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EVALUATION

The MacArthur Fellows: Mixed-Methods Retrospective Evaluation of a Large-Scale, High-Impact Fellowship Program

The Client: The MacArthur Foundation

The MacArthur Foundation is one of the nation’s largest independent foundations. MacArthur boldly invests in creative solutions to challenges, sparking hope for the future all over the world. In addition to their award programs, the Foundation is committed to responsible journalism and responsive democracy. 

The MacArthur Fellowship is a $800,000 no-strings-attached award to extraordinarily talented and creative individuals as an investment in their potential. This program is intended to encourage people of outstanding talent to pursue their own creative, intellectual, and professional inclinations. 

The Project: Mixed-Methods Retrospective Program Evaluation

In 2022, MacArthur Foundation engaged Public Profit and Learning for Action to lead a decennial learning exercise for its Fellows Program. 

The evaluation team conducted a mixed-methods retrospective evaluation of the Fellowship, exploring program processes and the impacts of the award on individual recipients and their professional fields. 

The evaluation additionally explored the extent to which the Fellowship has successfully expanded the field of potential fellows, in keeping with a decade-long strategic priority for the Fellows Program.

The scope of the evaluation was huge – with data collection efforts bringing information from Fellows, nominators, selectors, Fellows’ peers, Foundation staff, Foundation board, and the public.

The Learnings: The Fellowship "makes the possible More probable."

Ultimately, the study showed that after more than 40 years, the MacArthur Fellows Program continues to occupy a niche in the field of award programs. 

The Fellowship rewards extraordinary, change-making individuals with an award meant to catapult them forward, and is widely perceived as supporting people who make important contributions to society. 

The Fellowship has proven to generate significant professional and personal opportunities for the Fellows, with ripple effects extending to their peers, communities, and across professional fields.   

“I think that the MacArthur Fellowship has a huge influence in the public’s support of visual art as a field of knowledge production, cultural research, and a field that affects the public sphere. The fact that artists, scientists, activists, writers, etc. are all treated as equally important is hugely meaningful and encourages many, with huge unmeasurable, but real results.” – MacArthur Fellow

“The MacArthur Fellowship changed my life massively. It launched me on this incredible trajectory of recognition, opportunity, and responsibility to do something great.” – MacArthur Fellow

The Report:

Explore the full evaluation report for a deeper look at the study details and our eight key findings and recommendations.

This article from The MacArthur Foundation gives their reflections on the evaluation and what the future looks like for the Fellowship.

Download the Report Here

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