The James S. McDonnell Foundation (JSMF) has announced an open call for grant proposals in “Civic Infrastructure” and “Wealth-Building” with a total of $2 million in awards.
JSMF encourages applicants to propose innovative ideas that advance inclusive and equitable economic growth in the St. Louis region.
“I believe our St. Louis is at a critical juncture—facing deeply entrenched challenges and making fragile progress in solving them,” said Jason Purnell, JSMF president.
“To build a future in which the St. Louis region truly thrives, we must choose the path of inclusive growth that elevates shared prosperity for all in our region.”
Civic Infrastructure Proposals
JSMF seeks applications from organizations working together for the first time across diverse geographies, races, incomes, or ideologies to support economic mobility in the foundation’s priority communities and groups.
These communities and groups include the City of St. Louis and North St. Louis County, with a focus on low and moderate-income individuals and families, and Black and historically marginalized groups including immigrants.
“We seek applications from organizations collaborating to bring people together across diverse geographies, races, and income levels to support economic mobility in our priority communities and groups,” said Purnell.
“Research shows that when we work together across our differences to achieve shared community goals, relationships form that can further enhance our capacity for the collaboration our region needs to fully take on the challenges and seize the opportunities we face.”
JSMF expects to fund five to ten grants in this category, from $20,000 to $40,000 each, for a total of up to $250,000. The objective is to strengthen regional leadership and capacity for collaboration to drive enduring change toward shared prosperity.
Wealth-Building Proposals
JSMF invites applications that propose innovative, sustainable, and scalable approaches to wealth-building and wealth-preservation for our priority communities and groups. JSMF expects to fund two to four grants in this category, from $450,000 to $900,000 each, for a total of up to $1.8 million.
“Our goal is to support the creation of innovative, sustainable, and scalable financial products and services, and the adoption of new practices that help our priority communities and groups grow their assets,” according to Purnell.
“New ways of thinking about wealth. Big ideas, and long-term results.”
More details about the criteria for this open call can be found at www.jsmf.org.
“Your insights, dedication, and creative solutions are vital to advancing shared prosperity in our community. We encourage organizations and initiatives that align with our mission to apply and join us as we seek to partner in building momentum toward prosperity that works for St. Louis,” said Purnell.
The James S. 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, the foundation announced it will focus all resources and expertise on St. Louis with four “Areas of Focus.”
Workforce
Supporting work that will build cradle-to-career workforce systems that support the attainment of thriving-wage quality jobs—supporting both the current generation and the next.
· Strengthening high-quality early childcare and education to both prepare the future workforce and address barriers the current workforce is facing.
· Enhancing wraparound support for students and job seekers to build awareness, readiness, and access to quality jobs.
· Strengthening connections between job seekers, employers, and education and training organizations.
Small and Midsize Businesses
Supporting efforts to help scale small and midsize businesses.
· Increasing access to capital and additional support for small and midsize businesses.
· Strengthening connections between small and midsize businesses, anchor institutions, financial institutions, and corporations to drive new business opportunities.
Wealth Building
Supporting efforts to help individuals and communities build and protect wealth.
· Supporting 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 to the region, including federal, state, national philanthropic, and other private capital.
Civic Infrastructure – Striving to strengthen regional leadership capacity and civic infrastructure.
· Strengthening coalition and collaboration capacity.
· Supporting current and future leaders to impact policy and actions across sectors.
· Enabling shared knowledge development and learning. (i.e., make sure we’re defining problems in a collaborative way so we can address and track success collaboratively, too.)
· Helping to develop a shared narrative about our region and our collective destiny.
To apply and for detailed information about the criteria for proposals and alignment with JSMF’s mission and priorities, please visit: www.jsmf.org The deadline to apply is August 31, 2024