The James S. McDonnell Foundation (JSMF) is a private philanthropic institution based in Saint Louis, Missouri. Established in 1950 by aerospace pioneer James S. McDonnell, the foundation was renamed in 1984 in honor of its founder and reorganized in 2002 with amended bylaws by its current board members, descendants of James S. McDonnell. Originally focused on global scientific research, the foundation underwent a major strategic shift to concentrate exclusively on its hometown of St. Louis.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$457.5M
-0.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$30.1M
+9.0% YoY
Grant Count
82
+4000.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$367K
-97.3% YoY
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.
Mission & Focus Areas
JSMF envisions a thriving St. Louis region where inclusive growth elevates shared prosperity and quality of life. The foundation's mission is to invest in organizations and initiatives working to improve economic mobility for St. Louisans facing the starkest disparities.
The foundation focuses its efforts on four essential areas:
- Workforce Development — investing in workforce development because thriving wages and career advancement are foundational to economic mobility and regional growth
- Small & Midsize Businesses — supporting a vibrant local economy through thriving small and midsize businesses
- Wealth Building & Wealth Protection
- Civic Infrastructure
Grantmaking
Recent notable awards include:
Grant Range
s and Activity
Average Grant
Amount:** $290,000
How to Apply
- **Decision Time:** 3-4 months for fellowship programs; varies by grant type
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's sole geographic focus is the St. Louis region, specifically St. Louis City and North St. Louis County. While grantmaking reaches organizations across 26 states, the foundation primarily supports organizations in Missouri, Pennsylvania, and California, which account for 32% of all grants.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $457.5 million (2023-2024)
- Total Liabilities: $0 (2023)
- Annual Revenue: $67.4 million
- Annual Expenses: $36.8 million (2023)
- Total Giving: $30.1 million (2024)
The foundation has awarded more than $500 million in grants to date since its establishment.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $457,476,208 | $460,044,300 | $499,916,160 |
| Revenue | $28,179,144 | $25,559,234 | $30,159,352 |
| Expenses | $40,822,593 | $36,809,131 | $33,281,970 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $33,473,932 | $30,013,320 | $25,952,205 |
| Net Investment Income | $21,858,511 | $19,123,008 | $23,194,353 |
| Distributable Amount | $34,700,689 | $32,903,142 | $32,387,514 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
202 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Forest Park Forever Inc ($5,120,000), Curators of the University of Missouri-st Louis on Behalf of the University ($3,361,590), Federation of American Scientists ($2,250,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A RED CIRCLE ST LOUIS, MO | EXPLORING AND CREATING A COOPERATIVE KITCHEN AND ECOSYSTEM FOR FOOD ENTREPRENEURS | $40,000 |
| ARCH GRANTS ST LOUIS, MO | CAMPAIGN TO ENDOW THE GRANT-MAKING TO ATTRACT START-UP COMPANIES IN ST. LOUIS | $50,000 |
| ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA TUCSON, AZ | TEACHERS AS THINKERS: IMPROVING CLASSROOM COMMUNICATION IN MATHEMATICS | $131,472 |
| ARIZONA BOARD OF REGENTS UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA TUCSON, AZ | TEACHERS AS THINKERS: IMPROVING CLASSROOM COMMUNICATION IN MATHEMATICS | $318,097 |
| BIOSTL SAINT LOUIS, MO | BIOGENERATOR: BUILDING INNOVATION ECONOMY LEADERS THROUGH THE BIOSCIENCE EQUITABLELEADERSHIP (BEL) VENTURE FELLOWS PROGRAM | $514,985 |
| BIOSTL SAINT LOUIS, MO | BIOSCIENCE WORKFORCE COLLABORATIVE: CATALYZING EQUITABLE CAREER PATHWAYS AND ENHANCING THE WORKFORCE SYSTEM TO IMPROVE ECONOMIC MOBILITY FOR OPPORTUNITY YOUTH | $565,297 |
| BIOSTL SAINT LOUIS, MO | BIOSCIENCE WORKFORCE COLLABORATIVE: CATALYZING EQUITABLE CAREER PATHWAYS AND ENHANCING THE WORKFORCE SYSTEM TO IMPROVE ECONOMIC MOBILITY FOR OPPORTUNITY YOUTH | $565,297 |
| BIOSTL SAINT LOUIS, MO | BIOGENERATOR: BUILDING INNOVATION ECONOMY LEADERS THROUGH THE BIOSCIENCE EQUITABLELEADERSHIP (BEL) VENTURE FELLOWS PROGRAM | $514,985 |
| BOSTON COLLEGE TRUSTEES CHESTNUT HILL, MA | PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION, AND EVALUATION OF CITY CONNECTS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF UNIVERSITY CITY IN ST. LOUIS, MO | $58,134 |
| BOSTON COLLEGE TRUSTEES CHESTNUT HILL, MA | PLANNING, IMPLEMENTATION, AND EVALUATION OF CITY CONNECTS IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF UNIVERSITY CITY IN ST. LOUIS, MO | $58,134 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Dr. Jason Purnell serves as a leader at the foundation, described as a respected leader in health equity and economic mobility. Penny Pennington was appointed as the foundation's first non-family board member, signaling organizational evolution.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES S MCDONNELL III | DIRECTOR & SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| JOHN F MCDONNELL | DIRECTOR & TREASURER | 2.5 | — |
| HOLLY M JAMES | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JEANNE M CHAMPER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| MARCELLA M STEVENS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ALICIA S MCDONNELL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JASON PURNELL | PRESIDENT | 50 | $418,540 |
| JEFFREY M MCDONNELL | DIRECTOR & ASSISTANT SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| CATHERINE M ROGERS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KATHERINE H MCDONNELL | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been active in announcing new grants and initiatives:
James S. McDonnell Foundation awards grants of over ... - wepowerWinter 2025: Three new grants totaling $1.7 million announced
JSMF Awards Three New Grants Totaling $1.7 Million \u2014 JSMFFall 2025: Nine million dollars in new grants supporting workforce systems, homeownership, and civic dialogue
JSMF Awards Three New Grants Totaling $1.7 Million \u2014 JSMFRecent grants supporting early childhood education research and community development work
Grant to St. Louis Public Radio for an initiative focused on talking across differences
James S. McDonnell Foundation awards grant to St. Louis Public Radio to fundContinued support for the 21st Century Science Initiative Awards
James S. McDonnell Foundation Announces New Grants for The 21st Century ScienceSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does James S Mcdonnell Foundation fund?
JSMF envisions a thriving St. Louis region where inclusive growth elevates shared prosperity and quality of life. The foundation's mission is to invest in organizations and initiatives working to improve economic mobility for St. Louisans facing the starkest disparities. The foundation focuses its efforts on four essential areas: • **Workforce Development** — investing in workforce development because thriving wages and career advancement are foundational to economic mobility and regional growth
How do I apply for a grant from James S Mcdonnell Foundation?
• **Grant Range:** $30,000 to $8,000,000 • **Average Grant Amount:** $290,000 • **Median Grant Amount:** $125,000 • **Annual Giving:** $24.5 million (2022); $30.1 million (2024) • **Historical Grants:** The foundation has made 158 grants totaling $45.9 million, with support reaching 86 unique organizations across 26 states Recent notable awards include: • An $8 million grant to UMSL School of Engineering—one of the largest one-time philanthropic gifts in the university's history • Three new gra…
Where does James S Mcdonnell Foundation make grants?
The foundation's sole geographic focus is the St. Louis region, specifically St. Louis City and North St. Louis County. While grantmaking reaches organizations across 26 states, the foundation primarily supports organizations in Missouri, Pennsylvania, and California, which account for 32% of all grants.
What size grants does James S Mcdonnell Foundation award?
In 2024, James S Mcdonnell Foundation awarded 82 grants totaling $30.1M — an average of about $367K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is James S Mcdonnell Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, James S Mcdonnell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $34.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in James S Mcdonnell Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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