James S. McDonnell Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- If your work is in the St. Louis region, especially St. Louis City or North St. Louis County, and touches workforce development, small and midsize businesses, wealth building or civic infrastructure, the foundation's stated focus fits.
- Organisations based elsewhere may still apply if their work directly benefits its priority populations.
- Half of its grants to organisations are $125,000 or less, and about 8 in 10 fall between $35,000 and $640,000, so a modest request in that range is realistic, though that band is typical rather than a ceiling, as its largest grant was about $7,050,000.
- Applications are rolling and go through a website form asking for organisation and project details, the focus area, the amount requested and the proposed duration, but most grants go to organisations its staff identify, so building a relationship alongside any proposal matters; only about 2% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded earlier, so repeat funding is limited.
- Do not apply if you are an individual seeking direct help, want unrestricted general operating support not tied to a funded initiative, or run basic scientific research or a programme that primarily promotes religious doctrine.
Overview
James S. McDonnell Foundation is a US private foundation based in ST Louis, MO.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
JSMF invests in organisations and initiatives to improve economic mobility for St. Louisans facing the starkest disparities. Its four interconnected areas are workforce development, small and midsize businesses, wealth building and protection, and civic infrastructure. Its work includes increasing opportunity for the region’s workforce, helping smaller businesses scale, helping people and communities build and protect wealth, and strengthening regional leadership capacity. It concentrates funding on the St. Louis region, with emphasis on St. Louis City and North St. Louis County. Most grants go to 501(c)(3) and other tax-exempt organisations identified by staff, although it considers selected proposals submitted through its website. Its approach emphasises evidence, collaboration and impact, and it seeks partnerships with community-based organisations, nonprofits and cross-sector collaborators.
Themes
- Workforce development
- Small and midsize businesses
- Wealth building and protection
- Civic infrastructure
Geographic Focus
Priority: St. Louis region; St. Louis City; North St. Louis County.
What They Don't Fund
- Grants to Individuals – We are unable to provide direct financial assistance to individuals, except in specific circumstances outlined in certain grant programs
- General Operating Support —While we invest in organizations’ long-term success, we do not provide unrestricted funding for day-to-day operations unless they are directly tied to a funded initiative
- Religious Programming – We do not fund programs that primarily promote religious doctrines, though we may support faith-based organizations providing secular community services
- Basic Scientific Research – While JSMF has a history of funding scientific research, our current mission focuses on inclusive economic growth and mobility, rather than basic research
- Projects Outside St. Louis – Our funding is dedicated to the St. Louis region, with an emphasis on St. Louis City and North St. Louis County. Organizations outside of St. Louis may apply, but their work must directly benefit our priority populations
How to apply
Potential partners can submit a proposal through the website form. The form requests organisation and project details, the relevant focus area, the amount requested and proposed duration; JSMF reviews submissions and contacts the sender if appropriate.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 2% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022 and TY2024 filings, half of its 157 grants to organisations were $125,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Potential partners are encouraged to consult background information about the funding opportunities.
- Most grants go to tax-exempt organisations identified by JSMF staff; the foundation may consider selected proposals submitted through its website.
- JSMF values partnership, collaboration, transparency and shared learning, and supports rather than prescribes its partners’ work.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 12%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 9%
- The largest single recipient received 13% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 2% of grant dollars went to organisations James S. McDonnell Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- 3% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Australia, France).
- 23% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 81 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $120k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Forest Park Forever · In support of "forever: the campaign for forest park's future"$5,120,0002024 tax year
- Curators of the University of Missouri–St. Louis · Umsl school of engineering & student support$3,361,5902024 tax year
- Federation of American Scientists · In support of the economic mobility initiative$2,250,0002024 tax year
- St. Louis Community Foundation · Building a framework for lasting wealth: a proposal for baby bonds in st. louis$1,950,0002024 tax year
- Davis & Elkins College · Endowment f/t secure the future campaign, phase ii$1,160,0002024 tax year
- St. Louis Community Foundation · Guaranteed basic income pilot$1,000,0002024 tax year
- Small Business Empowerment Center · St. louis low-income investment fund and technical assistance (st. louis lift)$1,000,0002024 tax year
- St. Louis Community Foundation · Guaranteed basic income pilot$966,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Katherine H McDonnell — Director
- Catherine M Rogers — Director
- Jeffrey M McDonnell — Director & Assistant Secretary
- Jason Purnell — President
- Alicia S McDonnell — Director
- Marcella M Stevens — Director
- Jeanne M Champer — Director
- Holly M James — Director
- John F McDonnell — Director & Treasurer
- James S McDonnell III — Director & Secretary
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $33,281,970 | $24,496,541 | $614,999,268 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $36,809,131 | $27,600,515 | $622,196,172 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $40,822,593 | $30,094,150 | $647,048,513 | 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
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to James S. McDonnell Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (314) 721-1532
- ST Louis, MO
- jsmf.org
Applying to James S. McDonnell Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (314) 721-1532
- ST Louis, MO
- jsmf.org