Armstrong McDonald Foundation
The Armstrong McDonald Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Tucson, Arizona. Established in 1986, the foundation evolved from the J.M. McDonald Foundation, which was founded in 1952 in Hastings, Nebraska. The foundation was incorporated in Nebraska and later relocated its administrative offices to the Tucson area in 1993, with the state of incorporation now being Arizona. The foundation operates with a volunteer leadership team and maintains a structured approach to philanthropic giving across multiple states.
Key facts about Armstrong McDonald Foundation
- EIN
- 36-3458711
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,733,301
- Grants made (2025)
- 21
- Average grant
- $130,157
- Median grant
- $115,000
- Primary geography
- Arizona (79% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Armstrong McDonald Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Armstrong McDonald Foundation's 21 itemized 2025 grants were Arizona (79%) and Nebraska (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Tucson, AZ (14 grants) and Omaha, NE (4 grants). None of its 21 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support.
How Armstrong McDonald Foundation gives
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Armstrong McDonald Foundation
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Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$2.7M
+53.2% YoY
Grant Count
21
-4.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$130K
+60.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The mission of the Armstrong McDonald Foundation is to continue the philanthropic ideals and goals of James M. McDonald, Sr. through prudent and impartial review of all qualifying grant requests received annually to ensure that awards are made to soundly conceived and operated non-profit organizations.
The foundation supports six primary funding categories:
- Education — Approximately 50% of all grants; includes public and private higher learning, non-traditional education providers for at-risk children, and after-school mentoring programs
- Animal Welfare
- Children and Youth
- Health — Medical organizations and health services
- Relief and Social — Community outreach, homeless shelters, women and children shelters, veteran projects, senior services, transportation programs, and transitional living
- Special Needs — Various special needs programs and services
Grantmaking
The foundation allocates approximately $1 million to $1.8 million in grants annually. Based on recent fiscal year data, the foundation reported total giving of $1,783,914 with expenses of approximately $1.2 million to $2 million annually.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports initiatives across multiple states, with primary focus on:
- Arizona
- Nebraska
- Missouri
- California
- Minnesota
- Washington
These three states (Arizona, Nebraska, and Missouri) account for 88% of all grants. Specific funded cities include Bellevue, Goodyear, Hastings, Minneapolis, Omaha, Oro Valley, Phoenix, Point Lookout, San Diego, Shoreline, and Tucson.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 21 itemized 2025 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $22.5 million (as of 2024)
Annual Revenue: $3.95 million (2024)
Annual Expenses: $1.99 million to $2 million
Annual Giving: $1.2 million to $1.8 million
Net Assets: $22,530,918 (2024)
The foundation's assets have grown from $13.8 million in 2011 to $22.5 million in 2024. Tax records are available from 2020 to 2023, with the organization designated as a 501(c)(3) organization since November 1986.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 3, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 5, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 12, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
108 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest recipients include Reid Park Zoo ($610,000), University of Arizona Foundation-Steele Children's Research Center ($191,222), Bellevue University ($183,900).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| REID PARK ZOO Tucson, AZ | EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING & EQUIPMENT | $610,000 |
| UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA FOUNDATION-STEELE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH CENTER Tucson, AZ | RESEARCH CENTER | $191,222 |
| BELLEVUE UNIVERSITY Bellevue, NE | ARMSTRONG MCDONALD FOUNDATION 2024 NATURAL SCIENCES EQUIPMENT | $183,900 |
| CHILDREN'S MUSEUM TUCSON INC Tucson, AZ | 2025 PROGRAMMING & EXHIBIT UPDATES | $152,925 |
| TU NIDITO Tucson, AZ | TU NIDITO'S CONTINUUM OF BREAVEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES | $152,925 |
| UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA FOUNDATION-FLANDRAU SCIENCE CENTER & PLANETARIUM Tucson, AZ | K12 FIELD TRIPS & NEW ASTONOMY EXHIBIT | $152,925 |
| MOBILE MEALS OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA Tucson, AZ | MORE THAN MEALS | $150,000 |
| SOUTHERN ARIZONA AIDS FOUNDATION Tucson, AZ | SAAF COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES PROGRAMS | $150,000 |
| EMERGE CENTER AGAINST DOMESTIC ABUSE Tucson, AZ | LAY LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS 2025 | $135,000 |
| MOSAIC Omaha, NE | RENOVATIONS FOR HOME CARMEL IN AXTELL | $130,180 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is governed by a volunteer leadership team:
- Laurie L. Bouchard — President (served 1987-1991, 1993-present)
- Michael J. Bouchard — Secretary/Treasurer (since 1994)
- Ryan M. Bouchard — Vice President (since 2000)
- Corby L. Lust — Vice President (since 2003)
- Todd McDonald — Vice President (since 2003)
The leadership team does not receive compensation for their roles, except for Michael J. Bouchard, who works 5 hours per week without compensation.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2025 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laurie Bouchard | President | — | — |
| Ryan M Bouchard | Vice President | — | — |
| Todd McDonald | Vice President | — | — |
| Michael J Bouchard | Secretary/Treasurer | 5 | — |
Contact Information
Phone: 520-878-9627
Email: info@ArmstrongMcDonaldFoundation.org
Website: www.armstrongmcdonaldfoundation.org
Mailing Address: PO Box 70110, Tucson, AZ 85737-0027
EIN: 36-3458711
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Armstrong McDonald Foundation fund?
The mission of the Armstrong McDonald Foundation is to continue the philanthropic ideals and goals of James M. McDonald, Sr. through prudent and impartial review of all qualifying grant requests received annually to ensure that awards are made to soundly conceived and operated non-profit organizations. The foundation supports six primary funding categories: • **Education** — Approximately 50% of all grants; includes public and private higher learning, non-traditional education providers for at-…
How do I apply for a grant from Armstrong McDonald Foundation?
The foundation allocates approximately $1 million to $1.8 million in grants annually. Based on recent fiscal year data, the foundation reported total giving of $1,783,914 with expenses of approximately $1.2 million to $2 million annually. Grant awards have ranged from $10,000 to $1.4 million, with a median grant of $50,000 and an average award of $92,000. The foundation has supported 25 unique organizations across 42 grants totaling $3.8 million in recent years. Applicants must download the app…
Where does Armstrong McDonald Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports initiatives across multiple states, with primary focus on: • Arizona • Nebraska • Missouri • California • Minnesota • Washington These three states (Arizona, Nebraska, and Missouri) account for 88% of all grants. Specific funded cities include Bellevue, Goodyear, Hastings, Minneapolis, Omaha, Oro Valley, Phoenix, Point Lookout, San Diego, Shoreline, and Tucson.
What size grants does Armstrong McDonald Foundation award?
In 2025, Armstrong McDonald Foundation awarded 21 grants totaling $2.7M — an average of about $130K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Armstrong McDonald Foundation's EIN?
Armstrong McDonald Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-3458711. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.