MacArthur Foundation
VC Fund
Chicago, United States
MacArthur Foundation is a VC fund in Chicago focused on Non Profit and Communities. The John D. and Catherine T. 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, the Foundation works to defend human rights, advance global conservation and security, make cities better places, and understand howtechnology is affecting children and society.MacArthur is one of the nation's largest independent foundations. Through the support it provides, the Foundation fosters the development of knowledge, nurtures individual creativity, strengthens institutions, helps improve public policy, and provides information to the public, primarily through support for public interest media.The Foundation makes grants and loans through four programs.
- Total investments:
- 27
- Last investment:
- Lead investor:
- 70%
Last updated:
For AI agents: llms.txt
Industries MacArthur Foundation invests in
Stages MacArthur Foundation invests in
Countries MacArthur Foundation invests in
Contacts
| Name | Phone | Socials | |
|---|---|---|---|
Brad Ballast
|
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Catherine T. MacArthur
|
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Donald Buck Betten
|
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Eric Sears
|
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John D. MacArthur
|
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| See all 9 contacts → | |||
Investment Focus
Industry
- Non Profit 10 (37%)
- Communities 7 (26%)
- Education 6 (22%)
- News 3 (11%)
- Publishing 3 (11%)
Country
- United States 21 (78%)
- France 1 (4%)
Team
| Name | Title | Investments | Links | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Brad Ballast
Chief Operating Officer, Lever for Change
|
Chief Operating Officer, Lever for Change | Total investments: 0 | Find email | |
|
Catherine T. MacArthur
Founder
|
Founder | Total investments: 0 | Find email | |
|
Donald Buck Betten
Deputy Chief Investment Officer
|
Deputy Chief Investment Officer | Total investments: 0 | Find email | |
|
Eric Sears
Trustee, Partnership on AI and Senior Program Officer
|
Trustee, Partnership on AI and Senior Program Officer | Total investments: 0 | Find email | |
|
John D. MacArthur
Founder
|
Founder | Total investments: 0 | Find email | |
| See all 9 team members → | ||||
Investments
| Company | Description | Round | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
Current AI
|
Current AI develops AI tools and systems that prioritize public interest and ethical use. | $400M / Grant / Jul 19, 2026 | |
Linc Housing
|
Linc Housing creates and preserves affordable housing communities to meet the wide range of housing needs in California. | $7M / Grant / Jan 28, 2026 | |
Cave Canem
|
Cave Canem is a non-profit organization that promotes the artistic and professional development of Black poets. | $350K / Grant / Jan 20, 2026 | |
Community of Literary Magazines and Presses
|
Community of Literary Magazines and Presses is a non-profit firm that supports small literary publishers to create their literary works. | $250K / Grant / Jan 20, 2026 | |
StoryStudio Chicago
|
StoryStudio Chicago is a growing community of writers building Chicagoland premier center for writing and writers. Our mission is simple: teach the art and craft of writing in a positive, open, and encouraging community where students can develop their unique voices. | $100K / Grant / Jan 20, 2026 | |
Creative Capital
|
Creative Capital supports innovative and adventurous artists across the country through funding, counsel and career development services. | $1M / Grant / Jan 20, 2026 | |
National Juneteenth Museum
|
The National Juneteenth Museum ties together the historical accounts of enslaved people's liberation with contemporary liberation in the ongoing search for equity and justice. | $500K / Grant / Jan 20, 2026 | |
Lambda Literary
|
Lambda Literary is a nonprofit organization dedicated to championing writers and literature that focuses on affirming queer lives, igniting imagination, nurturing voices, amplifying diverse stories, and building inclusive literary ecosystems. | $350K / Grant / Jan 20, 2026 | |
|
Neubauer Collegium for Culture and Society
|
The Neubauer Collegium for Culture and Society is a collaborative research center at the university that fosters humanistic inquiry through faculty-led projects, visiting fellows, gallery exhibitions, and public events. | $500K / Grant / Jan 20, 2026 | |
The Feminist Press
|
The Feminist Press is an American independent nonprofit literary publisher that promotes freedom of expression and social justice, that publishes books that ignite movements and social transformation. Celebrating legacy, we lift up insurgent and marginalized voices from around the world to build a more just future. Feminist Press publishes twelveto fifteen books a year and specializes in an array of genres including cutting-edge fiction, activist nonfiction, literature in translation, hybrid memoirs, children’s books, and more. | $350K / Grant / Jan 20, 2026 | |
| See all 27 investments → | |||
Co-Investors
Ford Foundation
2 deals together
Craig Newmark Philanthropies
1 deal together
Google DeepMind
1 deal together
French government
1 deal together
Knight Foundation
1 deal together
Kresge Foundation
1 deal together
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FAQ
What does MacArthur Foundation invest in?
MacArthur Foundation invests primarily in Non Profit, Communities and Education startups, most often at Grant stage. Most of the 27 investments tracked by Shizune back companies in United States. The Investment Focus section breaks down every industry, stage and country in the portfolio.
How do I contact MacArthur Foundation?
Public channels for MacArthur Foundation include LinkedIn, X (Twitter) and the website linked on this profile. For a verified work email and phone number, create a free Shizune account — contact data is searched across 20+ sources and validated before delivery, so your outreach lands in the right inbox.
Who are the partners at MacArthur Foundation?
The team at MacArthur Foundation includes Brad Ballast (Chief Operating Officer, Lever for Change), Catherine T. MacArthur (Founder) and Donald Buck Betten (Deputy Chief Investment Officer), among 9 team members tracked by Shizune. The Team section lists each member with their title, investment count and links.
Is Shizune's investor data accurate?
Yes — every stat on this profile is calculated from confirmed public funding rounds monitored across hundreds of sources since 2020. This profile was last refreshed in Aug 2026 and is updated monthly. Spotted something off? Use the “Suggest an edit” link near the top of the page.
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