James S. McDonnell Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $24.5 million (2022)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 3-4 months (for fellowship programs; varies by grant type)
• Grant Range: $30,000 - $8,000,000
• Geographic Focus: St. Louis region (St. Louis City and North St. Louis County)

Contact Details

Website: www.jsmf.org
Phone: 314-721-1532
Email: info@jsmf.org
Grant Administration: grant-admin@jsmf.org
Address: 1034 S Brentwood Blvd, Suite 1850, St. Louis, MO 63110

For letters of inquiry for Collaborative Activity Awards: [email protected]

Overview

Founded in 1950 by aerospace pioneer James S. McDonnell, the James S. McDonnell Foundation has awarded more than $500 million in grants to date. Originally focused on global scientific research, the foundation underwent a major strategic shift to concentrate exclusively on its hometown of St. Louis. The foundation now envisions "a thriving St. Louis region where inclusive growth elevates shared prosperity and quality of life." Under the leadership of Dr. Jason Purnell, a respected leader in health equity and economic mobility, JSMF invests in organizations and initiatives working to improve economic mobility for St. Louisans facing the starkest disparities. The foundation awarded $24.5 million across 152 grants in 2022, with recent notable awards including an $8 million grant to UMSL School of Engineering—one of the largest one-time philanthropic gifts in the university's history. In recent years, Penny Pennington was appointed as the foundation's first non-family board member, signaling organizational evolution.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

JSMF operates primarily through staff-identified grants but also accepts select proposals through their website. Recent grant programs include:

• Open Call Grants: The foundation has announced $2 million in open call funding for Civic Infrastructure and Wealth Building initiatives (amounts per grant not specified; eligibility requires 501(c)(3) status or fiscal sponsor)
• Staff-Identified Grants: Most grants are awarded to organizations identified by foundation staff; recent examples range from $637,000 (WEPOWER early childhood education) to $8 million (UMSL School of Engineering)
• Collaborative Activity Awards: For research collaborations; strong preference for multi-institutional partnerships (previously offered, may still be available)

Application method varies: rolling consideration for website submissions, periodic open calls for specific focus areas, and primarily staff-identified grantmaking.

Priority Areas

JSMF focuses exclusively on the St. Louis region across four essential areas:

1. Workforce: Investment in thriving wages, career advancement, and workforce development as foundational to economic mobility and regional growth
2. Small & Midsize Businesses: Supporting a vibrant local economy by strengthening the businesses that make up the majority of companies in the community
3. Wealth Building & Wealth Protection: Building and protecting wealth within communities facing the greatest disparities, including capacity building within community-based organizations and attracting new investment to the region
4. Civic Infrastructure: Strengthening regional leadership capacity, coalition and collaboration capacity, shared knowledge development and learning, and developing a shared narrative about the region's collective destiny

Priority Populations: St. Louis City and North St. Louis County, with focus on low and moderate-income individuals and families, and Black and historically marginalized groups including immigrants.

What They Don't Fund

• Grants to individuals – Direct financial assistance to individuals (except in specific circumstances outlined in certain grant programs)
• Unrestricted general operating support – Day-to-day operational funding unless directly tied to a funded initiative
• Religious programming – Programs primarily promoting religious doctrines (though faith-based organizations providing secular community services may be supported)
• Basic scientific research – Current mission focuses on inclusive economic growth rather than research
• Projects outside St. Louis – Funding dedicated to the St. Louis region; organizations outside St. Louis may apply only if their work directly benefits priority populations
• Higher education individual support – No undergraduate tuition, stipends, scholarships, fellowships, research or travel expenses, or other educational expenses
• Large program-project style research proposals – Collaborative awards will not support these

Governance and Leadership

Leadership

President: Dr. Jason Purnell - A respected leader in health equity and economic mobility who led the foundation's refocus on improving economic mobility in St. Louis. Previously served as Associate Professor at WashU Brown School at BJC HealthCare.

Previous President: Susan M. Fitzpatrick (served beginning 2015 through the transition period)

Board of Directors: The foundation was reorganized in 2002 with current board members who are descendants of James S. McDonnell. Assets are managed by the JSMF board. Recently, Penny Pennington was appointed as the foundation's first non-family board member under the new mission direction.

Notable Staff: Nikole Lobb Dougherty, Director of Learning & Evaluation

Governance Practices

The foundation follows strong governance practices, including:

• Formal orientation for new board members
• Written agreements for board members regarding roles, responsibilities, and expectations
• Annual conflict-of-interest policy reviews with completed disclosure statements by board and senior staff

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Primary Approach: The foundation states that "most of their grants are awarded to 501(c)(3) and other tax-exempt organizations identified by their staff." However, they may consider select proposals submitted through their website.

Website Submissions: Organizations can submit proposals through www.jsmf.org/proposals/. The foundation welcomes "ongoing conversations and insights from partners" with an exploratory approach.

Open Calls: The foundation periodically announces open calls for specific focus areas (such as the $2 million open call for Civic Infrastructure and Wealth Building). Eligibility for open calls requires 501(c)(3) status or a fiscal sponsor.

For Collaborative Activity Awards: Submit letter of inquiry electronically to [email protected]. Strong preference given to multi-institutional collaborations; lead applicant must be sponsored by a non-profit institution.

Online Portal: Applicants can access the SmartSimple portal at jsmf.smartsimple.com for electronic submissions.

Stay Informed: Sign up for the newsletter at www.jsmf.org to receive updates about funding opportunities.

Decision Timeline

For Fellowship Programs: Approximately 3-4 months. Applications submitted by the June deadline receive notification of decisions by email by September 25, with final funding decisions announced at the end of October after the JSMF Board of Directors meets.

For Other Grant Programs: Timelines not publicly specified. The foundation emphasizes transparency and commits to "clear communication about priorities and timelines."

Review Process: Multi-phase review system. For research programs, applications meeting eligibility requirements are reviewed by an expert advisory panel using quality of proposed plan, evidence of academic creativity and productivity, and information in letters of support.

Success Rates

Specific success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, for previous research programs, the foundation noted that "upwards of 70% of submissions were not advanced past the first review phase due to poor fit with the described goals of the program," emphasizing the importance of alignment with program goals.

In 2022, the foundation made 152 grants totaling $24.5 million.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly documented. However, the foundation's emphasis on "ongoing conversations and insights from partners" suggests openness to continued engagement.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Current Mission: The foundation underwent a major strategic shift from global scientific research to St. Louis economic mobility. Applications must clearly demonstrate how they advance economic mobility for St. Louisans facing the starkest disparities. The foundation explicitly states that "upwards of 70% of submissions were not advanced past the first review phase due to poor fit," so carefully reviewing current priorities is critical.

Focus on Real-World Application: JSMF believes that "private philanthropic support for science is most effective when it invests in the acquisition of new knowledge and in the responsible application of knowledge for solving real-world problems." Applications should emphasize practical impact.

Avoid Overly Ambitious Scope: The foundation advises applicants to avoid projects that attempt "too wide a leap in a single bound." Projects should be appropriately scoped and achievable.

Demonstrate Innovation: JSMF prioritizes "funding diverse paths of research over more mainstream projects and ideas" and encourages "innovative ideas that advance inclusive and equitable economic growth in the St. Louis region."

Geographic and Population Focus: Successful applications clearly serve St. Louis City and North St. Louis County, particularly low and moderate-income individuals and families, and Black and historically marginalized groups including immigrants.

Collaboration and Partnership: For collaborative awards, strong preference is given to multi-institutional collaboration. The foundation's partnership principles emphasize "open, respectful engagement with humility and candor" and "continuous learning and improvement through partner feedback."

Recent Successful Projects Examples:

• St. Louis Anchor Action Network: $2.4 million over three years for collaborative work on shared prosperity, allowing for additional staffing and programming to support network members
• St. Louis Public Radio: $824,917 to model how St. Louisans can talk across divides to create greater understanding
• WEPOWER and Partners: $637,000 to improve the regional early childhood education landscape with the ultimate aim of delivering sustainable, high-quality ECE with a seat for every child who needs one
• UMSL School of Engineering: $8 million to hire high-caliber faculty and provide scholarships

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Mission alignment is paramount: With 70% of past applications rejected for poor fit, ensure your project directly advances economic mobility for St. Louis residents facing disparities before applying
• Most grants are staff-identified: While you can submit proposals through their website, cultivating relationships with foundation staff and being on their radar is valuable for organizations working in their priority areas
• Geographic focus is strict: Projects must serve the St. Louis region, specifically St. Louis City and North St. Louis County; outside organizations can apply only if work directly benefits these populations
• Think collaboration and systems change: Recent grants favor multi-institutional partnerships, coalition-building, and initiatives that strengthen civic infrastructure for scaled impact
• Demonstrate practical innovation: Show how your project applies new or innovative approaches to real-world problems affecting economic mobility, wealth-building, workforce development, or small business growth
• Stay informed about open calls: Sign up for their newsletter to learn about periodic open funding opportunities like the $2 million Civic Infrastructure and Wealth Building RFP
• Build relationships over time: The foundation values "ongoing conversations" with partners and emphasizes open, respectful engagement—consider this a relationship-building process rather than transactional grantmaking

References

1. James S. McDonnell Foundation - ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Financial data and organizational information
2. James S. McDonnell Foundation Official Website - Mission, vision, and current priorities
3. Grant Opportunities - JSMF - Funding priorities and application information
4. McDonnell Foundation announces $2 Million open call for grants - St. Louis American - Open call details
5. James S. McDonnell Foundation awards $8 million to UMSL School of Engineering - UMSL Daily - Recent grant award (December 2024)
6. James S. McDonnell Foundation awards grant to St. Louis Public Radio - STLPR - Recent grant award (December 2024)
7. James S. McDonnell Foundation awards $2.4 million to St. Louis Anchor Action Network - UMSL Daily - Recent grant award (2023)
8. WEPOWER Grant Announcement - Recent grant example
9. James S. McDonnell Foundation - Wikipedia - Foundation history and background
10. James S. McDonnell Foundation | Inside Philanthropy - Grant size ranges and application tips
11. JSMF Leadership Profile - Boardwalk Consulting - Leadership information
12. James S. McDonnell Foundation - Candid Foundation Directory - Foundation profile and data