MacArthur Fellows Program

The MacArthur Fellows Program, also known as the MacArthur Fellowship and colloquially called the "Genius Grant",[a] 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.

The committee reviews all nominees and recommends recipients to the president and board of directors.

Most new fellows first 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.

[10] In the five broad categories defined by the foundation, the breakdown for recipient focus is as follows: Arts 336; Humanities 170; Public Issues 257; STEM 335; and Social Sciences 120.