James S. McDonnell Foundation

??????. ??????. This week’s census numbers show the largest population growth the St. Louis region has seen since 2010—a milestone worth celebrating. And we have an opportunity to build on this momentum by attracting new residents while investing in the people who already call St. Louis home. Immigrants have long driven economic growth, and St. Louis must fully embrace immigration as a key part of our growth strategy. We applaud those working to make our region a destination for immigrants and proudly stand alongside them. Our mission is to support those historically excluded from economic opportunity, including immigrant communities, so all of St. Louis can truly thrive. When we create opportunities for those here now, we also make St. Louis more attractive for others to come. People move for economic opportunity. To sustain and accelerate our growth, we must make the St. Louis region a place where people want to come and choose to stay because they see a future here. That means tapping the full potential of longtime residents while welcoming new ones who add to our region’s vibrancy and strength. St. Louis’ top earners are thriving—outpacing much of the country. But too many of our neighbors with low incomes are falling further behind. When they can fully participate in our economy, families will be stronger, neighborhoods safer, and more people will choose to build their futures here. That’s when real, lasting growth happens—and today’s 0.2% growth will seem like just the beginning. A region where everyone has a stake in its success is a region more people will want to call home. #STL #Census2024 #SharedProsperity #OpportunityForAll #WelcomingSTL

Late last year, the James S. McDonnell Foundation awarded an $8 million grant to the University of Missouri-Saint Louis to help fund UMSL’s new School of Engineering. We are proud to support students within the engineering school by funding scholarships, as well as to provide UMSL’s pre-collegiate Bridge Program with a $1 million endowment to support STEM college readiness. . . . #stlouis #stl #engineering #collegereadiness #stem #localimpact

Have you signed up for the JSMF newsletter? We would love to keep you informed about the work we are doing in the St. Louis region, as we continue to invest in organizations and initiatives focused on improving economic mobility for those facing the starkest disparities. You can sign up for our newsletter by scrolling to the bottom of our homepage: https://www.jsmf.org/ We look forward to staying in touch!

St. Louis Magazine’s inaugural edition of the St. Louis Business 500 highlights some of the St. Louis area’s most “influential, impactful and innovative leaders across a variety of industries, including nonprofits,” including our President, Jason Q. Purnell. "Purnell has long worked to address some of St. Louis’ biggest divides," and while at Washington University in St. Louis, he published the groundbreaking study, "For the Sake of All: A Report on the Health and Well-Being of African Americans in St. Louis and Why It Matters for Everyone." Additionally, he led the community health improvement strategy at BJC HealthCare. At JSMF, his work amplifies our mission to improve economic mobility for St. Louis populations facing the starkest disparities—vital for the growth of the place we call home. Read more about Purnell and the other leaders highlighted: https://lnkd.in/d4m6b9JY

Thank you to KSDK - 5 On Your Side for spotlighting a new partnership among the James S. McDonnell Foundation, BJC Health System, and SSM Health. Our organizations have invested a combined $15 million in low-cost deposits with the St. Louis Community Credit Union, which serves more than 53,000 members in the St. Louis region. Alex Fennoy, Senior Vice President of Business Services for STLCCU, told KSDK that the credit union “target[s] resources in the areas that have been left behind." Through affordable small-business loans, St. Louis Community Credit Union strives to empower underrepresented, successful small-business owners in St. Louis who have been turned down by other financial institutions. The money from SSM Health, BJC, and JSMF will help the credit union underwrite more loans, helping those small businesses expand and hire more workers while providing a return on the institutions’ investments. This collaboration underscores JSMF’s recent pivot to focus entirely on St. Louis and reflects our belief that when more people have a chance to fully participate in the region’s economy St. Louis will be better for us all. Learn more about how this partnership is an investment in the growth of our entire region:

We have entered a new era for our foundation, and the St. Louis region is now our only focus. JSMF has arrived at a moment where we can reimagine what it means to carry on James S. McDonnell’s legacy of investing in impactful work. We see an opportunity and an imperative to shift: from a focus on the complexity of science to a focus on the complexity of community, from broad global reach to deep local impact. We are honored to be here, in this pivotal moment for all who call St. Louis home. . . . #stl #stlouis #community #localimpact #foundation

Today, the St. Louis Community Credit Union announced that it has received a $15 million commitment from BJC Health System, SSM Health, and the James S. McDonnell Foundation. The St. Louis Community Credit Union is a not-for-profit cooperatively owned by its 53,000 members, the majority of whom are Black. Kirk D. Mills, the credit union’s president and CEO, explains that despite being well-qualified for an account and for loans, many in the community feel shut out of the banking mainstream. The dollars deposited at the credit union are recycled back into the community, providing affordable loans for local businesses. But the credit union’s average member has deposited just $6,500, which Mills describes as “the manifestation of the racial wealth gap” in our nation. In order to serve more people and help more businesses grow, the credit union needs more large deposits. That’s where the $15 million commitment comes in. Along with BJC Health System and SSM Health, we at JSMF are proud to contribute to St. Louis Community Credit Union’s Community Impact Deposit program, which aligns with our core belief in equitable finance. Be sure to read today’s article in St. Louis Magazine to learn more! . . . #stl #stlouis #creditunion #banking #equity #smallbusiness #community #communityimpact

The team at JSMF is supporting four essential Areas of Focus in the St. Louis region. These Areas of Focus are deeply interconnected and mutually reinforcing and offer a chance to collaboratively build momentum for positive change. One of our core Areas of Focus is Small and Midsize Businesses. JSMF supports these 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. Visit our website to learn more: jsmf.org. . . . #stl #stlouis #equity #community #partnership #smallbusiness #midsizebusiness

In the St. Louis region, too many homeowners in historically underinvested neighborhoods have been excluded from the tools needed to protect the value of their homes. That’s why Legal Services of Eastern Missouri is partnering with the St. Louis Home Repair Network (HRN) to help people repair and protect their homes. It’s a newly formed, first-of-its-kind partnership between attorneys and contractors that is working to stabilize the physical structure and wealth-building potential of homes in disinvested St. Louis neighborhoods. Support from JSMF is helping LSEM and HRN collaborate to offer estate planning and home repair services simultaneously. We are proud to support these organizations, as they both help build a St. Louis that works for everyone. . . . #stl #stlouis #equity #partnership #wealthbuilding #community

We don’t have to choose between innovation and investments in the people of St. Louis. We need both for growth.