About JSMF

Investing in impactful work has always been central to the JSMF story.

JSMF is supporting four essential Areas of Focus in the St. Louis region. These Areas of Focus are deeply interconnected, mutually reinforcing, and offer a chance to collaboratively build great momentum for positive change.

Photo by Lance Omar Thurman

Workforce

JSMF increases opportunity for the region’s workforce and enhances workforce systems by supporting efforts in the region that:

  • Strengthen high-quality early childcare and education to both prepare the future workforce and address barriers the current workforce faces.

  • Enhance wraparound supports for students and job seekers to build awareness, readiness, and access to quality jobs.

  • Strengthen connections between job seekers, employers, and education and training organizations.

Photo by Lance Omar Thurman

Small and Midsize Businesses

JSMF supports small and midsize businesses to scale through:

  • Increased access to capital and additional support for small and midsize businesses.

  • Strengthened connections between small and midsize businesses, anchor institutions, financial institutions, and corporations to drive new business opportunities.

Photo by Lance Omar Thurman

Wealth Building and Protection

JSMF supports efforts to help individuals and communities build and protect wealth such as:

  • Providing access to financial products and services that enable individuals and families to build wealth.

  • Building capacity within community-based organizations that support individuals and families to build wealth.

  • Attracting new investment — including federal, state, national philanthropic, and other private capital — to the region.

Photo by Lance Omar Thurman

Civic Infrastructure

JSMF strengthens regional leadership capacity and civic infrastructure by:

  • Supporting current and future leaders to impact policy and actions across sectors.

  • Enabling shared knowledge development and learning.

  • Helping develop a shared narrative about our region and our collective destiny.

  • Strengthening coalition and collaboration capacity.

Our Team

  • Jason Q. Purnell

    PRESIDENT

  • M. Brent Dolezalek

    VICE PESIDENT OF OPERATIONS

  • Karl Guenther

    VICE PRESIDENT FOR STRATEGY AND PROGRAMS

  • Casey Nolen

    DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

  • Gerard Hollins

    DIRECTOR OF GRANTS AND IMPACT INVESTMENT

  • Nikole Lobb Dougherty

    DIRECTOR OF LEARNING AND EVALUATION

  • Brian Knox

    GRANTS MANAGER

  • Felicia Holyfield

    EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

JSMF Board of Directors

James S. McDonnell III
John F. McDonnell
Marcella M. Stevens
Jeff McDonnell
Cathy Rogers
Alicia S. McDonnell
Holly M. James
Jeanne M. Champer
Katherine H. Pipoli

Our Story

James S. McDonnell, aviation pioneer and visionary founder of McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, left an indelible stamp on his industry and St. Louis.

He was known for his passion for breaking old limits of knowledge, whether in exploring space, investigating human potential through genetics, or understanding the mind and brain.

He was also passionate about investing in work that has a positive impact for generations to come.

“Mr. Mac” founded JSMF in 1950, seeking to improve quality of life by supporting advancements in complex areas of science.

As a foundation, we are now at a moment where we can reimagine what it means to carry on his legacy of investing in impactful work. We see an opportunity to shift. From a focus on complex science to a focus on the complexity of community. From broad global reach to deep local impact.

In this new era for the foundation, the St. Louis region is our only focus.

We’re putting our full support behind organizations and initiatives focused on improving economic mobility for St. Louis populations facing the starkest disparities.

We know that this is hard, necessary work. But we also believe that by working together, we can achieve prosperity that works for St. Louis.