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.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$22.5M
+9.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.8M
+45.1% YoY
Grant Count
22
+15.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$81K
+25.3% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Armstrong Mcdonald Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.0M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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
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 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $22,530,918 | $20,572,820 | $20,484,274 |
| Revenue | $3,953,383 | $1,452,159 | $660,026 |
| Expenses | $1,995,285 | $1,363,613 | $1,473,646 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,783,914 | $1,229,557 | $1,225,585 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,777,745 | $1,255,551 | $516,907 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,988,014 | $1,462,563 | $1,556,539 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
88 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Zoological Society of San Diego ($159,994), Bellevue University ($155,000), Hastings College Foundation ($152,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ANDRA HEART FOUNDATION TUCSON, AZ | BALD BEAUTIES PROJECT | $18,000 |
| ARIZONA ARTS LIVE TUCSON, AZ | CHILDREN, TEENS & FAMILIES:BALD BEAUTIES PROJECT | $45,000 |
| BELLEVUE UNIVERSITY BELLEVUE, NE | ARMSTRONG MCDONALD FOUNDATION 2024 PSYCHOLOGY LAB DEVELOPMENT | $155,000 |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF THE MIDLANDS OMAHA, NE | COMMUNITY BASED MENTORING | $20,000 |
| CASA DE LOS NINOS TUCSON, AZ | ASSITING TRANSITION AGED YOUTH | $55,000 |
| CHILDREN'S MUSEUM TUCSON INC TUCSON, AZ | 2025 PROGRAMMING & EXHIBIT UPDATES | $119,000 |
| EMERGE CENTER AGAINST DOMESTIC ABUSE TUCSON, AZ | CLIENT ASSISTANCE FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SURVIVORS 2025 | $60,000 |
| HASTINGS COLLEGE FOUNDATION HASTINGS, NE | STUDENT CENTERED CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTS | $152,000 |
| MOBILE MEALS OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA TUCSON, AZ | MORE THAN MEALS | $75,000 |
| MOSAIC OMAHA, NE | RENOVATIONS FOR HOME CARMEL IN AXTELL | $100,000 |
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
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 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 2024, Armstrong Mcdonald Foundation awarded 22 grants totaling $1.8M — an average of about $81K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Armstrong Mcdonald Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Armstrong Mcdonald Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.0M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2019–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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