# John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is an Endowment / Foundation based in Chicago, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Endowment / Foundation
- **Headquarters:** Chicago, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** 140 S. Dearborn St. Suite 1200, Chicago, IL, United States
- **Founded:** 1978
- **Assets under management:** 9000 (Altss estimate)
- **Website:** macfound.org
- **LinkedIn:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/macarthur-foundation

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation was established in 1978 from the estate of John D. MacArthur, who built his fortune in insurance through Bankers Life and Casualty, and his wife Catherine. John Palfrey serves as president. The foundation operates as one of the largest private grantmakers in the United States. Capital deployment spans private equity, private credit, and philanthropic mission-related investments. Asset allocation shows 33 percent in private equity. The impact investment portfolio totals $390.5 million in loans, equity stakes, and guarantees. Confirmed holdings include Benefit Chicago and PRIME Impact Equity Fund I. Geographic reach covers North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, South America, and the Middle East. The endowment stands at $9 billion. Susan Manske serves as chief investment officer and plans to retire in June 2025. The foundation holds the Marquette Building in Chicago as its headquarters along with associated Tiffany mosaics and bronzes. It participates in the MacArthur Fellows Program and the 100&Change initiative. No additional offices are recorded. The foundation maintains a direct co-investment program alongside its grantmaking mandate. This hybrid structure allows allocation to both traditional fund commitments and targeted impact vehicles without an external manager layer. Governance rests with a board chaired by Martha Minow.

## Sectors

- ClimateTech
- Energy Transition & Renewables
- AgriTech & FoodTech

## People

- John Palfrey — President
- Martha Minow — Board Chair
- Susan Manske — Vice President and Chief Investment Officer
- Joshua Mintz — Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary

## Questions

### Who runs investment decisions at the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation?

John Palfrey serves as president. Susan Manske acts as vice president and chief investment officer until her planned retirement in June 2025. The board, chaired by Martha Minow, oversees overall direction.

### How does the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation source proprietary deal flow?

The foundation uses its grantmaking networks and relationships with impact-focused intermediaries. It participates in co-investments through vehicles such as SDC Capital Partners funds and PRIME Impact Equity Fund I.

### Does the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation participate in fund commitments or only direct deals?

The foundation makes both fund commitments and direct co-investments. It holds positions in multiple hedge funds and private equity vehicles while maintaining a separate impact portfolio for direct equity and debt.

### What investment stages does the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation typically target?

The foundation targets early-stage opportunities through its impact allocation. It also maintains exposure to growth and buyout strategies via private equity commitments.

### What is the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation's known posture on co-investments alongside external GPs?

It also collaborates on Benefit Chicago with the Chicago Community Trust and Calvert Impact Capital.

## Related profiles

- [J Sainsbury Pension Fund](https://altss.com/profile/j-sainsbury-pension-fund)
- [Dartmouth College Endowment](https://altss.com/profile/dartmouth-college-endowment)

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Last updated: 2026-06-03T20:00:00.000Z

Canonical page: https://altss.com/profile/john-d-and-catherine-t-macarthur-foundation

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