From helping public radio thrive in the digital age to defending human rights in Nigeria to seeking a more fair juvenile justice system in the United States, the eight nonprofit organizations in six countries that are recipients of the 2008 MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions have diverse missions but a common link. All have a modest budget but a large impact.

“From its founding, the MacArthur Foundation has sought out people and organizations that have the creativity, energy and breadth of vision to change the world for the better,” said MacArthur President Jonathan Fanton. “These imaginative and influential small organizations have an impact altogether disproportionate to their size. They are addressing problems and injustices, finding fresh solutions, and proving themselves as leaders and innovators.”

The 2008 recipients of the MacArthur Award for Creative and Effective Institutions are: 

•  Tlachinollan, Centro de Derechos Humanos de la Montana (Mexico) defends minority communities and brings violators of human rights to justice. Through its efforts, Tlachinollan is strengthening Mexico’s civil society and making it more inclusive.
•  Juvenile Law Center (Philadelphia) advocates for the rule of law to provide a voice for children, ensuring fair, developmentally appropriate solutions through legal advocacy, policy change and public education. Its efforts have helped change the public conversation about juvenile justice.
•  Kazan Human Rights Center (Russia) uses targeted litigation to bring widespread attention to the issue of police abuse. The Center calls on Russia’s legal system to observe the spirit of the law and defend the vulnerable. 
•  Legal Defence and Assistance Project (Nigeria) offers support and legal assistance to political prisoners and defends human rights for all. By reforming the administration of criminal justice, and training government officials, it is instilling respect for the law as a key element of a healthy democracy.
•  Project Match (Chicago) draws from workforce development research to provide a better understanding of the challenges faced by those trying to find work. Through its work, the group helps to make individuals and families more self-reliant and secure. 
•  Public Radio Exchange (PRX) (Cambridge, Mass.) has invented an ingenious system for bringing a wide variety of high quality programming to public radio stations and directly to audiences. PRX is leading public radio to become more interactive, diverse, and participatory.
•  Sangath (India) is a leader in child development, adolescent and family guidance, and behavioral and psychosocial health services. The organization provides direct services and conducts research to benefit India’s 350 million 10 to 24 year-olds. 
•  Tany Meva Foundation (Madagascar) seeks to increase sustainable use of the environment, to educate and empower communities, and to save the threatened forests. It is the first environmental group in Madasgascar, one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet.

Each organization will receive up to $500,000, significant support for groups with annual budgets under $2.5 million. The funding will be used for a range of purposes, from purchasing new office space to developing training and research facilities to upgrading technology. The winners will meet in Chicago on June 12 to learn from each other and receive their awards at a Foundation ceremony.

The awards continue MacArthur’s tradition of supporting creative individuals and effective institutions committed to making the world more just, verdant, and peaceful. The Foundation has a long history of building institutions. Each year, MacArthur identifies from among its grantees a small number of organizations to receive institution-building grants. These are groups at an important inflection point in their development, where an infusion of funds would be most timely. In addition to the Creative and Effective Award winners, others include Human Rights Watch, now the world’s largest U.S.–based human rights organization, and Creative Commons, which has changed how we think about copyright.