The Kiita Foundation is a private foundation established in 2001 and based in Phoenix, Arizona. The foundation operates as a family foundation with a focus on grantmaking to educational, charitable, and public recreation organizations, primarily serving organizations that provide assistance to indigent people.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$19.4M
+10.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$866K
-0.3% YoY
Grant Count
19
-24.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$46K
+31.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Kiita Foundation reported a distributable amount of $747K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary purpose is giving to organizations that provide assistance to indigent people. Primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
- Charitable organizations
- Public recreation organizations
Grantmaking
Grant Range
Range:** $4,000–$448,940
Average Grant
Amount:** Varies by program category ($20,000–$43,000)
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in:
- Arizona
- Colorado
- Montana
The foundation has expanded its reach to include the Flathead Valley region in Montana as of 2023.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending December 2024:
- Total Assets: $19,416,544
- Total Giving: $865,940
- Total Revenues: $2,288,252
- Total Expenses: $1,138,040
- Number of Employees: 0
Revenue Breakdown (2024):
- Total grants and contributions: $1,296,140
- Investment income and dividends: $908,207
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $138,735
- Miscellaneous revenues: -$54,830
Year-over-Year Growth (2023 to 2024):
- Grants and contributions increased 29.6%
- Investment income increased 32%
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $19,416,544 | $17,567,872 | $16,565,546 |
| Revenue | $2,288,252 | $2,048,845 | $2,364,902 |
| Expenses | $1,138,040 | $1,046,519 | $923,925 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $865,940 | $868,650 | $755,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $923,481 | $723,008 | $1,118,222 |
| Distributable Amount | $746,891 | $709,301 | $755,532 |
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
121 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Rancho Feliz ($448,940), Bloom365 ($70,000), Whitefish Community Foundation ($56,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ASU FOUNDATION TEMPE, AZ | EDUCATIONAL | $35,000 |
| AZ FRIENDS OF FOSTER CHILDREN FOUN PHOENIX, AZ | CHARITABLE | $40,000 |
| BALSZ COMMUNITY EDUCATION FOUNDATIO PHOENIX, AZ | EDUCATION | $5,000 |
| BLOOM365 PEORIA, AZ | EDUCATIONAL | $70,000 |
| INTEGRATED FAMILY COMMUNITY SERVICE ENGLEWOOD, CO | CHARITABLE | $15,000 |
| NORTH VALLEY FOOD BANK WHITEFISH, MT | CHARITABLE | $25,000 |
| PHOENIX CODING ACADEMY PHOENIX, AZ | EDUCATIONAL | $5,000 |
| PHOENIX COUNTRY DAY PARADISE VALLEY, AZ | EDUCATIONAL | $5,000 |
| RANCHO FELIZ SCOTTSDALE, AZ | CHARITABLE | $448,940 |
| SEEDSPOT PHOENIX, AZ | EDUCATIONAL | $30,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- James D Armstrong – President/Treasurer
- Jo-Ann Armstrong – Vice President/Director
- Patrick Armstrong – Director/Treasurer
- Amy D Armstrong – Secretary/Director
- Andrew M Armstrong – Officer/Director
Jim and Jo-Ann Armstrong founded the Kiita Foundation in Phoenix after taking their software company public over 30 years ago. Patrick Armstrong (their son) and his wife Amy serve on the leadership team and accompany students on service trips to Mexico.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JAMES D ARMSTRONG | PRES/TREAS | 5 | — |
| JO-ANN ARMSTRONG | VP/DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PATRICK ARMSTRONG | DIRECTOR/TRE | 5 | — |
| AMY D ARMSTRONG | SECRETARY/DI | 5 | — |
| ANDREW M ARMSTRONG | OFFICER/DIRE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
**Scholarship Program Expansion (2023-2025):**
In 2023, the Kiita Foundation expanded its scholarship program to include students from the Flathead Valley in Montana. In partnership with the Whitefish Community Foundation, the foundation now offers the $10,000 Kiita Foundation Scholarship annually to financially independent graduates of Flathead Valley high schools who demonstrate high academic achievement but cannot rely on family resources to pay for college expenses.
Giving Together: Kiita Foundation scholarships | Daily Inter Lake**Community Involvement:**
Jim and Jo-Ann Armstrong have been part-time residents of Whitefish, Montana since 1991 and have supported several local nonprofits. They were instrumental in building the Stumptown Ice Den in the community.
**International Service Learning:**
The foundation provides scholarships and international service learning opportunities, with trips to Mexico led by Patrick and Amy Armstrong.
Giving Together: Kiita Foundation scholarships | Daily Inter LakeSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Kiita Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary purpose is giving to organizations that provide assistance to indigent people. Primary funding areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Charitable organizations • Public recreation organizations
How do I apply for a grant from The Kiita Foundation?
**Grant Size Range:** $4,000–$448,940 **Median Grant Amount:** $36,596 **Average Grant Amount:** Varies by program category ($20,000–$43,000) **Recent Grant Activity (2024):** • Made 32 grants totaling $865,940 • Notable recent grants include: • Bloom365: $70,000 (Educational) • Whitefish Community Foundation: $56,000 (Charitable) • ASU Foundation: $35,000 (Educational) **Grant Programs:** • Educational grants (averaging $32,192 to recipients) • Charitable grants (averaging $43,000 to recipient…
Where does The Kiita Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in: • Arizona • Colorado • Montana The foundation has expanded its reach to include the Flathead Valley region in Montana as of 2023.
What size grants does The Kiita Foundation award?
In 2024, The Kiita Foundation awarded 19 grants totaling $866K — an average of about $46K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Kiita Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Kiita Foundation reported a distributable amount of $747K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Kiita Foundation's EIN?
The Kiita Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 86-0994439. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Kiita Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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