James S. McDonnell Foundation pledges $1M to revive STL guaranteed income program

ST. LOUIS - The James S. McDonnell Foundation has stepped up to privately fund St. Louis residents enrolled in the city's Guaranteed Basic Income program, following a court order to halt the program in July.

A spokesperson with the The James S. McDonnell Foundation tells FOX 2 that the organization has pledged $1 million to assist families through the end of the 2024 calendar year. Private funders have also pledged around $250,000 on top of that contribution.

Through its Guaranteed Basic Income pilot program, St. Louis intended to offer $500 each month to around 540 families in need over the course of 18 months. City leaders were hopeful the program would help more families achieve financial stability. A court order has halted the program since July with opponents citing constitutional concerns.

Recent contributions from the James S. McDonnell Foundation and private partners will help with supporting the program through December 2024, according to a news release from the foundation.

"Our focus is on ensuring that families receive the resources promised to them and that the program can continue to gather valuable data on how GBI might contribute to St. Louis’s economic growth," said Jason Q. Purnell, president of the James S. McDonnell Foundation, via a news release. "Our priorities are the well-being of these local families and the insights that could emerge to inform more inclusive growth strategies."

JSMF hopes that supporting the program will help with collecting data that guides city officials in developing "future strategies for inclusive growth and shared prosperity in St. Louis," according to the news release.

Additionally, JSMF hopes new sources of funding will emerge to sustain the GBI program through its intended timeline into mid-2025. The organization says it is "actively seeking additional funding partners." For more information on those efforts, click here.