MacArthur Foundation 100&Change

MacArthur Foundation 100&Change is a biennial competition launched by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation in 2016, aimed at supporting large-scale social change projects with a budget of $100 million over two years. The program seeks to identify and fund innovative solutions to significant social problems, with a focus on projects that can have a lasting impact on the lives of individuals and communities. The competition is open to nonprofit organizations, for-profit companies, and governments, and has received significant attention and interest from a wide range of applicants. The MacArthur Foundation has a long history of supporting social change initiatives, and the 100&Change competition is one of its most ambitious efforts to date.

Overview

The MacArthur Foundation 100&Change competition is designed to support projects that can drive significant social change, with a focus on issues such as poverty, inequality, and climate change. The competition is open to applicants from around the world, and the MacArthur Foundation has committed to providing $100 million in funding for each winning proposal. The program is led by Ruth Rice, a senior program officer at the MacArthur Foundation, and has been developed in collaboration with a range of experts and stakeholders.

Selection process

The selection process for the MacArthur Foundation 100&Change competition involves a rigorous and multi-stage review process, with a panel of experts and MacArthur Foundation staff evaluating applications based on their potential impact, feasibility, and alignment with the program's goals. Applicants are required to submit detailed proposals outlining their project plans, budgets, and expected outcomes, and are also asked to provide information on their organizational capacity and experience. The MacArthur Foundation has stated that it is looking for projects that can demonstrate a clear theory of change, and that have the potential to drive significant and lasting impact.

Winning proposals

The first round of the MacArthur Foundation 100&Change competition was launched in 2016, and received over 1,900 applications from around the world. The winning proposals were announced in 2017, and included projects such as the Chicago Array of Things, a initiative aimed at creating a network of smart streetlights in Chicago; and the All* Comers Project, a program aimed at providing support to refugees and asylum seekers in New York City. Other winning proposals included the Natural Resources Defense Council's effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in China, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's project to develop new technologies for sustainable agriculture.

Impact and outcomes

The MacArthur Foundation 100&Change competition has had a significant impact on the social change sector, with many of the winning proposals achieving significant and lasting outcomes. For example, the Chicago Array of Things has helped to reduce crime and improve public safety in Chicago, while the All* Comers Project has provided critical support to refugees and asylum seekers in New York City. The Natural Resources Defense Council's effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in China has also made significant progress, and has helped to inform the development of new climate change policies in the country.

Criticism and challenges

Despite its successes, the MacArthur Foundation 100&Change competition has also faced criticism and challenges. Some have argued that the program's focus on large-scale social change projects can be overly ambitious, and that the competition may not be well-suited to smaller or more grassroots organizations. Others have raised concerns about the MacArthur Foundation's decision to provide such a large amount of funding to a small number of projects, and have argued that the program may not be sustainable in the long term. The MacArthur Foundation has responded to these criticisms by emphasizing its commitment to supporting a wide range of social change initiatives, and by highlighting the potential for the 100&Change competition to drive significant and lasting impact. Category:Social change