The JSM Charitable Trust
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The JSM Charitable Trust, based in St Louis, MO, only accepts applications by invitation and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a small nonprofit without an existing relationship should not plan to submit a cold application.
- Its grants to organisations have ranged from $50,000 to $2,000,000, with about 8 in 10 falling in that band, a median of about $215,000 and the largest about $5,100,000, so a request in the low hundreds of thousands is more realistic than a very large ask.
- Giving is strongly relationship-led: 81% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had already funded in the prior two filings, so new, unconnected applicants are likely to find it highly competitive.
- The trust funds general support across a wide range of causes, including park and conservation bodies, museums and cultural institutions, colleges and universities, science and life-sciences organisations, health-related charities, immigrant-serving organisations and community organisations, mainly for organisations in Missouri, West Virginia and Maryland, though no formal geographic focus is stated.
- Given the invitation-only process, the best approach for a small charity is to build a genuine connection with the trust rather than send a direct proposal.
Overview
The JSM Charitable Trust is a US private foundation based in ST Louis, MO.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
Across the filings, the trust's grants are recorded as general support for charitable organisations. The recipients include park and conservation organisations, museums and other cultural institutions, colleges and universities, science and life-sciences organisations, health-related charities, immigrant-serving organisations and community organisations. Most recorded grant dollars went to Missouri, with additional substantial giving in West Virginia and Maryland. The filings show support for organisations working across a range of public and charitable services but do not identify a single field as the trust's overall focus. They also do not state a general eligibility framework or a standard grant size.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Missouri, West Virginia and Maryland.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 81% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 33 grants to organisations were about $215,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 32% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 81% of grant dollars went to organisations The JSM Charitable Trust had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 10% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 13 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $225k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Forest Park Forever · General support$5,120,0002024 tax year
- Davis & Elkins College · General support$1,160,0002024 tax year
- Saint Louis Science Center · General support$575,0002024 tax year
- Missouri Historical Society · General support$303,5002024 tax year
- International Institute Metro ST Louis · General support$275,0002024 tax year
- University of Missouri–Saint Louis · General support$235,0002024 tax year
- Saint Louis Life Sciences Project · General support$225,0002024 tax year
- Saint Louis Zoo · General support$120,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Jeffrey M McDonnell — Co-Trustee
- James S McDonnell III — Co-Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $7,075,690 | $7,075,690 | $227 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $8,053,000 | $8,053,000 | $238 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $8,345,500 | $8,345,500 | $250 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to The JSM Charitable Trust?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- ST Louis, MO
Applying to The JSM Charitable Trust?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- ST Louis, MO