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MacArthur Fellows Program

Updated: 12/16/2025, 9:04:16 PM Wikipedia source

The MacArthur Fellows Program, also known as the MacArthur Fellowship and colloquially called the "Genius Grant", is a prize awarded annually by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation to typically between 20 and 30 individuals working in any field who have shown "extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction" and are citizens or residents of the United States. According to the foundation's website, "the fellowship is not a reward for past accomplishments but rather an investment in a person's originality, insight, and potential", but it also says such potential is "based on a track record of significant accomplishments". The amount of the prize is $800,000 paid over five years in quarterly installments. Previously, it was $625,000. This figure was increased from $500,000 in 2013 upon the release of a review of the MacArthur Fellows Program. The award has been called "one of the most significant awards that is truly 'no strings attached'". The program does not accept applications. Anonymous and confidential nominations are invited by the foundation and reviewed by an anonymous and confidential selection committee of about a dozen people. The committee reviews all nominees and recommends recipients to the president and board of directors. Most new fellows learn of their nomination and award upon receiving a congratulatory phone call. MacArthur Fellow Jim Collins described this experience in an editorial column of The New York Times.

Infobox

Sponsored by
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation
Date
1981; 44 years ago (1981)
Website
Official website

Tables

· Educational background of recipients
Harvard/Radcliffe
Harvard/Radcliffe
Institution
Harvard/Radcliffe
1131 Fellows (1981–2023):
188
Yale
Yale
Institution
Yale
1131 Fellows (1981–2023):
95
Berkeley
Berkeley
Institution
Berkeley
1131 Fellows (1981–2023):
78
Princeton
Princeton
Institution
Princeton
1131 Fellows (1981–2023):
71
Columbia/Barnard
Columbia/Barnard
Institution
Columbia/Barnard
1131 Fellows (1981–2023):
65
MIT
MIT
Institution
MIT
1131 Fellows (1981–2023):
48
Caltech
Caltech
Institution
Caltech
1131 Fellows (1981–2023):
43
Stanford
Stanford
Institution
Stanford
1131 Fellows (1981–2023):
41
Chicago
Chicago
Institution
Chicago
1131 Fellows (1981–2023):
40
Cornell
Cornell
Institution
Cornell
1131 Fellows (1981–2023):
38
Oxford
Oxford
Institution
Oxford
1131 Fellows (1981–2023):
35
Institution
1131 Fellows (1981–2023):
Harvard/Radcliffe
188
Yale
95
Berkeley
78
Princeton
71
Columbia/Barnard
65
MIT
48
Caltech
43
Stanford
41
Chicago
40
Cornell
38
Oxford
35

References

  1. The MacArthur Foundation does not use the term "genius" to describe its fellows and has asked the media to stop using it
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    https://www.macfound.org/fellows-faq
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  4. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/19/opinion/it-isnt-easy-being-a-genius.html
  5. The New York Times
    https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/14/opinion/sunday/dont-call-me-a-genius.html
  6. MacArthur Foundation
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120402095519/http://www.macfound.org/programs/fellows/strategy/
  7. MacArthur Foundation
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  8. The Complete Guide to Writing Effective & Award-Winning Grants: Step-By-Step Instructions
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  36. "Meet the 2001 MacArthur Fellows"
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  37. "Meet the 2002 MacArthur Fellows"
    http://www.macfound.org/fellows/class/september-2002/
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    http://www.macfound.org/fellows/class/october-2003/
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    http://www.macfound.org/fellows/class/september-2005/
  41. "Meet the 2006 MacArthur Fellows"
    http://www.macfound.org/fellows/class/september-2006/
  42. "Meet the 2007 MacArthur Fellows"
    http://www.macfound.org/fellows/class/2007/
  43. "Meet the 2008 MacArthur Fellows"
    http://www.macfound.org/fellows/class/2008/
  44. "Meet the 2009 MacArthur Fellows"
    http://www.macfound.org/fellows/class/2009/
  45. "Meet the 2010 MacArthur Fellows"
    http://www.macfound.org/fellows/class/2010/
  46. "Meet the 2011 MacArthur Fellows"
    http://www.macfound.org/fellows/class/2011/
  47. "Meet the 2012 MacArthur Fellows"
    http://www.macfound.org/fellows/class/2012/
  48. "Meet the 2013 MacArthur Fellows"
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  49. "Meet the 2014 MacArthur Fellows"
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    https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/macarthur-genius-grant-winners-ponder-a-new-future-your-life-can-change-in-an-instant/2018/10/03/8838fb32-c642-11e8-9b1c-a90f1daae309_story.html
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    https://web.archive.org/web/20150722053654/https://www.macfound.org/media/files/MacArthur_Fellows_-_Undergraduate_Degrees_1.pdf
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