The JSM Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Saint Louis, Missouri. Established in 1997, it operates as a family foundation with a focus on philanthropic giving to selected charitable organizations across multiple states.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$8.3M
+3.6% YoY
Grant Count
13
+30.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$642K
-20.3% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust gives primarily for:
- Higher education
- Civic and community organizations
- Cultural organizations
- Arts and culture
Grantmaking
Average Grant
award: $713,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The trust distributes funding across multiple states, with primary focus on:
- Missouri (primary focus)
- Pennsylvania
- West Virginia
- Maryland
- Texas
- California
Approximately 72% of all grants support organizations in Missouri, Maryland, and West Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Income:
- Total assets (2024): $250
- Total assets (2023): $238
- Total revenues (2024): $8,345,512
- Total expenses (2024): $8,345,500
- Investment income and dividends (2024): $12
EIN: 43-1769438
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
52 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Forest Park Forever ($5,120,000), Davis & Elkins College ($1,160,000), St Louis Science Center ($575,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ARCH GRANTS ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| BARNES JEWISH HOSPITAL FOUNDATION ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $110,000 |
| DAVIS & ELKINS COLLEGE ELKINS, WV | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,160,000 |
| EINSENHOWER FELLOWSHIPS PHILADELPHIA, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $67,000 |
| FOREST PARK FOREVER ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,120,000 |
| INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE METRO ST LOUIS ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $275,000 |
| MISSOURI HISTORICAL SOCIETY ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $303,500 |
| ST LOUIS COMMUNITY FOUNDATION ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $75,000 |
| ST LOUIS LIFE SCIENCES PROJECT SAINT LOUIS, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $225,000 |
| ST LOUIS SCIENCE CENTER ST LOUIS, MO | GENERAL SUPPORT | $575,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The principal officer is J & J Management Services Inc. The foundation is governed by 2 officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES S MCDONNELL III | CO-TRUSTEE | 5 | — |
| JEFFREY M MCDONNELL | CO-TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2015, the trust, along with Mr. and Mrs. James S. McDonnell III, made a $20 million gift to Forest Park Forever to advance restoration projects and strengthen the park's endowment. This multi-year donation supported urgent capital projects and repairs to the 1,300-acre Forest Park.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Jsm Charitable Trust fund?
The trust gives primarily for: • Higher education • Civic and community organizations • Cultural organizations • Arts and culture
How do I apply for a grant from The Jsm Charitable Trust?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Individual grants have ranged from approximately $11,000 to $4,000,000 • Average grant award: $713,000 • Median grant: $213,000 • The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations **Recent Grant Activity (2024):** • Forest Park Forever: $5,120,000 (General Support) • Missouri Historical Society: $303,500 (General Support) • St Louis Life Sciences Project: $225,000 (General Support) **Historical Giving:** • 2024 Total giving: $8,345,500 …
Where does The Jsm Charitable Trust make grants?
The trust distributes funding across multiple states, with primary focus on: • Missouri (primary focus) • Pennsylvania • West Virginia • Maryland • Texas • California Approximately 72% of all grants support organizations in Missouri, Maryland, and West Virginia.
What size grants does The Jsm Charitable Trust award?
In 2024, The Jsm Charitable Trust awarded 13 grants totaling $8.3M — an average of about $642K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Jsm Charitable Trust's EIN?
The Jsm Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-1769438. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Jsm Charitable Trust'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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