The Durham-based Center for Responsible Lending has won a $2 million award from the MacArthur Foundation.

The nonprofit was one of 15 organizations given one of the foundation's annual awards for creative and effective institutions.

The awards are different from the so-called "genius grants" the foundation gives to individuals each year.

The Center for Responsible Lending is a consumer advocacy group that works to help homeowners avoid foreclosure and to prevent lenders from using predatory financial practices.

It is a division of the Community Center for Self-Help, a nonprofit group founded in 1980 by Martin Eakes. Self-Help has helped thousands of low-income homeowners.

The Center for Responsible Lending's $2 million award was the second largest of the 15 awarded on Thursday.

Other institutions receiving MacArthur awards include the Center for Investigative Reporting, the Carnegie Moscow Center, and the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law.

For a complete list go here.