New grants will support organizations that investigate and reveal human culture, thought, and experience through the exploration of history, languages, arts, philosophies, and religions.
MacArthur today announced $10 million in new grants to strengthen the fields of the humanities, supporting organizations that investigate and reveal human culture, thought, and experience through the exploration of history, languages, arts, philosophies, and religions. These investments respond to mounting pressures facing the humanities, from assaults on academic freedom to the erasure of vital histories.
“The humanities are essential to a healthy, multicultural democracy.”
“The humanities are essential to a healthy, multicultural democracy. They help us understand one another, deepen empathy, and preserve the stories that shape who we are,” said MacArthur Foundation President John Palfrey. “At a moment when human inquiry and cultural expression are increasingly devalued, we are proud to support organizations that keep this work vibrant and accessible for all.”
Representative Grants
The portfolio of grants spans universities, publishers, literary organizations, and cultural institutions across the country, including the following representative grants:
- Cave Canem ($350,000) — Nurturing the artistic and professional growth of Black poets through community-centered learning, creation, and presentation.
- Community of Literary Magazines & Presses ($250,000) — Strengthening small presses and literary magazines that form the backbone of the independent publishing ecosystem.
- Creative Capital ($1,000,000) — Empowering artists to realize innovative new works and connect with broader audiences through exhibitions, performances, films, and publications.
- Feminist Press ($350,000) — Publishing groundbreaking literature that advances social transformation and ensures readers from all backgrounds can see themselves represented.
- Lambda Literary ($350,000) — Advancing and amplifying LGBTQ literature and supporting LGBTQ writers whose stories preserve legacies and build community.
- National Juneteenth Museum ($500,000) — Preserving and interpreting the history of Juneteenth while creating cultural, educational, and community spaces rooted in Black freedom and resilience.
- Neubauer Collegium, University of Chicago ($500,000) — Supporting interdisciplinary engagement that brings scholars, artists, and practitioners together to better understand the impact of humanistic practice on complex human challenges.
- Stories Matter Foundation ($100,000) — Supporting writers and storytellers across Chicago through workshops, publications, and creative community-building.
This support reflects MacArthur's commitment to reinforcing the civic and cultural infrastructure that allows inherently diverse communities to share their histories, express their ideas, and shape our collective future. MacArthur also recently supported a new pooled fund to strengthen American literary arts.
