James S McDonnell Family Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $8,494,500 (2023)
Success Rate: Not publicly available
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: Varies significantly - recent grants from $200,000 to $945,000
Geographic Focus: Massachusetts/New England and St. Louis region
Number of Grants: 40 grants awarded (2023)

Contact Details

Address: 16 Weston Road, Lincoln, MA 01773

Phone: (314) 862-1040

Email: Not publicly available

Website: No public website

Note: This is a private family foundation with limited public-facing contact information.

Overview

The James S McDonnell Family Foundation Inc is a private family foundation established in 2004 and based in Lincoln, Massachusetts (EIN 36-4507175). Led by Catherine M Rogers (President/Treasurer), Kimberly Rogers (Director/Clerk), and James S McDonnell III, the foundation holds approximately $131 million in assets as of 2024 and distributed $8.5 million in grants in 2023 to 40 organizations. The McDonnell family maintains a longstanding interest in brain science, particularly cognitive neuroscience and its relationship to learning processes. The foundation focuses primarily on education, science, technology, and medicine, with notable support for research institutions studying learning outcomes and cognitive development. Unlike its larger cousin, the James S. McDonnell Foundation in St. Louis, Missouri, this is a separate family foundation that operates as a private, non-operating grantmaker.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not appear to operate formal, named grant programs. Grants are made at the discretion of the trustees and directors.

Recent Grant Examples (2023):

Donald Danforth Plant Science Center: $945,000
St Louis County Library Foundation: $205,000
St Louis Teacher Residency: $200,000
Approximately 29 additional grants to various organizations totaling approximately $2.14 million

Application Method: No public application process; private foundation operating on trustee discretion

Priority Areas

Based on available grant data and the foundation's stated focus, priority areas include:

Education & Learning Sciences:

Research on how students learn at the collegiate level
K-12 education initiatives
Engineering education and STEM learning
Teacher training and development

Science & Technology:

Cognitive neuroscience research
Brain science and learning processes
Plant science research
Scientific research institutions

Community Development:

Library systems and educational resources
Regional educational infrastructure

What They Don't Fund

Information about specific exclusions is not publicly available. As a private family foundation, they likely do not fund organizations outside their established relationships and areas of interest.

Governance and Leadership

Key Personnel:

Catherine M Rogers - President and Treasurer (Compensation: $6,000 in 2024). Catherine Rogers is a member of the McDonnell family and has stated the family's commitment to advancing teaching and learning research. In announcing the foundation's $8 million gift to Tufts University, Rogers said: "We are pleased to make this commitment to such an exciting endeavor to advance teaching and learning."
Kimberly Rogers - Director and Clerk (Compensation: $3,000 in 2024)
James S McDonnell III - Director

Organizational Structure: The foundation operates with minimal staff (zero employees reported) and is governed by family members. The foundation maintains a focus on the McDonnell family's longstanding interest in brain science, particularly cognitive neuroscience and its interaction with learning.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The James S McDonnell Family Foundation Inc operates as a private family foundation where grants are awarded through trustee discretion rather than open application. The foundation makes grants to organizations identified by the board members, typically through existing relationships or strategic initiatives identified by foundation leadership.

Based on available data, the foundation made 40 grants in 2023, suggesting selective but active grantmaking to a limited number of organizations annually.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - no public application process.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process. The foundation made 40 grants in 2023, 40 grants in 2022, and 27 grants in 2021, indicating consistent but selective grantmaking activity.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, based on the foundation's known interests and grant history, the following insights may be valuable:

Foundation Interests & Priorities:

Cognitive Neuroscience & Learning Research - The McDonnell family has a documented "long-held interest in brain science, particularly cognitive neuroscience and its interaction with learning." Major grants like the $8 million to Tufts University to establish the Institute for Research on Learning and Instruction (IRLI) demonstrate commitment to understanding how students learn.
Collegiate and K-12 Education - The foundation supported IRLI's initial focus on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields, with plans to expand to humanities and social sciences. Previous support for the Tufts Center for Engineering Education and Outreach shows interest in K-12 engineering education integration.
Research-Backed Educational Practice - Catherine Rogers emphasized support for "scientifically validated teaching methodologies and innovative educational tools to improve learning outcomes."
St. Louis Regional Connections - Despite being based in Massachusetts, several grants go to St. Louis organizations (Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, St Louis County Library Foundation, St Louis Teacher Residency), likely reflecting family ties to the region.
Substantial, Long-term Commitments - The foundation tends to make significant grants to major research institutions rather than distributing smaller grants widely.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals - there is no public application process
Existing relationships matter - grants appear to be made to organizations with established connections to the foundation or its leadership
Focus on learning sciences - the McDonnell family's documented interest in cognitive neuroscience and education research is central to their grantmaking
Substantial grant sizes - recent grants range from $200,000 to $945,000, indicating preference for meaningful, multi-year commitments
Research orientation - the foundation supports evidence-based approaches to education and scientific inquiry
Geographic split - grants support both Massachusetts/New England institutions and St. Louis regional organizations
Limited annual grants - with only 40 grants made in 2023 from $131 million in assets, this is a highly selective funder

References

ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - James S Mcdonnell Family Foundation Inc. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/364507175 (Accessed December 23, 2025)
Charity Navigator - James S McDonnell Family Foundation Inc. https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/364507175 (Accessed December 23, 2025)
Cause IQ - James S. McDonnell Family Foundation. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/james-s-mcdonnell-family-foundation,364507175/ (Accessed December 23, 2025)
Instrumentl - James S Mcdonnell Family Foundation Inc | 990 Report. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/james-s-mcdonnell-family-foundation-inc (Accessed December 23, 2025)
Tufts Now - "$8 Million Gift to Study How Students Learn" (September 20, 2017). https://now.tufts.edu/2017/09/20/8-million-gift-study-how-students-learn (Accessed December 23, 2025)
Tufts Now - "Gift to Tufts University will advance the study of student learning outcomes at the collegiate level" (September 20, 2017). https://now.tufts.edu/2017/09/20/gift-tufts-university-will-advance-study-student-learning-outcomes-collegiate-level (Accessed December 23, 2025)