$1.9 billion fortune: Lifestyles Magazine/Meaningful Influence cover subject Jim McKelvey and wife Anna join The Giving Pledge, committing a major share to philanthropy
Our recent Lifestyles Magazine/Meaningful Influence exclusive cover feature Jim McKelvey, co-founder of Block Inc. (formerly Square) and Invisibly, has never been content with doing things the conventional way.
Raised in St. Louis by a single mother and educated at Washington University, he started his career writing textbooks and building software tools, long before becoming a billionaire entrepreneur.
In 2009, he co-founded Square with his friend Jack Dorsey (a fellow philanthropist featured on the cover of Lifestyles Magazine/Meaningful Influence), not just to make payments easier, but to democratize commerce for small business owners.
Now, with his wife, Anna, Jim has signed the Giving Pledge, committing to give away the majority of their $1.2–1.4 billion fortune. But for the McKelveys, giving isn’t just about writing checks—it’s about building structures that last.
“Philanthropy should be a platform for structural innovation,” Jim says. “It’s not just capital that changes the world—it’s creativity.”
That idea runs through everything Jim does. He co-founded LaunchCode, a nonprofit organization that offers pathways into the tech industry for individuals without traditional credentials.
He created the Third Degree Glass Factory, a St. Louis community hub that combines art, entrepreneurship, and education. When he’s not working, he can often be found blowing glass, playing the piano, or flying his small plane—moments that give him clarity and joy and, usually, new ideas.
His wife, Anna McKelvey, is equally committed to doing philanthropy differently.
A Swedish-American lawyer and former UN official, Anna worked for years in Japan, including as general counsel at a private equity firm, before turning her focus to social impact. She holds a law degree from Stockholm University and a master’s from Harvard, and she now co-directs the family’s philanthropic investments.
Anna brings a global perspective to their giving—and a belief that generosity should be accessible and inclusive.
“There’s a mystique around philanthropy that makes it seem distant or elite,” she says. “But we believe anyone can learn to give well, and that great giving should be something people grow into—thoughtfully, joyfully, and with purpose.”
The McKelveys’ life at home reflects that same ethos. With two energetic young children, their house is, as they laughingly admit, “always noisy”—a warm swirl of Legos, piano notes, bedtime stories, and big conversations about values.
They aren’t waiting until later in life to give. They believe in building now—seeding experiments, supporting risk-takers, and helping reimagine how people live, learn, and lift each other.
For Jim and Anna McKelvey, philanthropy isn’t a separate track—it’s woven into their life, their family, and their shared sense of responsibility.
They don’t see themselves as having all the answers, but they’re determined to ask better questions—and to build a future where generosity is as imaginative as it is impactful.