuals and institutions to direct private resources toward the causes they value.

05/20/2026

"In rural places, when we don’t have access to public media, it can literally be a life-and-death situation."

Stephanie Hyre of Press Forward Central Appalachia’s Rural News Fund shares why local news is critical to rural communities.

Learn how organizations like the Rural News Fund are investing in infrastructure and resources to help sustain their local media landscape ⬇️

Support for nonprofit local news is on the rise, but there's still vast need in underserved rural areas. Here's how several funding efforts are shaping up.

05/20/2026

Trust-based philanthropy requires program officers to be thought leaders, advocates, and strategic partners.

Speaking with The Chronicle of Philanthropy, Stephanie Platz, Managing Director of Programs, shares how program officers are connecting with grantees to better understand their challenges and needs at scale.

"There’s no way that AI would be able to replace a program officer doing something like that," she says.

Read the full story ⬇️

Once their jobs focused on compliance. Now they're prized for their ability to listen and solve problems.