The Fred & Christine Armstrong Foundation is a Tucson‑centered funder that prioritizes practical services for vulnerable local populations—particularly low‑income children and families, the homeless, homebound seniors, and food‑insecure households—while also supporting regional health research and community arts/education. Grants are often renewal or multi‑year style awards to local service providers and community institutions, indicating a focus on sustaining core operations and direct service programs rather than national advocacy or capital campaigns.
Concentrated on the Tucson/Pima County region with many repeat grants to the same mid‑sized local nonprofits; predominantly modest to mid‑level awards focused on program support and sustaining service delivery rather than large one‑off capital gifts or national grants.
Notable grantees: Mobile Meals of Tucson Inc, Youth On Their Own (YOTO), Primavera Foundation Inc, University of Arizona Foundation — Arthritis Research Program, Tucson Symphony Society
A 30,000-dollar grant to the University of Maryland Foundation for treatment delivery and cognitive neuroscience research on addiction is the largest award in the recent record, but the Fred & Christine Armstrong Foundation’s pattern is much more local than that outlier suggests. Most of its giving stays in Arizona, with a strong Tucson and Pima County footprint, and the foundation repeatedly backs organizations that deliver direct help: food assistance, senior housing, homebound meals, homeless-services casework, and support for children and families. The grant list also shows steady support for community health and education, including arthritis research, teen recovery, dropout prevention, and pediatric and family services. Several recipients reappear across multiple years, which points to ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards. That continuity is visible in grants to groups such as Community Food Bank, St Luke’s in the Desert, Mobile Meals of Tucson, Youth on Their Own, Primavera Foundation, and Arizona’s Children Association. The foundation also includes arts and cultural education in its portfolio through local institutions like Tucson Symphony Society, alongside practical community support such as free home repair for disadvantaged households in Pima County.
Food security and meal delivery are a recurring theme. The foundation gave 22,000 dollars to Community Food Bank Inc for food assistance for the hungry in Pima County and 20,000 dollars to Mobile Meals of Tucson Inc to deliver special diet meals to homebound residents. Senior support appears alongside that work: St Luke’s in the Desert Inc received 22,000 dollars for senior housing for low income elderly. Youth services are another clear line of funding. Youth on Their Own received 18,000 dollars for dropout prevention for youth ages 8 to 22 who are homeless or near homeless, and Teen Challenge got 20,000 dollars for a teen recovery program. Family stability also shows up in grants to Our Family Services Inc New Beginnings Program for services for homeless families.
Typical awards are in the lower five figures: the p25 grant size is 6,800 dollars, the median is 9,800 dollars, and the p75 is 13,800 dollars. The recent list also shows repeated awards to the same organizations across 2023, 2024, and 2025, including Arizona’s Children Association and Youth on Their Own, which suggests multi-year support relationships. The foundation makes grants as a local funder and does not make program-related investments. Its portfolio in the recent record is entirely made up of grants to organizations rather than individuals.
Giving is overwhelmingly Arizona-based: 85% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state, and Arizona is also the top state by grant count. Tucson is the main recipient city, appearing across food, housing, youth, and arts grants. The recent record also includes a smaller number of grants outside the state, including Adelphi, Maryland, and Marshall, Texas. In the country distribution, every recorded recipient is in the United States.
The grant record centers on direct-service nonprofits and community institutions. Recent awards include support for food assistance, senior housing, homebound meal delivery, homeless-family services, dropout prevention, teen recovery, pediatric and family services, and local arts education.
Yes. Several organizations appear in multiple years, including Arizona’s Children Association in 2023, 2024, and 2025, Youth on Their Own in 2023, 2024, and 2025, and Community Food Bank and Mobile Meals of Tucson across more than one year.
The typical award is under $15,000. The grant-size distribution is p25 of 6,800 dollars, median of 9,800 dollars, and p75 of 13,800 dollars, although some larger awards appear in the recent record.
Most grants go to Arizona, which accounts for 85% of grants given to recipients in the HQ state. Tucson appears most often in the recent grant list, with organizations there receiving funding across food, housing, youth, health, and arts categories.
No. The foundation funds organizations rather than individuals, and it does not make program-related investments.
$452K
$4.4M
$724K
$530K
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most grants fall between $7K and $14K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$7K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$14K
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST LUKE'S IN THE DESERT INC | TUCSON, AZ | $25,000 | 2026 | SENIOR HOUSING FOR LOW INCOME ELDERLY |
| UNIVERSITY OF AZ FOUNDATIONARTHRITIS RESEARCH PROGRAM | TUCSON, AZ | $22,800 | 2026 | ARTHRITIS RESEARCH, TREATMENT |
| MOBILE MEALS OF TUCSON INC | TUCSON, AZ | $20,000 | 2026 | DELIVER SPECIAL DIET MEALS TO HOMEBOUND |
| COMMUNITY FOOD BANK INC | TUCSON, AZ | $20,000 | 2026 | FOOD ASSISTANCE FOR THE HUNGRY IN PIMA COUNTY |
| YOUTH ON THEIR OWN (YOTO) | TUCSON, AZ | $18,000 | 2026 | DROPOUT PREVENTION, YOUTH AGES 8-22, HOMELESS/NEAR HOMELESS |
| PRIMAVERA FOUNDATION INC | TUCSON, AZ | $15,000 | 2026 | PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR HOMELESS AND IMPOVERISHED |
| TUCSON SYMPHONY SOCIETY | TUCSON, AZ | $15,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE MUSIC APPRECIATION TO THE COMMUNITY |
| OUR FAMILY SERVICES INC NEW BEGINNINGS PROGRAM | TUCSON, AZ | $15,000 | 2026 | VARIOUS SERVICES FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES |
| COMMUNITY HOME REPAIR PROJECTS OF ARIZONA | TUCSON, AZ | $15,000 | 2026 | ASSIST DISADVANTAGED OF PIMA COUNTY BY PROVIDING FREE HOME REPAIR SERVICE |
| ARIZONA'S CHILDREN ASSOCIATION | TUCSON, AZ | $14,800 | 2026 | ASSIST NEEDY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES |
| AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS SOUTHERN ARIZONA CHAPTER | TUCSON, AZ | $13,800 | 2026 | LOCAL DISASTER SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES |
| CASA DE LOS NINOS INC | TUCSON, AZ | $12,000 | 2026 | CHILD ABUSE/NEGLECT PREVENTION-FAMILY STABILITY PROMOTION |
| TU NIDITIO CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES | TUCSON, AZ | $12,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR SERIOUSLY ILL AND GRIEVING CHILDREN |
| BEADS OF COURAGE | TUCSON, AZ | $10,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN COPING WITH SERIOUS ILLNESS |
| DIAPER BANK OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA | TUCSON, AZ | $10,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE DIAPERS FOR NEEDY CHILDREN AND ADULTS |
| GOSPEL RESCUE MISSION | TUCSON, AZ | $10,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE FOOD, SHELTER AND HELP PROGRAMS TO THE HOMELESS |
| MARSHALL SYMPHONY SOCIETY | MARSHALL, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE MUSIC APPRECIATION TO THE COMMUNITY |
| HUMANE SOCIETY OF SOTHERN ARIZONA | TUCSON, AZ | $10,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE ANIMALS AT CONVALESCENT HOMES, HOSPICES, ETC |
| COURTNEY'S COURAGE | TUCSON, AZ | $10,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FINANCIAL NEEDS FOR PEDIATRIC CANCER PATIENTS AND FAMILIES |
| CASA OF HARRISON COUNTY | MARSHALL, TX | $10,000 | 2026 | TO FIND A SAFE AND PERMANENT HOME FOR ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN |
| SQUARE & COMPASS CHILDREN'S CLINIC | TUCSON, AZ | $10,000 | 2026 | ASSIST LOW INCOME CHILDREN'S MEDICAL NEEDS |
| SPRINGBOARD HOME DBA TEEN CHALLENGE | TUCSON, AZ | $10,000 | 2026 | TEEN RECOVERY PROGRAM |
| CANDELIGHTERS CHILDHOOD CANCER FOUNDATION OF SOUTHERN AZ | TUCSON, AZ | $9,800 | 2026 | PROVIDE MULTIPLE NEEDS TO LOW INCOME FAMILIES, CHILDREN AFFECTED BY CANCER |
| EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT FOUNDATION | TUCSON, AZ | $9,800 | 2026 | DIRECT STUDENT SUPPORT FOR LOW INCOME PROGRAMMING |
| ARIZONA-SONORA DESERT MUSEUM | TUCSON, AZ | $9,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION OF SONORAN DESERT WILDLIFE, FLORA, AND SEALIFE |
| TUCSON CHILDREN'S MUSEUM INC | TUCSON, AZ | $9,000 | 2026 | EDUCATION AND ACTIVITIES FOR LOW INCOME CHILDREN |
| BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF TUCSON | TUCSON, AZ | $9,000 | 2026 | YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM |
| INTERFAITH COMMUNITY SERVICES | TUCSON, AZ | $8,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO SENIORS AND CONVALESCING ADULTS |
| MARSHALL REGIONAL ARTS COUNCIL | MARSHALL, TX | $8,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE ART APPRECIATION TO THE COMMUNITY |
| THERAPEUTIC RIDING OF TUCSON (TROT) | TUCSON, AZ | $7,500 | 2026 | PROVIDE EQUINE ACTIVITIES FOR DISABLED CHILDREN |
| CATALINA HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION | TUCSON, AZ | $7,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE NEEDED SCHOOL RESOURCES FOR LIBRARY AND BUSINESS SCHOOL |
| BALLET ARTS FOUNDATION | TUCSON, AZ | $7,000 | 2026 | EDUCATE, SUPPORT, AND ADVANCE THE ART OF DANCE |
| IZI AZI FOUNDATION FELICIA'S FARM | TUCSON, AZ | $7,000 | 2026 | PROVIDE PRODUCE AND EGGS TO CASA MARIA SOUP KITCHEN FOR LOW INCOME AND HOMELESS |
| ARIZONA OPERA COMPANY | PHOENIX, AZ | $6,800 | 2026 | PROVIDE MUSIC APPRECIATION TO THE COMMUNITY |
| LITERACY CONNECTS | TUCSON, AZ | $6,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR LITERACY IMPROVEMENT IN LOW-INCOME YOUTH |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF TUCSON | TUCSON, AZ | $6,000 | 2026 | CLUB HOUSE MUSIC PROGRAM |
| HARRISON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC | MARSHALL, TX | $5,800 | 2026 | PRESERVE HISTORIC HARRISON COUNTY TEXAS HISTORY |
| HANDI-DOGS INC | TUCSON, AZ | $5,800 | 2026 | TEACH DISABLED TO TRAIN ASSISTANCE DOGS |
| PROJECT STRING POWER INC | CARTHAGE, TX | $5,000 | 2026 | PROVIDING MUSIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS |
| IMAGO DEI MIDDLE SCHOOL | TUCSON, AZ | $5,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT FOR BOYS TO MEN AND GLOW, IDLE SCHOOL MENTORING PROGRAM |
| MARSHALL DEPOT INC | MARSHALL, TX | $4,800 | 2026 | PRESERVE HISTORIC TEXAS AND PACIFIC RAILWAY DEPOT MUSEUM |
| SONORAN ART FOUNDATION INC | TUCSON, AZ | $3,800 | 2026 | PROVIDE ART CLASSES AND SUMMER CAMPS TO DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN |
| ANGEL HEART PAJAMA PROJECT | TUCSON, AZ | $3,500 | 2026 | PROVIDE NEEDY CHILDREN WITH PAJAMAS AND BOOKS TO FOSTER LITERACY |
| UNIVERSITY OF AZ FOUNDATIONARTHRITIS RESEARCH PROGRAM | TUCSON, AZ | $22,800 | 2025 | ARTHRITIS RESEARCH, TREATMENT |
| ST LUKE'S IN THE DESERT INC | TUCSON, AZ | $22,000 | 2025 | SENIOR HOUSING FOR LOW INCOME ELDERLY |
| COMMUNITY FOOD BANK INC | TUCSON, AZ | $20,000 | 2025 | FOOD ASSISTANCE FOR THE HUNGRY IN PIMA COUNTY |
| MOBILE MEALS OF TUCSON INC | TUCSON, AZ | $20,000 | 2025 | DELIVER SPECIAL DIET MEALS TO HOMEBOUND |
| YOUTH ON THEIR OWN (YOTO) | TUCSON, AZ | $18,000 | 2025 | DROPOUT PREVENTION, YOUTH AGES 8-22, HOMELESS/NEAR HOMELESS |
| TUCSON SYMPHONY SOCIETY | TUCSON, AZ | $15,000 | 2025 | PROVIDE MUSIC APPRECIATION TO THE COMMUNITY |
| COMMUNITY HOME REPAIR PROJECTS OF ARIZONA | TUCSON, AZ | $15,000 | 2025 | ASSIST DISADVANTAGED OF PIMA COUNTY BY PROVIDING FREE HOME REPAIR SERVICE |
ST LUKE'S IN THE DESERT INC
$25,000SENIOR HOUSING FOR LOW INCOME ELDERLY
UNIVERSITY OF AZ FOUNDATIONARTHRITIS RESEARCH PROGRAM
$22,800ARTHRITIS RESEARCH, TREATMENT
MOBILE MEALS OF TUCSON INC
$20,000DELIVER SPECIAL DIET MEALS TO HOMEBOUND
COMMUNITY FOOD BANK INC
$20,000FOOD ASSISTANCE FOR THE HUNGRY IN PIMA COUNTY
YOUTH ON THEIR OWN (YOTO)
$18,000DROPOUT PREVENTION, YOUTH AGES 8-22, HOMELESS/NEAR HOMELESS
PRIMAVERA FOUNDATION INC
$15,000PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR HOMELESS AND IMPOVERISHED
TUCSON SYMPHONY SOCIETY
$15,000PROVIDE MUSIC APPRECIATION TO THE COMMUNITY
OUR FAMILY SERVICES INC NEW BEGINNINGS PROGRAM
$15,000VARIOUS SERVICES FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES
COMMUNITY HOME REPAIR PROJECTS OF ARIZONA
$15,000ASSIST DISADVANTAGED OF PIMA COUNTY BY PROVIDING FREE HOME REPAIR SERVICE
ARIZONA'S CHILDREN ASSOCIATION
$14,800ASSIST NEEDY CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
AMERICAN NATIONAL RED CROSS SOUTHERN ARIZONA CHAPTER
$13,800LOCAL DISASTER SERVICES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
CASA DE LOS NINOS INC
$12,000CHILD ABUSE/NEGLECT PREVENTION-FAMILY STABILITY PROMOTION
TU NIDITIO CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES
$12,000SUPPORT FOR SERIOUSLY ILL AND GRIEVING CHILDREN
BEADS OF COURAGE
$10,000PROVIDE PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN COPING WITH SERIOUS ILLNESS
DIAPER BANK OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA
$10,000PROVIDE DIAPERS FOR NEEDY CHILDREN AND ADULTS
GOSPEL RESCUE MISSION
$10,000PROVIDE FOOD, SHELTER AND HELP PROGRAMS TO THE HOMELESS
MARSHALL SYMPHONY SOCIETY
$10,000PROVIDE MUSIC APPRECIATION TO THE COMMUNITY
HUMANE SOCIETY OF SOTHERN ARIZONA
$10,000PROVIDE ANIMALS AT CONVALESCENT HOMES, HOSPICES, ETC
COURTNEY'S COURAGE
$10,000SUPPORT FINANCIAL NEEDS FOR PEDIATRIC CANCER PATIENTS AND FAMILIES
CASA OF HARRISON COUNTY
$10,000TO FIND A SAFE AND PERMANENT HOME FOR ABUSED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN
SQUARE & COMPASS CHILDREN'S CLINIC
$10,000ASSIST LOW INCOME CHILDREN'S MEDICAL NEEDS
SPRINGBOARD HOME DBA TEEN CHALLENGE
$10,000TEEN RECOVERY PROGRAM
CANDELIGHTERS CHILDHOOD CANCER FOUNDATION OF SOUTHERN AZ
$9,800PROVIDE MULTIPLE NEEDS TO LOW INCOME FAMILIES, CHILDREN AFFECTED BY CANCER
EDUCATIONAL ENRICHMENT FOUNDATION
$9,800DIRECT STUDENT SUPPORT FOR LOW INCOME PROGRAMMING
ARIZONA-SONORA DESERT MUSEUM
$9,000EDUCATION OF SONORAN DESERT WILDLIFE, FLORA, AND SEALIFE
TUCSON CHILDREN'S MUSEUM INC
$9,000EDUCATION AND ACTIVITIES FOR LOW INCOME CHILDREN
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF TUCSON
$9,000YOUTH MENTORING PROGRAM
INTERFAITH COMMUNITY SERVICES
$8,000PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION TO SENIORS AND CONVALESCING ADULTS
MARSHALL REGIONAL ARTS COUNCIL
$8,000PROVIDE ART APPRECIATION TO THE COMMUNITY
THERAPEUTIC RIDING OF TUCSON (TROT)
$7,500PROVIDE EQUINE ACTIVITIES FOR DISABLED CHILDREN
CATALINA HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION
$7,000PROVIDE NEEDED SCHOOL RESOURCES FOR LIBRARY AND BUSINESS SCHOOL
BALLET ARTS FOUNDATION
$7,000EDUCATE, SUPPORT, AND ADVANCE THE ART OF DANCE
IZI AZI FOUNDATION FELICIA'S FARM
$7,000PROVIDE PRODUCE AND EGGS TO CASA MARIA SOUP KITCHEN FOR LOW INCOME AND HOMELESS
ARIZONA OPERA COMPANY
$6,800PROVIDE MUSIC APPRECIATION TO THE COMMUNITY
LITERACY CONNECTS
$6,000SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR LITERACY IMPROVEMENT IN LOW-INCOME YOUTH
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF TUCSON
$6,000CLUB HOUSE MUSIC PROGRAM
HARRISON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC
$5,800PRESERVE HISTORIC HARRISON COUNTY TEXAS HISTORY
HANDI-DOGS INC
$5,800TEACH DISABLED TO TRAIN ASSISTANCE DOGS
PROJECT STRING POWER INC
$5,000PROVIDING MUSIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUTH AND ADULTS
IMAGO DEI MIDDLE SCHOOL
$5,000SUPPORT FOR BOYS TO MEN AND GLOW, IDLE SCHOOL MENTORING PROGRAM
MARSHALL DEPOT INC
$4,800PRESERVE HISTORIC TEXAS AND PACIFIC RAILWAY DEPOT MUSEUM
SONORAN ART FOUNDATION INC
$3,800PROVIDE ART CLASSES AND SUMMER CAMPS TO DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN
ANGEL HEART PAJAMA PROJECT
$3,500PROVIDE NEEDY CHILDREN WITH PAJAMAS AND BOOKS TO FOSTER LITERACY
UNIVERSITY OF AZ FOUNDATIONARTHRITIS RESEARCH PROGRAM
$22,800ARTHRITIS RESEARCH, TREATMENT
ST LUKE'S IN THE DESERT INC
$22,000SENIOR HOUSING FOR LOW INCOME ELDERLY
COMMUNITY FOOD BANK INC
$20,000FOOD ASSISTANCE FOR THE HUNGRY IN PIMA COUNTY
MOBILE MEALS OF TUCSON INC
$20,000DELIVER SPECIAL DIET MEALS TO HOMEBOUND
YOUTH ON THEIR OWN (YOTO)
$18,000DROPOUT PREVENTION, YOUTH AGES 8-22, HOMELESS/NEAR HOMELESS
TUCSON SYMPHONY SOCIETY
$15,000PROVIDE MUSIC APPRECIATION TO THE COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY HOME REPAIR PROJECTS OF ARIZONA
$15,000ASSIST DISADVANTAGED OF PIMA COUNTY BY PROVIDING FREE HOME REPAIR SERVICE