Penny Pennington Becomes First Non-Family Board Member Under New Mission

We are pleased to announce that Penny Pennington has joined JSMF as the first non-family board member under our new St. Louis-focused mission. Pennington is the Managing Partner of Edward Jones, a leading financial services company dedicated to helping its 9 million clients with $2.4 trillion in client assets under management. In 2000, after a 14-year career in banking, Pennington joined Edward Jones, where she has since held various leadership roles in the firm’s St. Louis headquarters.

“I’m humbled and honored and looking forward to doing some good work,” Pennington said of the appointment.

JSMF president Jason Q. Purnell noted that Pennington’s financial expertise and dedication to advancing inclusive growth will be vital to the Foundation’s work.

“Given her professional experience, we know Penny will challenge us to find innovative organizations and initiatives to support for the good of all St. Louisans,” said Purnell. “She also leads with a people-first focus that will only strengthen our connection to the community.”

Having lived in her adopted home of St. Louis for 20 years, Pennington recognizes that the need for inclusive economic growth is urgent. She believes in the power of partnerships to create a lasting, sustainable impact for the St. Louis region.

“The disparity that we see in our community is a tax. It’s a very expensive burden on people’s lives and on the vitality of our community,” Pennington said. “I believe St. Louis is a place that we can effect this change at scale in a really meaningful way that we can see progress in a matter of years.”

In order to make that meaningful change, Pennington emphasizes the importance of engaging stakeholders in a human-centered way.

“By understanding the lived experience of those who have been left out of these [economic opportunity] structures for decades and generations, we’ll be able to speed up the progress. It’s not going to be done overnight; I fully understand that. But we will be able to make a meaningful and measurable difference,” Pennington said.

JSMF Board Chairman John F. McDonnell welcomed Pennington’s appointment as an important step toward strengthening the Foundation’s commitment to the region.

“Penny is a leader who is deeply committed to St. Louis,” McDonnell said. “Her appointment reflects our dedication to shared leadership and investment in building a stronger St. Louis.”

Pennington joins JSMF in its 75th year, during a time of significant transformation as the organization shifts its focus entirely to St. Louis.

“The Foundation has been an enduring part of innovation and growth and new ideas and expanding possibility for people for decades and decades,” Pennington said. “I’m very honored to be a part of this moment in time and look forward to working with family members and community builders to make a difference in St. Louis.”