Evaluation of the MacArthur Fellows Program

Background

The MacArthur Fellows Program aims to identify extraordinarily creative individuals with a track record of excellence in a field of scholarship or area of practice, who demonstrate the ability to impact society in significant and beneficial ways through their pioneering work or the rigor of their contributions.

The Foundation awards fellowships directly to individuals. Recipients may be writers, scientists, artists, social scientists, humanists, teachers, entrepreneurs, or individuals in other fields, with or without institutional affiliations. The award and national visibility of the fellowship support new opportunities for each Fellow, contributing to societal impact.

In 2022 the MacArthur Fellows Program began an evaluation as part of a strategy review process, concluding in 2024.

What We Evaluated

The MacArthur Fellows program engaged in this evaluation with our learning partners, Learning for Action, Public Profit, and The Harris Poll. The purposes of the evaluation were to:

• Understand the fellowship’s defining characteristics and place in the field of award programs;
• Understand the fellowship’s experiences and outcomes;
• Gather feedback on specific program processes;
• Understand how our work was being perceived by the communities with whom we engage; and
• Support the Fellows Program team to develop recommendations for any shifts to the fellowship based on findings.

What We Learned

Building on a selection process put in place at its inception, the Fellows Program still succeeds in spotlighting individuals whose ideas, experiments, solutions, and discoveries expand our expectations of the possible. Below is a summary of our key findings as outlined by our learning partners:

The Fellowship’s Defining Characteristics

• The fellowship continues to occupy a unique niche in the field of award programs due to a combination of features.
• The award recognizes individuals who exemplify extraordinary creativity, inspire others, have the courage to challenge and disrupt systems when necessary, and do catalytic work in interdisciplinary spaces.
• Perceptions of the Fellows Program among the Engaged Public, are on par or even more favorable in 2023 than in 2012, including the perception that it recognizes creativity and supports people who make important contributions to society.

Fellows’ Experience and Outcomes

• The program has significant impacts on Fellows’ professional and personal lives such as enabling Fellows to engage in new creative projects, expand previous work, or act on ideas they were incubating prior to receiving the award.
• The impact of the fellowship is more pronounced for some Fellows, often based on their identity and lived experience, while some experience negative impacts.

Broader Impact on People Close to Fellows and Fellows’ Fields

• The fellowship can have positive ripple effects on Fellows’ peers and in the Fellows’ fields.

Feedback on the Program

• Fellows deeply appreciate the opportunities to engage with each other across fields and class years.
• Major changes to the nomination, selection, and award process are not needed. However, ongoing fine-tuning is appropriate.

View the Executive Summary 

Reflections and Results from Our Fellows Strategy Review

MacArthur’s evaluation philosophy