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The Armstrong Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Fort Worth, TX EIN: 75-6003209 Website

The Armstrong Foundation is a private foundation based in Fort Worth, Texas. It provides financial assistance to tax-exempt organizations advocating constitutional government and its freedoms, with particular support for education about free enterprise, limited government, and American ideals.

The Armstrong Foundation at a glance

In short: The Armstrong Foundation gave $1.2M across 62 grants in 2024 (avg $19K), top state Virginia. 11% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2024)
$1,191,140
-3.6% vs 2023
Grants made (2024)
62
+3.3% vs 2023
Average grant
$19,212
-6.7% vs 2023
Median grant
$17,500
Total assets
$23,991,268
+2.7% vs 2023
New grantees (estimate)
11% first-time grantees (7 of 62, 2024)
Primary geography
Virginia (29% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to The Armstrong Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
Yes
How to Apply

The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Proposals may be submitted at any time during the year through its website and must include an IRS letter showing the organization’s tax-exempt status. The foundation does not support bricks-and-mortar projects. It says grants to individuals are not made unless the IRS has given prior approval.

Review Cycle
Proposals may be submitted any time during the year.
Deadline
Proposals may be submitted any time during the year.
Contact

Application contact: T K Armstrong Jr
Mailing address: P O Box 470338, Fort Worth, TX 76147
Phone: (817) 737-7117
Website: https://armstrongfdn.org

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who The Armstrong Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

Leadership Institute: $45KLeadership Institute$45KBill of Rights Institute: $45KBill of Rights Institute$45KHeritage Foundation: $40KHeritage Foundation$40KAmerican Enterprise Institute for P: $38KAmerican Enterprise Institutefor P$38KIntercollegiate Studies Institute: $35KIntercollegiate StudiesInstitute$35KAshbrook Center at Ashland Universi: $35KAshbrook Center at AshlandUniversi$35KFoundation for Economic Education: $35KFoundation for EconomicEducation$35KThe Fund for American Studies: $35KThe Fund for American Studies$35KReason Foundation: $35KReason Foundation$35KState Policy Network: $35KState Policy Network$35K

The largest 2024 recipient was Leadership Institute ($45K). Together the top 10 received $378K.

Grant Size Distribution

311 grants across all recorded years

309<$50K2$50–100K$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 309 grants of 311 (99%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation’s 2024 grant dollars went primarily to recipients in Virginia (29%) and the District of Columbia (23%), followed by California (9%), Texas (7%), and Pennsylvania (6%). Its 2024 grants also included recipients in Delaware, Ohio, Georgia, and other states.

Grant Distribution by State

26states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 62 itemized grants.

Cities

WashingtonArlingtonFort WorthRestonPhoenixAustinBala CynwydIndianapolisNew YorkPhiladelphiaAshlandColleyvilleErieHillsdaleJacksonLos AngelesMiddletonOaklandSherman OaksAuburn

Is The Armstrong Foundation open to new grantees?

11%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 7 of 62 grantees (11%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $20K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $20K repeat.

  • 76% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−7%). Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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

$0$500K$1M$1.5M66 grants2020 61 grants2021 62 grants2022 60 grants2023 62 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.1M (2020) to $1.3M (2022). In 2024 it made 62 grants totaling $1.2M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Leadership Institute Arlington, VAEducation$45,000
Bill of Rights Institute Arlington, VANational and State Policy$45,000
Heritage Foundation Washington, DCNational and State Policy$40,000
American Enterprise Institute for P Washington, DCNational and State Policy$37,500
Intercollegiate Studies Institute Wilmington, DEEducation$35,000
Ashbrook Center at Ashland Universi Ashland, OHEducation$35,000
Foundation for Economic Education Atlanta, GAEducation$35,000
The Fund for American Studies Washington, DCEducation$35,000
Reason Foundation Los Angeles, CAEducation$35,000
State Policy Network Arlington, VANational and State Policy$35,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2024$23,991,268$2,392,442$1,755,346$1,191,14062$1,361,756$909,091$1,424,950
2023$23,370,156$1,901,703$1,709,830$1,235,13060$1,400,652$900,894$1,332,589
2022$23,187,453$1,438,427$1,812,414$1,286,63062$1,433,473$898,574$1,426,665
2021$23,578,429$2,347,085$1,773,742$1,275,50061$1,416,882$1,022,629$1,424,940
2020$23,016,383$940,867$1,556,820$1,084,78066—$482,058$1,248,362

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Armstrong Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation’s 2024 filing describes support for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt institutions and organizations advocating the perpetuation of constitutional government and its freedoms. It says its trustees are particularly supportive of organizations focused on educational processes concerning the free enterprise system, limited government, and American ideals. The foundation also describes its grant program as supporting educational mediums advocating the value of the U.S. Constitution.

The grantees’ own mission statements illustrate the kinds of organizations supported. The Bill of Rights Institute says it teaches history and civics and equips students and teachers to live the ideals of a free and just society. The Foundation for Economic Education says it educates students about free-market economics, entrepreneurship, individual freedoms, self-responsibility, and character. The Texas Public Policy Foundation says it promotes liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise through research and outreach.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation reported 62 grants totaling $1,191,140. Grants ranged from $830 to $45,000, with a median of $17,500. In 2023, it reported 60 grants totaling $1,235,130. Its 2024 filing, the latest on this page, reports 62 grants totaling $1.2 million.

Notable 2024 grants included $45,000 each to the Bill of Rights Institute and Leadership Institute; $40,000 to the Heritage Foundation; and $35,000 each to the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, Foundation for Economic Education, and State Policy Network. The filing listed education and national and state policy as purposes for several of its largest grants.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The foundation’s 2024 filing listed T K Armstrong Jr. as president; Laura J Harrison as secretary; Allen L Armstrong as treasurer; Alex D Armstrong and Christian G Siegenthaler as trustees; Kate Britain as key employee; and John Lee Harrison as officer.

The Armstrong Foundation is led by T. K. Armstrong Jr., President on every filing since 2020; all 7 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • T. K. Armstrong Jr.

    President

    On filings since 2020

    20 hrs/week

    $53K (2020) → $62K (2024)

  • Alex D. Armstrong

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    $5K (2020) → $6K (2024)

  • Christian G. Siegenthaler

    Trustee

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    $5K (2020) → $6K (2024)

  • Allen L. Armstrong

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    $9K (2020) → $10K (2024)

  • John Lee Harrison

    Officer

    Key Employee → Officer, 2023

    On filings since 2020

    30 hrs/week

    $30K (2020) → $79K (2024)

  • Kate Britain

    Key Employee

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    $5K (2020) → $6K (2024)

  • Laura J. Harrison

    Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    30 hrs/week

    $77K (2020) → $56K (2024)

Former officers (2)
  • Former: Georgia Clarke (2020) — Key Employee
  • Former: J. Hatcher James III (2020) — Vice President

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

John Lee Harrison — Officer: $79KJohn Lee HarrisonOfficer$79KT K Armstrong Jr — President: $62KT K Armstrong JrPresident$62KLaura J Harrison — Secretary: $56KLaura J HarrisonSecretary$56KAllen L Armstrong — Treasurer: $10KAllen L ArmstrongTreasurer$10KAlex D Armstrong — Trustee: $6KAlex D ArmstrongTrustee$6KChristian G Siegenthaler — Trustee: $6KChristian G SiegenthalerTrustee$6KKate Britain — Key Employee: $6KKate BritainKey Employee$6K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $79K, to John Lee Harrison (Officer). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about The Armstrong Foundation

How much does The Armstrong Foundation give each year?

The Armstrong Foundation gave $1.2M across 62 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.2M across 60 grants.

What is The Armstrong Foundation's typical grant size?

The Armstrong Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $17,500, and its average grant was $19,212, across 62 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Armstrong Foundation that year got $9K on average.

Where does The Armstrong Foundation give grants?

The Armstrong Foundation's top state is Virginia, with 29% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (23%) and California (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (15 grants), Arlington, VA (8 grants), Fort Worth, TX (3 grants) and Bala Cynwyd, PA (2 grants).

Does The Armstrong Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 62 grants with a stated purpose on The Armstrong Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (35 grants) and "National and State Policy" (26 grants).

Who are The Armstrong Foundation's largest grantees?

The Armstrong Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Leadership Institute ($45,000), Bill of Rights Institute ($45,000) and Heritage Foundation ($40,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 11% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is The Armstrong Foundation?

The Armstrong Foundation reported $24.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What does The Armstrong Foundation fund?

The foundation’s 2024 filing describes support for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt institutions and organizations advocating the perpetuation of constitutional government and its freedoms. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Armstrong Foundation?

The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is The Armstrong Foundation's EIN?

The Armstrong Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 75-6003209. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does The Armstrong Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.

Data update history

(1)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). The Armstrong Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-armstrong-foundation-morg_5b94df5cf05c47cd8e50678978cf9e94

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_756003209_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{The Armstrong Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-armstrong-foundation-morg_5b94df5cf05c47cd8e50678978cf9e94},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 The Armstrong 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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