How to track and use MacArthur Fellowship funds
Last updated June 23, 2026
The MacArthur Fellowship gives $800,000, paid in equal quarterly installments over five years, with no restrictions and no required reports. Because the money is unrestricted, the value of tracking is for yourself: see how much arrives each quarter, plan how you use it across buying time, building your work, giving back, and personal finances, and set aside money for taxes.
What the MacArthur Fellowship provides
The MacArthur Fellowship, often called the Genius Grant, is $800,000 paid in equal quarterly installments over five years. It is awarded to a person, not a project, with no strings attached.
The Foundation does not require or expect reports and does not track how Fellows spend the money. That freedom is the point: you decide how the award best supports your work.
Why tracking still helps
Unrestricted does not mean unplanned. The money arrives in quarterly installments across five years, so a simple running ledger keeps the long horizon visible and helps you pace your spending.
The award is taxable income, so set money aside for taxes as each installment arrives rather than facing a surprise at filing time.
Buckets that fit how Fellows use it
Fellows commonly use the award to buy time (income replacement and research), to build and support their work (staff, workspace, new ventures), to give back (training in a new field, scholarships for others), and for personal finances (taxes, savings, family support).
GrantJar starts you with these buckets so you can see the shape of your spending, and you can rename or remove any of them to match how you actually use the award.
Common questions
How much is the MacArthur Fellowship?
$800,000, paid in equal quarterly installments over five years.
Does MacArthur require a report on how I spend it?
No. The award is unrestricted and the Foundation does not require or expect reports.
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