ABSTRACT
John D.MacArthur was born in a poor region of eastern Pennsylvania (USA). By the time of his death, however, he was not only one of the three wealthiest men in America and the sole owner of the nation’s largest privately held insurance company, but was also responsible for the creation of one of America’s ten largest philanthropic organizations. That organization, the John D. and Catherine T.MacArthur Foundation, began operations in 1978 and has since granted over US $3,000m. to groups and individuals that work to strengthen institutions, policies, and information provision through public interest media for human development.
