The James S. McDonnell Foundation (JSMF) has announced a nearly $3 million investment to support recovery and rebuilding efforts following the deadly May 16, 2025, tornado that struck the St. Louis region.
This investment is focused on some of the hardest-hit areas in North St. Louis and aligns with JSMF’s ongoing commitment to investing in the people and places facing the starkest disparities in the region.
“This tornado hit a part of North St. Louis where many people were already doing the hard work of building opportunity in disinvested neighborhoods,” said Jason Purnell, president of the James S. McDonnell Foundation.
“Now the need is even greater and more urgent. Our commitment is not just to recover what was lost, but to strengthen the systems and supports that help communities thrive.”
“This investment is a down payment on the infrastructure necessary to make sure that people have opportunities to succeed, and that the region succeeds as a result.”
Jason Purnell, president of the James S. McDonnell Foundation.
The Foundation’s new investments include:
• $1 million to Invest STL for its direct cash assistance initiative, The Northside Resilience Fund. In total, with backing from additional funders, the program will support up to 1,300 North St. Louis individuals and families most severely impacted by the storm, helping to stabilize household finances and prevent further loss of income and wealth.
• Additional support across six organizations focused on urgent and long-term recovery, including:
-Action St. Louis, Invest STL, and 4theVille to strengthen neighborhood-based response and civic coordination efforts.
-Home Repair Network to repair homes and develop a more scalable model for critical home repair in damaged neighborhoods.
-Gateway Early Childhood Alliance and IFF to help early childhood education centers reopen, retain staff, and ensure families can return to work with access to safe, stable childcare.
This new round of funding builds on $90,000 in immediate emergency grants the Foundation released just days after the storm, including funding for immediate relief coordination by Action St. Louis, basic needs support through the United Way, and wraparound health and mental health services via Power4STL.
The Foundation’s investments are grounded in its mission to support organizations and initiatives working to improve economic mobility for those facing the starkest disparities, for their futures and the growth of the entire region.
“St. Louis will truly thrive when more people see this as a place of economic opportunity, starting with the people who already call St. Louis home,” Purnell said.
The McDonnell Foundation, a leader in global research support and philanthropy, was established in 1950 by James McDonnell, founder of the McDonnell Aircraft Corp.
He made the foundation’s mission “to improve quality of life by supporting advancements in complex areas of science.”
In March 2024, Purnell announced that the foundation would focus all resources and expertise on St. Louis.
“Our North Star is shared prosperity and quality of life in St. Louis,” Purnell, who has led the foundation since Feb. 1, 2023, said after the announcement was released.
In December 2024, the foundation gifted the University of Missouri – St. Louis $8 million for its new School of Engineering.
The JSMF grant is one of the largest one-time philanthropic gifts in the history of the university.
“We understand that economic mobility and inclusive economic growth aren’t going to happen on autopilot,” said Purnell.
“This investment is a down payment on the infrastructure necessary to make sure that people have opportunities to succeed, and that the region succeeds as a result.”
Its impact has reached all corners of the world since its creation in 1950 by James McDonnell, founder of the McDonnell Aircraft Corp. He made the foundation’s mission to improve quality of life by supporting advancements in complex areas of science.