MF
LP profile
MacArthur Foundation
Foundation · Founded 1978 · Chicago, United States
246
VC firms backed
$8.2B
AUM
~$410M
Allocated to VC (est. 5%)
01 · Background
Who MacArthur Foundation is.
- Historical Background
- The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is a private foundation that was established in 1978. It was created by John D. MacArthur, who at the time of his death was one of the three wealthiest individuals in the United States and the sole owner of Bankers Life and Casualty Company of Chicago.
- Source of Capital
- The foundation's capital originates from the estate of John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur. With an endowment of $7.6 billion, the foundation provides approximately $260 million in grants and impact investments annually.
- Allocation Strategy
- The foundation makes grants and impact investments to support non-profit organizations. Its current primary areas of focus include climate change, criminal justice reform, reducing nuclear risk, and combating corruption in Nigeria. The foundation is also known for the MacArthur Fellows Program, which awards unrestricted fellowships to talented U.S. citizens.
02 · Fund commitments
The funds MacArthur Foundation backs.
MacArthur Foundation is a limited partner in 246 funds. 30 of them place in the Power Law Investor Ranking; those lead, best-ranked first.
Sequoia Capital
#2 Power Law
Index Ventures
#11 Power Law
Bessemer Venture Partners
#17 Power Law
Kleiner Perkins
#18 Power Law
Insight Partners
#23 Power Law
Greylock Partners
#46 Power Law
Venrock
#56 Power Law
Matrix Partners
#58 Power Law
Notable Capital
#61 Power Law
BlackRock
#83 Power Law
IA Ventures
#101 Power Law
Canaan
#103 Power Law
Foundation Capital
#155 Power Law
SAIF Partners
#159 Power Law
Matrix Partners China
#163 Power Law
Peak XV Partners
#207 Power Law
CDH Investments
#320 Power Law
83North
#427 Power Law
Z47
#443 Power Law
4D Global Energy Investments
Abris Capital Partners
Adelis Equity Partners
ADM Capital
Ankur Capital
Apax Partners
Ashmore Group
Audax Private Equity
Baring Vostok Capital Partners
Blue Water
Bridgepoint
Century Bridge Capital
Cheyne Capital
Chrys Capital
Davinci Advisors
Gaw Capital
Globis Capital Partners
Hampshire Real Estate Companies
Seacrest Capital
03 · Allocation
How MacArthur Foundation’s fund book is spread.
The 246 funds MacArthur Foundation backs, by where the manager is headquartered and how many funds that manager has raised.
Where those managers are based
By fund headquarters, across the 244 of 246 with a location on record.
- North America 18475%
- Europe 3615%
- Rest of world 2410%
United States 179 · United Kingdom 25 · Hong Kong 8 · India 6
How established those managers are
Managers grouped by how many funds they have raised — across the 145 of 246 with a fund history on record.
Emerging funds · 69
Established funds · 76
35
1
17
2
17
3
15
4
20
5-6
17
7-9
12
10-14
12
15+
Funds raised by the manager
04 · Direct investments
The companies MacArthur Foundation backs directly.
MacArthur Foundation holds 11 companies directly, separate from the funds it commits to as a limited partner.
Sesame Street
Collective Shift
The Markup
Inclusive Prosperity Capital
American Council of Learned Societies
Democracy Works
ProPublica
Data 4 Black Lives
Irys Technologies
$4.8M valuation
Factchequeado
Partners In Health
05 · Portfolio market map
Inside MacArthur Foundation’s portfolio.
The 11 highest-funded portfolio companies, of 11 tracked.
SeSesame Street
CoCollective Shift
ThThe Markup
InInclusive Prosperity Capital
AmAmerican Council of Learned Societies
DeDemocracy Works
PrProPublica
DaData 4 Black Lives
IrIrys Technologies
$4.8M
FaFactchequeado
PaPartners In Health
06 · Other LPs
Other LPs.
Other foundations in the Power Law LP ranking, closest to MacArthur Foundation by combined power-law score — North America first, then the nearest worldwide.
🇺🇸
The Rockefeller Foundation
$6.0B AUM
87 VC funds backed
🇺🇸
Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
$9.7B AUM
66 VC funds backed
🇺🇸
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
$14B AUM
97 VC funds backed
🇺🇸
Ford Foundation
$17B AUM
74 VC funds backed
🇺🇸
Annie E. Casey Foundation
$3.5B AUM
37 VC funds backed
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Knight Foundation
$2.4B AUM
62 VC funds backed
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The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust
$6.0B AUM
30 VC funds backed
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Grantham Foundation
$912M AUM
52 VC funds backed