The Missouri State Capitol

Form 990-PFTax year 2024EIN 54-2074788

James S McDonnell Foundation

A private foundation in St Louis, MO. Its return for tax year 2024 lists 82 grants and $30.1 million paid in grants.

Tax year 2024 (period ending Dec 31, 2024), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Accepts applications

The return gives an application contact and rules, as below.

Contact
Jason Purnell
1034 S Brentwood 1850
St Louis, MO 631171284
(314) 721-1532
Form and materials
Request for proposals(rfp) submission information on funding programs can be obtained at the foundation's website address: www.jsmf.org
Deadlines
See 2.b. Above and the foundation's website
Restrictions
None

Assets and giving by year

5 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.
  • Tax year 2024

    $30,094,150

    Grants listed
    82
    Assets, end of year
    $457,476,208
  • Tax year 2023

    $27,600,515

    Grants listed
    1
    Assets, end of year
    $460,044,300
  • Tax year 2022

    $24,496,541

    Grants listed
    77
    Assets, end of year
    $499,916,160
  • Tax year 2021

    $22,833,952

    Grants listed
    79
    Assets, end of year
    $496,119,714
  • Tax year 2020

    $21,388,957

    Grants listed
    81
    Assets, end of year
    $468,603,967

Grants paid in 2024

82 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. Forest Park Forever IncSaint Louis, MO

    In support of "forever: the campaign for forest park's future"

    $5,120,000
  2. Curators of the University of Missouri-St Louis on Behalf of the UniversitySt Louis, MO

    Umsl school of engineering & student support

    $3,361,590
  3. Federation of American ScientistsWashington, DC

    In support of the economic mobility initiative

    $2,250,000
  4. St Louis Community FoundationSt Louis, MO

    Building a framework for lasting wealth: a proposal for baby bonds in ST. Louis

    $1,950,000
  5. Davis & Elkins CollegeElkins, WV

    Endowment F/T secure the future campaign, phase II

    $1,160,000
  6. Small Business Empowerment CenterSaint Louis, MO

    ST. Louis low-income investment fund and technical assistance (ST. Louis lift)

    $1,000,000
  7. St Louis Community FoundationSt Louis, MO

    Guaranteed basic income pilot

    $1,000,000
  8. St Louis Community FoundationSt Louis, MO

    Guaranteed basic income pilot

    $966,000
  9. Habitat for Humanity International IncSaint Louis, MO

    Building our financial future

    $900,000
  10. Neighborhood Solidarity FundClayton, MO

    In support of staffing, pilot program costs, evaluation, and dissemination of findings

    $782,500
  11. WepowerSaint Louis, MO

    Developing a data-driven, community-centric strategy to coordinate & transform the ST. Louis early childhood system

    $637,539
  12. St Louis Science Center FoundationSaint Louis, MO

    For the ST. Louis science center campaign to be launched in 2024, with the specific purpose of this gift to be decided later

    $575,000
  13. BiostlSt Louis, MO

    Bioscience workforce collaborative: catalyzing equitable career pathways and enhancing the workforce system to improve economic mobility for opportunity youth

    $565,297
  14. BiostlSt Louis, MO

    Bioscience workforce collaborative: catalyzing equitable career pathways and enhancing the workforce system to improve economic mobility for opportunity youth

    $565,297
  15. BiostlSt Louis, MO

    Biogenerator: building innovation economy leaders through the bioscience equitableleadership (bel) venture fellows program

    $514,985
  16. BiostlSt Louis, MO

    Biogenerator: building innovation economy leaders through the bioscience equitableleadership (bel) venture fellows program

    $514,985
  17. University of WashingtonSeattle, WA

    Preparing teachers to facilitate asset-based science & literacy discourse in dual and multilingual elementary classrooms

    $503,325
  18. Trustees of the University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphia, PA

    Facilitating digital discourse: teachers as learners in a digital age

    $494,831
  19. IffChicago, IL

    Joyful spaces

    $350,000
  20. Temple University-Of the Commonwealth System of Higher EducPhiladelphia, PA

    The development of novice teachers role-identities as discussion facilitators in social studies classrooms

    $345,562
  21. St Louis Community FoundationSt Louis, MO

    Advancing ST. Louis early childhood education priorities through convening and capacity building

    $331,516
  22. Arizona Board of Regents University of ArizonaTucson, AZ

    Teachers as thinkers: improving classroom communication in mathematics

    $318,097
  23. Missouri Historical Society Jefferson Memorial BuildingSaint Louis, MO

    For exhibit gallery renovation and exhibit endowment.

    $303,500
  24. The Regents of the University of ColoradoBoulder, CO

    Developing a model of teacher learning to support computationally rich communication in science classrooms

    $300,026
  25. Entrepreneur Startup Business Development CorporationSt Louis, MO

    Arch grants community capital fund

    $300,000
  26. International Institute of Metropolitan St LouisSaint Louis, MO

    General support of the mission

    $275,000
  27. Curators of the University of Missouri-St Louis on Behalf of the UniversitySt Louis, MO

    To support undergraduates aiming toward and marticulated in the umsl/wustl joint engineering program

    $235,000
  28. Goalsetter FoundationBrooklyn, NY

    Ferguson florissant financial empowerment project

    $227,000
  29. Goalsetter FoundationBrooklyn, NY

    Ferguson florissant financial empowerment project

    $227,000
  30. St Louis Life Sciences ProjectSaint Louis, MO

    General purposes

    $225,000
  31. CortexSaint Louis, MO

    Assessing impact of first year of missouri tech first

    $200,000
  32. Curators of the University of Missouri-St Louis on Behalf of the UniversitySt Louis, MO

    ST. Louis anchor action network capacity building grant

    $193,329
  33. Curators of the University of Missouri-St Louis on Behalf of the UniversitySt Louis, MO

    ST. Louis anchor action network capacity building grant

    $193,329
  34. St Louis Community FoundationSt Louis, MO

    Regional response team capacity building grant

    $166,985
  35. St Louis Community FoundationSt Louis, MO

    Regional response team capacity building grant

    $166,985
  36. St Louis Community FoundationSt Louis, MO

    Regional response team capacity building grant

    $166,985
  37. St Louis Community FoundationSt Louis, MO

    Regional response team capacity building grant

    $166,985
  38. St Louis Community FoundationSt Louis, MO

    North star community partners capacity building grant

    $155,182
  39. St Louis Community FoundationSt Louis, MO

    North star community partners capacity building grant

    $155,182
  40. Arizona Board of Regents University of ArizonaTucson, AZ

    Teachers as thinkers: improving classroom communication in mathematics

    $131,472
  41. St Louis Zoo FoundationSt Louis, MO

    The campaign for the ST. Louis zoo

    $120,000
  42. The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish HospitalSaint Louis, MO

    Challenge grant - to endow and support the new initiative in palliative care and formation of the institute for supportive care at BJC health (isc).

    $110,000
  43. Curators of the University of MissouriColumbia, MO

    Civic collaboration fellows: building leadership capacity for economic mobility

    $104,727
  44. Neighborhood Solidarity FundClayton, MO

    In support of staffing, pilot program costs, evaluation, and dissemination of findings

    $100,750
  45. Neighborhood Solidarity FundClayton, MO

    In support of staffing, pilot program costs, evaluation, and dissemination of findings

    $100,750
  46. Neighborhood Solidarity FundClayton, MO

    In support of staffing, pilot program costs, evaluation, and dissemination of findings

    $100,750
  47. Neighborhood Solidarity FundClayton, MO

    In support of staffing, pilot program costs, evaluation, and dissemination of findings

    $100,750
  48. Masters Chancellor and Scholars of the University of CambridgeCambridge, United Kingdom

    Emergence and self-organization of patterns in planetary polar atmospheres

    $100,000
  49. President and Fellows of Harvard CollegeBoston, MA

    Integrative theory of memory and cognitive processes

    $91,478
  50. Curators of the University of MissouriColumbia, MO

    Civic collaboration fellows: building leadership capacity for economic mobility

    $77,381
  51. The Clark-Fox Family FoundationSaint Louis, MO

    For blueprint4 to provide STEM scholarships

    $75,000
  52. Eisenhower Fellowships IncPhiladelphia, PA

    To endow on named ST. Louis USA fellowship annually

    $67,000
  53. Univeridad Adolfo IbooezChile

    A method for studying shared meaning in cultural groups

    $62,500
  54. Boston College TrusteesChestnut Hill, MA

    Planning, implementation, and evaluation of city connects in the school district of university city in ST. Louis, mo

    $58,134
  55. Boston College TrusteesChestnut Hill, MA

    Planning, implementation, and evaluation of city connects in the school district of university city in ST. Louis, mo

    $58,134
  56. Arch GrantsSaint Louis, MO

    Campaign to endow the grant-making to attract start-up companies in ST. Louis

    $50,000
  57. Harris-Stowe Foundation IncSaint Louis, MO

    Harris-stowe university strategic assessment and planning initiative: visiting committee support - part 1

    $50,000
  58. Curators of the University of Missouri-St Louis on Behalf of the UniversitySt Louis, MO

    ST. Louis anchor action network capacity building grant

    $49,920
  59. A Red CircleSaint Louis, MO

    Exploring and creating a cooperative kitchen and ecosystem for food entrepreneurs

    $40,000
  60. Curators of the University of Missouri-St Louis on Behalf of the UniversitySt Louis, MO

    Umsls climb program support

    $40,000
  61. LovethelouSt Louis, MO

    Lift mentoring

    $40,000
  62. St Louis Community FoundationSt Louis, MO

    For loan loss reserve fund accompanying impact investment deposits to enable increased business lending to non-prime and sub-prime borrowers with a focus on small/midsized/diverse owned companies primarily in north ST. Louis county and the city of ST. Louis.

    $40,000
  63. Legal Services of Eastern Mo IncSt Louis, MO

    In support of staffing, technology, initiative operations, stipends to partnering home repair organizations

    $39,316
  64. Legal Services of Eastern Mo IncSt Louis, MO

    In support of staffing, technology, initiative operations, stipends to partnering home repair organizations

    $39,316
  65. Legal Services of Eastern Mo IncSt Louis, MO

    In support of staffing, technology, initiative operations, stipends to partnering home repair organizations

    $39,316
  66. Legal Services of Eastern Mo IncSt Louis, MO

    In support of staffing, technology, initiative operations, stipends to partnering home repair organizations

    $39,316
  67. University of WashingtonSeattle, WA

    Preparing teachers to facilitate asset-based science & literacy discourse in dual and multilingual elementary classrooms

    $36,163
  68. Healthcare Anchor Network IncWashington, DC

    2024 STL convening - regional sponsorship

    $35,000
  69. Washington University in St LouisSt Louis, MO

    For the endowment of the danforth scholars program in honor of william h. Danforth

    $30,000
  70. Jayson Tatum FoundationEncino, CA

    4th annual the jayson tatum foundationcharity golf tournament

    $25,000
  71. The FamUniversity City, MO

    Homecoming gala - silver sponsorship

    $25,000
  72. WepowerSaint Louis, MO

    ST. Louis market rate survey rapid response coordination

    $25,000
  73. Harris-Stowe Foundation IncSaint Louis, MO

    Harris-stowe university strategic assessment and planning initiative: visiting committee support - part 2

    $22,000
  74. Masters Chancellor and Scholars of the University of CambridgeCambridge, United Kingdom

    Emergence and self-organization of patterns in planetary polar atmospheres

    $21,532
  75. St Louis American FoundationSaint Louis, MO

    37th annual salute to excellence in education scholarship & awards gala - salutatorian

    $15,000
  76. Paraquad IncSaint Louis, MO

    In support of staffing, technology, initiative operations, stipends to partnering home repair organizations

    $13,813
  77. Paraquad IncSaint Louis, MO

    In support of staffing, technology, initiative operations, stipends to partnering home repair organizations

    $13,813
  78. Paraquad IncSaint Louis, MO

    In support of staffing, technology, initiative operations, stipends to partnering home repair organizations

    $13,813
  79. St Louis Integrated Health NetworkSaint Louis, MO

    In support of staffing, technology, initiative operations, stipends to partnering home repair organizations

    $13,813
  80. St Louis Community FoundationSt Louis, MO

    Regional response team capacity building grant

    $10,000
  81. Ivy Foundation of St LouisOlivette, MO

    Phirst phamily paragon awards & soiree sponsorship

    $3,000
  82. From K-1SSt Louis, MO

    Charitable

    $1,181

Approved for future payment

71 grants

Approved in 2024 and not yet paid; the largest 50 are shown.

  1. St Louis Community FoundationSaint Louis, MO

    In support of the regional collaboration conversation action plan

    $30,000,000
  2. Washington University School of MedicineSt Louis, MO

    Accelerating discovery at the mcdonnell genome institute

    $13,000,000
  3. Washington University School of MedicineSt Louis, MO

    Endowment of research fund in the neuroscience building

    $12,500,000
  4. Forest Park Forever IncSaint Louis, MO

    In support of "forever: the campaign for forest park's future"

    $10,000,000
  5. Hollins UniversityRoanoke, VA

    Unrestricted endowment

    $8,617,000
  6. Curators of the University of Missouri-St Louis on Behalf of the UniversitySaint Louis, MO

    Umsl school of engineering & student support

    $8,004,070
  7. Federation of American ScientistsWashington, DC

    In support of the economic mobility initiative

    $8,000,000
  8. St Louis Zoo FoundationSaint Louis, MO

    The campaign for the ST. Louis zoo

    $7,500,000
  9. BiostlSt Louis, MO

    Biogenerator: building innovation economy leaders through the bioscience equitableleadership (bel) venture fellows program

    $5,149,844
  10. Donald Danforth Plant Science CenterSaint Louis, MO

    Endowment "future forward" campaign

    $5,000,000
  11. Missouri Historical Society Jefferson Memorial BuildingSaint Louis, MO

    For exhibit gallery renovation and exhibit endowment.

    $4,706,000
  12. St Louis Science Center FoundationSaint Louis, MO

    ST. Louis science center campaign to be launched in 2024

    $4,500,000
  13. BiostlSt Louis, MO

    Bioscience workforce collaborative: catalyzing equitable career pathways and enhancing the workforce system to improve economic mobility for opportunity youth

    $4,088,147
  14. Curators of the University of Missouri-St Louis on Behalf of the UniversitySaint Louis, MO

    ST. Louis translational fellowships in education

    $4,062,395
  15. St Louis Community FoundationSaint Louis, MO

    Bridging the gap: a collaborative mortgage model for accelerated equity accumulation and affordability

    $3,574,225
  16. Washington University in St LouisSt Louis, MO

    ST. Louis translational fellowships in education

    $3,562,246
  17. Davis & Elkins CollegeElkins, WV

    Endowment F/T secure the future campaign, phase II

    $3,250,000
  18. Neighborhood Solidarity FundSaint Louis, MO

    In support of staffing, pilot program costs, evaluation, and dissemination of findings

    $3,000,000
  19. St Louis Science Center FoundationSaint Louis, MO

    For the ST. Louis science center campaign to be launched in 2024, with the specific purpose of this gift to be decided later

    $3,000,000
  20. St Louis Community FoundationSaint Louis, MO

    Building a framework for lasting wealth: a proposal for baby bonds in ST. Louis

    $2,674,500
  21. The Foundation for Barnes-Jewish HospitalSaint Louis, MO

    Challenge grant - to endow and support the new initiative in palliative care and formation of the institute for supportive care at BJC health (isc).

    $2,500,000
  22. Curators of the University of Missouri-St Louis on Behalf of the UniversitySaint Louis, MO

    ST. Louis anchor action network capacity building grant

    $2,369,948
  23. St Louis Community FoundationSaint Louis, MO

    Regional response team capacity building grant

    $2,053,818
  24. Brookings InstitutionWashington, DC

    Comparative effectiveness analysis: using agent-based models to simulate pathways to increased workforce preparedness and wealth in ST. Louis

    $2,000,000
  25. St Louis Life Sciences ProjectSaint Louis, MO

    General purposes

    $1,935,000
  26. Small Business Empowerment CenterSaint Louis, MO

    ST. Louis low-income investment fund and technical assistance (ST. Louis lift)

    $1,919,356
  27. Washington University in St LouisSt Louis, MO

    Endowment for the "empower: career success for refugees" program in the school of continuing and professional studies (caps)

    $1,830,000
  28. The Trustees of Princeton UniversityPrinceton, NJ

    Create an "innovation fund for the sustainability of our planet"

    $1,600,000
  29. Goalsetter FoundationBrooklyn, NY

    Ferguson florissant financial empowerment project

    $1,377,125
  30. International Institute of Metropolitan St LouisSaint Louis, MO

    General support of the mission

    $1,215,000
  31. Show-Me School-Based Alliance of MissouriOlivette, MO

    School based clinic in the university city school district

    $1,188,008
  32. Boston College TrusteesChestnut Hill, MA

    Planning, implementation, and evaluation of city connects in the school district of university city in ST. Louis, mo

    $1,102,381
  33. Eisenhower Fellowships IncPhiladelphia, PA

    To endow on named ST. Louis USA fellowship annually

    $1,000,000
  34. Gateway Arch Park FoundationSaint Louis, MO

    Gateway arch park foundation capital campaign

    $1,000,000
  35. Neighborhood Solidarity FundSaint Louis, MO

    Provide direct cash assistance to individuals and families affected by the tornado.

    $1,000,000
  36. St Louis Community FoundationSaint Louis, MO

    Upward mentoring

    $1,000,000
  37. Curators of the University of MissouriColumbia, MO

    Civic collaboration fellows: building leadership capacity for economic mobility

    $928,567
  38. The Lenfest Institute for Journalism Special Asset Fund of TPFMadison, IL

    Economic mobility lab

    $903,750
  39. Entrepreneur Startup Business Development CorporationSaint Louis, MO

    Arch grants community capital fund

    $900,000
  40. Friends of Kwmu IncSaint Louis, MO

    One small step - ST. Louis

    $824,917
  41. IffChicago, IL

    Support facility rehab or relocation for early childhood centers to maintain operations and avoid long-term loss of care availability. This covers the cost of iffs real estate unit to assess facility needs and manage repair and relocation on behalf of 10 centers. Iff will prioritize damaged centers with the largest number of seats.

    $637,940
  42. John Burroughs SchoolSaint Louis, MO

    Increase the endowment of the fiftieth anniversary scholarship fund, a tax-exempt support organization of JBS

    $625,000
  43. Washington University in St LouisSt Louis, MO

    For the endowment of the danforth scholars program in honor of william h. Danforth

    $500,000
  44. Legal Services of Eastern Mo IncSaint Louis, MO

    In support of staffing, technology, initiative operations, stipends to partnering home repair organizations

    $471,796
  45. Missouri Botanical Garden Board of TrusteesSaint Louis, MO

    Renovation of the mcdonnell education and exhibit area

    $375,000
  46. St Louis Integrated Health NetworkSaint Louis, MO

    Increase capacity for home repairs in tornado-affected neighborhoods by building and refining a model for a coordinated and scalable approach to home repair while general contracting home repairs. HRN will develop practices for estimating materials demand across geographies, build approaches to bulk purchasing and materials partnerships, and position the organization to aggregate both public and private funding for future investment

    $366,000
  47. Entrepreneur Startup Business Development CorporationSaint Louis, MO

    Campaign to endow the grant-making to attract start-up companies in ST. Louis

    $250,000
  48. Kids Win MissouriMerriam, KS

    Supporting missouri's early childhood system

    $250,000
  49. St Louis Community FoundationSaint Louis, MO

    Support an emergency assistance fund to help ece centers make needed repairs to reopen (repair support can be coordinated with iff), retain teachers, resume operations, and meet families immediate needs. Intended impact: protect early childhood education seats and help parents return to work more quickly.

    $250,000
  50. St Louis Regional Advanced Manufacturing Innovation CenterSaint Louis, MO

    Amicstl high quality and sustainable workforce initiative - phase 1

    $200,000

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Environment1 grant $5,120,00029% of the total
  2. Education15 grants $4,509,22526% of the total
  3. Community development6 grants $2,262,53913% of the total
  4. International aid1 grant $2,250,00013% of the total
  5. Housing and shelter2 grants $925,0005% of the total
  6. Science and technology1 grant $575,0003% of the total
  7. 7 other causes12 grants $1,983,80111% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. Missouri62 grants $23,256,896
  2. District of Columbia2 grants $2,285,000
  3. West Virginia1 grant $1,160,000
  4. Pennsylvania3 grants $907,393
  5. Washington2 grants $539,488
  6. New York2 grants $454,000
  7. Arizona2 grants $449,569
  8. Illinois1 grant $350,000
  9. Colorado1 grant $300,026
  10. Massachusetts3 grants $207,746

Officers, directors and trustees

10 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • James S McDonnell IIIDIRECTOR & SECRETARY Hours 1Pay $0
  • John F McDonnellDIRECTOR & TREASURER Hours 2.5Pay $0
  • Holly M JamesDIRECTOR Hours 1Pay $0
  • Jeanne M ChamperDIRECTOR Hours 1Pay $0
  • Marcella M StevensDIRECTOR Hours 1Pay $0
  • Alicia S McDonnellDIRECTOR Hours 1Pay $0
  • Jason PurnellPRESIDENT Hours 50Pay $418,540
  • Jeffrey M McDonnellDIRECTOR & ASSISTANT SECRETARY Hours 1Pay $0
  • Catherine M RogersDIRECTOR Hours 1Pay $0
  • Katherine H McDonnellDIRECTOR Hours 1Pay $0

The return

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