James S McDonnell Foundation
The James S. McDonnell Foundation (JSMF) is a private foundation based in St. Louis, Missouri. It invests in organizations and initiatives working to improve economic mobility for St. Louisans facing the starkest disparities, with inclusive and equitable economic growth as its guiding aim.
James S McDonnell Foundation at a glance
In short: James S McDonnell Foundation gave $30.1M across 82 grants in 2024 (avg $367K), mostly in Missouri. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $30,094,150
- +9.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 82
- +4000.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $367,002
- -97.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $115,000
- Total assets
- $457,476,208
- -0.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Missouri (77% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to James S McDonnell Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit funding ideas through the proposals form. Applicants are asked to select the focus area or areas that best match their proposal and upload their organization’s most current Form 990 as “990.pdf.” JSMF says it will review submissions and contact applicants if appropriate, but may be unable to respond to every message. The foundation’s filing lists Jason Purnell as the contact for application information and directs applicants to the foundation’s website for funding-program and request-for-proposals information. The filing lists no restrictions on awards. JSMF generally does not fund grants to individuals, unrestricted general operating support, religious programming, basic scientific research, or projects outside St. Louis unless the work directly benefits its priority populations.
- Review Cycle
- See the relevant funding-program information and the foundation’s website.
- Deadline
- See the relevant funding-program information and the foundation’s website.
- Contact
Application contact: Jason Purnell
Mailing address: 1034 S Brentwood 1850, St Louis, MO 63117-1284
Phone: (314) 721-1532
Website: https://www.jsmf.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who James S McDonnell Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was St Louis Community Foundation ($5.3M across 12 grants). Together the top 10 received $23.8M.
Grant Size Distribution
321 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 168 grants of 321 (52%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
JSMF says its funding is dedicated to the St. Louis region, with emphasis on St. Louis City and North St. Louis County. Organizations outside St. Louis may apply if their work directly benefits the foundation’s priority populations. In 2024, 77% of grant dollars went to recipients in Missouri; other leading recipient states were the District of Columbia (8%), West Virginia (4%), Pennsylvania (3%), and Washington (2%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 82 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How James S McDonnell Foundation gives
- Giving grew 32% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $21.4M (2020) to $30.1M (2024). In 2024 it made 82 grants totaling $30.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Forest Park Forever Inc St. Louis, MO | In support of "forever: the campaign for forest park's future" | $5,120,000 |
| Curators of the University of Missouri-St Louis on Behalf of the University St. Louis, MO | Umsl School of Engineering & Student Support | $3,361,590 |
| Federation of American Scientists Washington, DC | In Support of the Economic Mobility Initiative | $2,250,000 |
| St Louis Community Foundation St. Louis, MO | Building a framework for lasting wealth: a proposal for baby bonds in st. Louis | $1,950,000 |
| Davis & Elkins College Elkins, WV | Endowment F/T Secure the Future Campaign, Phase II | $1,160,000 |
| Small Business Empowerment Center St. Louis, MO | St. Louis low-income investment fund and technical assistance (st. Louis lift) | $1,000,000 |
| St Louis Community Foundation St. Louis, MO | Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot | $1,000,000 |
| St Louis Community Foundation St. Louis, MO | Guaranteed Basic Income Pilot | $966,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity International Inc St. Louis, MO | Building Our Financial Future | $900,000 |
| Neighborhood Solidarity Fund Clayton, MO | In support of staffing, pilot program costs, evaluation, and dissemination of findings | $782,500 |
Ready to take the next step with James S McDonnell Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $457,476,208 | $28,179,144 | $40,822,593 | $30,094,150 | 82 | $33,473,932 | $21,858,511 | $34,700,689 |
| 2023 | $460,044,300 | $25,559,234 | $36,809,131 | $27,600,515 | 2 | $30,013,320 | $19,123,008 | $32,903,142 |
| 2022 | $499,916,160 | $30,159,352 | $33,281,970 | $24,496,541 | 77 | $25,952,205 | $23,194,353 | $32,387,514 |
| 2021 | $496,119,714 | $80,243,658 | $30,187,933 | $22,833,952 | 79 | $24,512,607 | $75,195,801 | $33,109,630 |
| 2020 | $468,603,967 | $35,711,868 | $27,628,350 | $21,388,957 | 81 | — | $30,800,067 | $27,073,419 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James S McDonnell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $34.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
JSMF’s mission is to invest in organizations and initiatives focused on improving economic mobility for St. Louisans facing the starkest disparities. Its four interconnected areas of focus are workforce opportunity and workforce systems; small and midsize business growth; efforts to build and protect individual and community wealth; and regional leadership capacity and civic infrastructure.
Most grants go to 501(c)(3) and other tax-exempt organizations identified by JSMF staff, though the foundation says it may consider select proposals submitted through its website. The grantees illustrate a range of supported work: Forest Park Forever says its mission is to restore, maintain, and sustain Forest Park in partnership with the City of St. Louis; the Small Business Empowerment Center describes its work assisting businesses in distressed areas of St. Louis City and County; and the St. Louis Community Foundation says it promotes charitable giving to benefit the community and causes residents care about.
Grantmaking
In 2024, JSMF awarded 82 grants totaling $30,094,150. Grant amounts ranged from $1,181 to $5,120,000, with a median of $115,000.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $5,120,000 to Forest Park Forever for “Forever: The Campaign for Forest Park’s Future”; $3,361,590 to the Curators of the University of Missouri–St. Louis for UMSL School of Engineering and student support; and $2,250,000 to the Federation of American Scientists in support of its Economic Mobility Initiative. Other major awards included $1,950,000 to the St. Louis Community Foundation for a proposal on baby bonds in St. Louis; $1,160,000 to Davis & Elkins College for an endowment supporting its Secure the Future Campaign, Phase II; and $1,000,000 to the Small Business Empowerment Center for the St. Louis Low-Income Investment Fund and Technical Assistance.
JSMF also awarded $1,000,000 and $966,000 to the St. Louis Community Foundation for a guaranteed basic income pilot, and $900,000 to Habitat for Humanity International for “Building Our Financial Future.”
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Jason Purnell as president. Directors listed include James S. McDonnell III, John F. McDonnell, Holly M. James, Jeanne M. Champer, Marcella M. Stevens, Alicia S. McDonnell, Jeffrey M. McDonnell, Catherine M. Rogers, and Katherine H. McDonnell. James S. McDonnell III is also listed as secretary, John F. McDonnell as treasurer, and Jeffrey M. McDonnell as assistant secretary.
James S McDonnell Foundation is led by Jason Purnell, President on every filing since 2023; 1 of 10 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Jason Purnell
President
On filings since 2023
50 hrs/week
$367K (2023) → $419K (2024)
Alicia S. McDonnell
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Holly M. James
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James S. McDonnell III
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeanne M. Champer
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey M. McDonnell
Director & Assistant Secretary
Assistant Secretary → Director & Assistant Secretary, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John F. McDonnell
Director & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marcella M. Stevens
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Catherine M. Rogers
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katherine H. McDonnell
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Susan M. Fitzpatrick PhD (2020–2022) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $419K, to Jason Purnell (President).
Frequently asked questions about James S McDonnell Foundation
How much does James S McDonnell Foundation give each year?
James S McDonnell Foundation gave $30.1M across 82 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $27.6M across 2 grants.
What is James S McDonnell Foundation's typical grant size?
James S McDonnell Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $115,000, and its average grant was $367,002, across 82 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does James S McDonnell Foundation give grants?
James S McDonnell Foundation gives mostly in Missouri: 77% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was District of Columbia (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were St. Louis, MO (53 grants), Clayton, MO (5 grants), Philadelphia, PA (3 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).
Does James S McDonnell Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 2% of James S McDonnell Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 82) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Regional Response Team Capacity Building Grant" (5 grants) and "St. Louis Anchor Action Network Capacity Building Grant" (3 grants).
Who are James S McDonnell Foundation's largest grantees?
James S McDonnell Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include St Louis Community Foundation ($5,275,820 across 12 grants), Forest Park Forever Inc ($5,120,000) and Curators of the University of Missouri-St Louis on Behalf of the University ($4,073,168 across 6 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is James S McDonnell Foundation?
James S McDonnell Foundation reported $457.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $33.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $34.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does James S McDonnell Foundation fund?
JSMF’s mission is to invest in organizations and initiatives focused on improving economic mobility for St. Louisans facing the starkest disparities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from James S McDonnell Foundation?
Submit funding ideas through the proposals form. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is James S McDonnell Foundation's EIN?
James S McDonnell Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-2074788. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). James S McDonnell Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/james-s-mcdonnell-foundation-morg_83958f606ef74e8ea4ce157393323bd1
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_542074788_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{James S McDonnell Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/james-s-mcdonnell-foundation-morg_83958f606ef74e8ea4ce157393323bd1},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from James S McDonnell Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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