JSM Charitable Trust

OVERVIEW: The JSM Charitable Trust supports higher education, civic and community needs and arts and culture in Missouri.

FUNDING AREAS: Higher education, civic and community needs, arts and culture

IP TAKE: This is a low-key funder that is not open to unsolicited requests. However, McDonnell is still a good name to know in the world of St. Louis philanthropy.

PROFILE: Established in 1997, the JSM Charitable Trust, is a family foundation based in St. Louis, Missouri. This foundation is affiliated with the James S. McDonnell Foundation but its own separate philanthropic entity. The foundation continues the legacy of giving of businessman and philanthropist John McDonnell, who was a CEO of the McDonnell Douglas Corporation until the company’s merger with Boeing and also a corporate director at Boeing. The foundation funds local efforts for higher education, civic, community needs and arts and culture.

The JSM Charitable Trust does not have a website to guide grantseekers. However, recent tax records indicate that this funder tends to support large and well-established organizations with big grants on a steady basis. For example, McDonnell and the JSM Charitable Trust endowed $10 million to Washington University in St. Louis to create an international scholars’ academy and later awarded a $60 million gift to the university to launch new initiatives and expand academic opportunities. The founder has been named the citizen of the year in St. Louis and resides here. Other support has gone towards local theaters in St. Louis, schools for young children, historical museums and hospitals.

Grants range between about $50,000 and $1 million. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records. Grantmaking largely focuses on St. Louis and the state of Missouri. Past local grantees include Forest Park Forever, the Boys and Girls Club of Greater St. Louis and the St. Louis Children’s Hospital.

This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits and only supports pre-selected organizations. Direct general questions to the staff at 314-862-1040.

PEOPLE:

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