Armstrong McDonald Foundation
The Armstrong McDonald Foundation is a private foundation based in Tucson, Arizona. It supports nonprofit organizations through grants in areas including education, health, children and youth, animal welfare, relief and social causes, and special needs.
Armstrong McDonald Foundation at a glance
In short: Armstrong McDonald Foundation gave $2.7M across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $130K), mostly in Arizona. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,733,301
- +53.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 21
- -4.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $130,157
- +60.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $115,000
- Total assets
- $30,023,260
- +33.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Arizona (79% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Armstrong McDonald Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation’s website says it accepts unsolicited requests only from IRS-approved nonprofits on its pre-approved list; additions to that list are by invitation only. The 2025 filing says applicants must download the application from the foundation’s website and complete it in full, including all required attachments. The filing lists restrictions on awards as “per website.”
- Review Cycle
- Per website.
- Deadline
- Per website.
- Contact
Application contact: Michael Bouchard
Mailing address: PO Box 70110, Tucson, AZ 85737-0110
Phone: (520) 940-2492
Website: https://armstrongmcdonaldfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Armstrong McDonald Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Reid Park Zoo ($610K). Together the top 10 received $2.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
108 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 39 grants of 108 (36%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 79% of grant dollars went to recipients in Arizona, 17% to Nebraska, and 4% to Washington. Tucson recipients included Reid Park Zoo, the University of Arizona Foundation–Steele Children’s Research Center, Children’s Museum Tucson, Tu Nidito, Mobile Meals of Southern Arizona, and the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
Cities
How Armstrong McDonald Foundation gives
- 90% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 123% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 128% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.2M (2022) to $2.7M (2025). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $2.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| 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 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $30,023,260 | $10,502,973 | $3,010,631 | $2,733,301 | 21 | $2,733,301 | $10,327,698 | $2,141,412 |
| 2024 | $22,530,918 | $3,953,383 | $1,995,285 | $1,783,914 | 22 | $1,783,914 | $3,777,745 | $1,988,014 |
| 2023 | $20,572,820 | $1,452,159 | $1,363,613 | $1,229,557 | 19 | $1,229,557 | $1,255,551 | $1,462,563 |
| 2022 | $20,484,274 | $660,026 | $1,473,646 | $1,225,585 | 22 | $1,225,585 | $516,907 | $1,556,539 |
| 2021 | $21,297,920 | $5,981,344 | $2,327,199 | $2,100,318 | 24 | $2,100,318 | $5,817,958 | $1,952,114 |
| 2020 | $17,679,949 | $4,433,008 | $1,567,168 | $1,393,210 | 1 | — | $4,330,961 | $1,306,206 |
| 2019 | $14,790,429 | $1,976,113 | $1,517,767 | $1,400,061 | 1 | — | $1,891,986 | $948,837 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Armstrong McDonald Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.1M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to continue the philanthropic ideals and goals of James M. McDonald, Sr. by reviewing qualifying requests and making awards to soundly conceived and operated nonprofit organizations.
Its stated categories include education, health, children and youth, animal welfare, relief and social causes, and special needs. Education support includes colleges and universities, education projects, and nontraditional education providers serving at-risk children. The foundation says it does not fund tuition, room and board, or books. Its children-and-youth category includes projects from children’s museums and specified youth organizations. Animal-welfare requests are limited to endangered-species reproduction research and training dogs for guide or assistance roles.
The 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. Bellevue University describes its mission as providing career-oriented, cost-effective, open-access education. Mobile Meals of Southern Arizona says it delivers medically tailored meals to homebound adults to preserve their health, dignity, and independence. The Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation describes its work as promoting health, well-being, and social justice for people living with HIV, LGBTQ+ individuals, and marginalized communities. Western National Parks Association says it advances education, interpretation, research, and community engagement in partnership with the National Park Service.
Grantmaking
The foundation awarded 21 grants totaling $2,733,301 in 2025. The grants ranged from $30,350 to $610,000, with a median of $115,000. Earlier reported totals were $1,783,914 across 22 grants in 2024 and $1,229,557 across 19 grants in 2023.
Among the largest 2025 awards were $610,000 to Reid Park Zoo for educational programming and equipment; $191,222 to the University of Arizona Foundation–Steele Children’s Research Center for its research center; and $183,900 to Bellevue University for natural sciences equipment. Other awards included $152,925 each to Children’s Museum Tucson for programming and exhibit updates and Tu Nidito for bereavement support services, and $150,000 each to Mobile Meals of Southern Arizona and the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Laurie Bouchard as president; Ryan M. Bouchard and Todd McDonald as vice presidents; and Michael J. Bouchard as secretary/treasurer.
Armstrong McDonald Foundation is led by Laurie Bouchard, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Laurie Bouchard
President
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Michael J. Bouchard
Secretary & Treasurer
Secretarytreasurer → Secretary & Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ryan M. Bouchard
Vice President
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Todd McDonald
Vice President
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Corby L. Lust (2019–2023) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Armstrong McDonald Foundation
How much does Armstrong McDonald Foundation give each year?
Armstrong McDonald Foundation gave $2.7M across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.8M across 22 grants.
What is Armstrong McDonald Foundation's typical grant size?
Armstrong McDonald Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $115,000, and its average grant was $130,157, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Armstrong McDonald Foundation give grants?
Armstrong McDonald Foundation gives mostly in Arizona: 79% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Nebraska (17%). The most frequent recipient cities were Tucson, AZ (14 grants) and Omaha, NE (4 grants).
Does Armstrong McDonald Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 21 grants with a stated purpose on Armstrong McDonald Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Armstrong McDonald Foundation's largest grantees?
Armstrong McDonald Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Reid Park Zoo ($610,000), University of Arizona Foundation-Steele Children's Research Center ($191,222) and Bellevue University ($183,900), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Armstrong McDonald Foundation?
Armstrong McDonald Foundation reported $30.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Armstrong McDonald Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to continue the philanthropic ideals and goals of James M. McDonald, Sr. by reviewing qualifying requests and making awards to soundly conceived and operated nonprofit organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Armstrong McDonald Foundation?
The foundation’s website says it accepts unsolicited requests only from IRS-approved nonprofits on its pre-approved list; additions to that list are by invitation only. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does Armstrong McDonald Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 30, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- 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)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Armstrong McDonald Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/armstrong-mcdonald-foundation-morg_5daa91b25ed647c8807c0c1d45ee21ed
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_363458711_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Armstrong McDonald Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/armstrong-mcdonald-foundation-morg_5daa91b25ed647c8807c0c1d45ee21ed},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Armstrong McDonald Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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