J M Mcdonald Foundation Inc.

The J.M. McDonald Foundation was established in 1952 by James M. McDonald, Sr. with a clear founding directive: improve education and social programs in upstate New York. More than 70 years later, the foundation has remained remarkably faithful to that original vision. Administered by Foundation Source (a professional foundation management firm in Wilmington, DE) and governed by a seven-member volunteer board led by President Donald R. McJunkin, it channels approximately $1.5M annually from a $29.7M asset base toward organizations throughout the region.

The foundation strongly favors established institutions with multi-year track records in upstate New York. A review of the top 50 grantees by total relationship value reveals that the majority appear across 2-3 separate grant cycles — suggesting this funder values demonstrated accountability over novelty. First-time applicants should view an initial modest award in the $5,000-$15,000 range as a relationship-building milestone rather than a standalone win. Anchor institutions — regional hospitals, accredited colleges, long-standing social service agencies, and community organizations with deep local roots — consistently dominate the highest-funded relationships.

Capital projects are a clear sweet spot. The single largest grant on record, $400,000 to Cortland Memorial Foundation for a Cancer Treatment Center Capital Campaign, illustrates this preference. Across the grantee list, purpose descriptions repeatedly reference HVAC replacements, nursing lab construction, technology infrastructure upgrades, building renovation campaigns, and medical equipment purchases. Programmatic and general operating support grants do succeed — particularly in disability services, elder care, and workforce development — but capital projects attract proportionally larger individual awards.

Geography is paramount. Of 538 tracked grants, 490 (91%) went to New York state recipients, concentrated in the Cortland, Syracuse, Ithaca, and Finger Lakes corridor. Colorado accounts for 4% of grants (21 awards), likely reflecting board family connections near the Evergreen, CO mailing address (P.O. Box 3219). This is not a national funder in practice.

The application cycle is semi-annual: April 15 and September 15 deadlines with responses communicated in May and October respectively. First-time applicants are strongly encouraged to email info@jmmcdonaldfoundation.org before submitting to introduce their organization, demonstrate familiarity with the foundation's 1952 founding mission, and confirm the project fits current priorities. The formal application requires both your IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter and explicit confirmation of 509(a) public charity status — a detail that catches many applicants off guard and that the foundation has flagged as a specific requirement.

The J.M. McDonald Foundation has maintained remarkably consistent annual giving for over a decade. Grants paid have held steady in the $1.09M-$1.56M range from 2012 through 2023, with total giving (including administrative expenses) between $1.27M and $1.83M per year. FY2023 shows $1.54M in grants paid across approximately 169 awards. Assets have grown steadily from $19.5M (2012) to $29.4M (2023), a 51% increase driven primarily by investment income — in strong market years (FY2020: $5.46M net investment income; FY2021: $5.65M), endowment growth significantly outpaced distributions. In weaker years (FY2023: $573K net investment income), the foundation maintained grant output by drawing on capital reserves, demonstrating commitment to consistent community support.

Individual grant size clusters sharply at modest levels. The reported median is $5,000 with an average of approximately $8,258 across 170+ tracked grant transactions. The range extends from $1,000 for small community organizations to $400,000 for flagship capital campaigns, but the overwhelming majority of awards fall in the $5,000-$25,000 band. Awards above $50,000 are rare, typically reserved for multi-grant relationships with anchor institutions over several funding cycles.

By program area, analysis of grantee purpose descriptions across the top 50 funded relationships suggests the following approximate allocation: - Education (higher and vocational, ~35%): Wells College, Le Moyne College, Skidmore College, Houghton University, Keuka College, St. Lawrence University, and Syracuse University appear among the most frequent recipients. Nursing labs, science equipment, emergency student funds, and career training for people with disabilities are typical funded purposes. - Healthcare (~30%): The largest single grant ($400,000) went to Cortland Memorial Foundation. Albany Med, Adirondack Medical Center, River Hospital, Upstate Foundation, and Sisters of Charity Hospital Foundation also appear. Medical equipment, telehealth infrastructure, and maternity care are common funded purposes. - Social and human services (~25%): NYSARC Inc., Food Bank of Central NY, Cortland County Community Action Program, Parsons Child & Family Center, Vera House, and Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless represent this sector. Disability services, elder care, food security, emergency assistance, and substance abuse recovery are typical. - Arts, culture, and humanities (~10%): Cortland County Historical Society, Tri-Cities Opera Company, Cortland Free Library, and Cortland Repertory Theatre round out the portfolio.

Geographically, 91% of tracked grants go to New York, with Colorado at 4% and minor distributions to Florida (5 grants), Pennsylvania (5), and Ohio (4).

The following table compares J.M. McDonald Foundation to four regional private foundations of comparable scale and mission focus in the upstate New York region:

*Note: Peer figures are approximate based on publicly available IRS 990 data and foundation profiles; all figures should be verified with current filings.*

Among upstate New York private foundations at this asset scale, J M McDonald stands out for the multi-sector breadth of its giving — crossing education, healthcare, social services, and arts simultaneously rather than specializing in one sector. The Gebbie Foundation, with roughly double the assets, restricts giving almost exclusively to Chautauqua County. The John Ben Snow Foundation operates by invitation only with a narrower thematic focus on education and journalism. J M McDonald's semi-annual open application windows make it one of the more accessible private foundations in the region at its asset scale, and its multi-sector approach means organizations can apply across program areas without contorting their mission to fit a narrow thematic lens.

No public press releases or news coverage specific to the J.M. McDonald Foundation were found for 2025-2026. The foundation does not maintain a social media presence and has no dedicated communications function. However, IRS filing data confirms the foundation remains fully operational.

The FY2024 Form 990-PF was filed in December 2025. Grantmakers.io data reports 187 grants distributed during FY2024, with notable awards including $100,000 to Cayuga Medical Center at Ithaca, $50,000 to Cortland Repertory Theatre, $50,000 to University of Rochester School of Nursing, and $40,000 to United Presbyterian Church of Cortland — all consistent with the foundation's established geographic and sector priorities.

FY2024 total assets reached $29,759,444 (up from $29,396,515 in FY2023), while total revenue rose substantially to $2.17M from just $751K in FY2023, suggesting a meaningful recovery in investment portfolio performance after a difficult year. No final FY2024 grants-paid figure has been published as of the research date (June 2026).

Board composition has been stable across multiple consecutive filing years. Donald R. McJunkin continues as President/Director; Nancy J. Palmer and Janet E. Stanton serve as Vice Presidents; Pamela Criswell as Treasurer; Dana Amundson as Secretary; with Scott Michael Palmer and Justin Klink as additional directors. All directors serve without compensation — a sign of family-legacy governance rather than professional staff management. No leadership transitions have been announced for 2025-2026. Primary contact: info@jmmcdonaldfoundation.org | 303-674-9300 | P.O. Box 3219, Evergreen, CO 80437.

The most important single insight for J.M. McDonald Foundation applicants: this funder rewards relationship continuity. Top grantees in the database have received 2-3 separate grants over tracked periods, building cumulative relationships of $25,000-$75,000. Frame your first application as the start of a relationship, not a one-time request, and plan a follow-on application referencing prior outcomes.

Timing: Apply by April 15 (response in May) or September 15 (response in October). These are the only two windows per year with no exceptions. The September cycle aligns well with capital projects launching in Q1 of the next calendar year; the April cycle works for academic-year-aligned programming. Build in time for gathering required documentation — applications missing required attachments will likely be declined without review.

Documentation checklist: IRS determination letter confirming both 501(c)(3) AND 509(a) public charity status (the foundation explicitly requires both, so single-page letters that only confirm 501(c)(3) are insufficient), most recent audited financial statement, complete line-item project budget, names and titles of administering officers, project timeline, continuation and sustainability plan, and full disclosure of all other funding sources secured or pending.

Proposal framing: Lead with community benefit language tied specifically to upstate New York — name the Cortland County, Finger Lakes, or Central New York communities served, not just the state. Capital projects should describe the specific infrastructure gap being addressed and its direct community impact. Programmatic proposals should quantify outcomes (number of individuals served, measurable change in access or capacity) and directly address long-term sustainability beyond the grant period.

Language alignment: Echo the foundation's founding language — 'improve education and social programs in upstate New York.' Reference the 1952 founding mission in your proposal. For healthcare applications, connect to the original mission of serving 'the sick, infirm, blind, and crippled' and underserved rural populations. For education, emphasize access and opportunity for first-generation or economically disadvantaged students.

What to avoid: Conferences, seminars, workshops, travel, and exhibits are explicitly prohibited as the sole grant purpose. Do not apply for lobbying or electoral activities. Grants to individuals are ineligible under any circumstance.

Pre-submission step: Email info@jmmcdonaldfoundation.org with a 2-3 sentence project summary before your formal application. This signals preparation, allows you to confirm the current cycle is open, and helps establish a name with the foundation before the formal review.