MacArthur has a long tradition of support  for the sciences.¹ Since its inception in 1978, the Foundation has awarded approximately $400 million in grants for science—about 11 percent of MacArthur’s total grantmaking of $4 billion. 

The aim of the MacArthur Foundation’s grantmaking in science is the creation of new knowledge or empirical evidence that can be used to inform public policy decisions.  Over the past 30 years, the Foundation has awarded approximately $400 million in grants in support of science —11 percent of the Foundation’s total grantmaking.  Since 1983, MacArthur has supported 24 research networks with grants totaling $297 million. Research areas have ranged from the effects of aging to the impact of neuroscience on the law.  MacArthur Fellowships have been awarded to 350 individuals in the physical, biological, computational, and medical sciences.  Five of these Fellows have gone on to receive Nobel Prizes.

At a Glance

• The aim of the MacArthur Foundation’s grantmaking in science is the creation of new knowledge or empirical evidence that can be used to inform public policy decisions. 
• Over the past 30 years, the Foundation has awarded approximately $400 million in grants in support of science—11 percent of the Foundation’s total grantmaking. 
• Since 1983, MacArthur has supported 24 research networks with grants totaling $297 million. research areas have ranged from the effects of aging to the impact of neuroscience on the law. 
• MacArthur Fellowships have been awarded to 350 individuals in the physical, biological, computational, and medical sciences. Five of these Fellows have gone on to receive nobel prizes.

¹For the purposes of this review, science grants are defined as those that support work utilizing the physical, biological, medical, and behavioral sciences as distinct from the social sciences.

Get the complete grantmaking details by downloading the information sheet below.