About Armstrong Foundation
The Armstrong Foundation concentrates its limited but sizable giving on institutional, education-focused organizations—primarily higher education, private K–12 schools, and cultural/leadership institutions. Grants are large, unrestricted general-fund gifts to established organizations, often with a civic or elite-education orientation. While based in Denver, their support is national (e.g., SMU, School of American Ballet) and includes repeat support for the George W. Bush Presidential Center. This suggests a preference for flagship institutions that combine education, civic leadership, and cultural prestige.
Focus Areas
Large unrestricted gifts to universities (e.g., Southern Methodist University)Support for presidential/civic leadership centers and public policy museumsFunding elite private K–12 schools (e.g., Westminster School)Support for elite performing arts education (e.g., School of American Ballet)
Giving Approach
Concentrated giving: few, large general‑support grants to established institutions; repeat funding to select grantees rather than many small awards.
Funding Style
unrestricted/general operating supportcore support for organizational sustainability
About Armstrong Foundation
The Armstrong Foundation’s recent giving is anchored by a single large university gift: $291,517 to Southern Methodist University in 2023, followed by another $34,547 award in 2024. That pattern points to steady support for established institutions rather than one-off project grants. Across its recent grants, the foundation directs general-fund support to higher education, elite K–12 schools, ballet organizations, and civic institutions. The School of American Ballet received $92,150 in 2024 and $25,800 in 2023, while Westminster School was awarded $50,750 in 2024. Its civic and cultural portfolio also includes repeat support for the George W. Bush Presidential Center, which received $100,000 in 2024 and $50,000 in 2023. The grants are typically flexible general-fund awards, and the recipient list includes organizations in Dallas, New York, Atlanta, Denver, and beyond. The overall picture is of a foundation that favors established institutions with recognizable public, educational, or cultural roles and uses unrestricted funding to back them.
What Armstrong Foundation Funds
Education is a major part of the foundation’s grantmaking. Southern Methodist University received $291,517 in 2023 and $34,547 in 2024 as general-fund support, while Westminster School was awarded $50,750 in 2024. The pattern extends to other independent schools, including St Martin’s Episcopal School in Atlanta, which received $40,500 in 2023 and $11,900 in 2024, and St Michaels Episcopal School in Richmond, which received $5,250 in 2024. The foundation also funds arts and cultural institutions. The School of American Ballet received $92,150 in 2024, and New York City Ballet received $15,000 in both 2023 and 2024. In Colorado, Colorado Ballet received $20,000 in each of those years, and Central City Opera received $5,000 in 2023 and $2,500 in 2024. Civic and community-oriented organizations appear as well, including $100,000 to the George W. Bush Presidential Center in 2024 and $2,500 to Project Unity in Dallas in 2024.
How Armstrong Foundation Gives
Typical grant size sits at $2,738 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $24,350 at the 75th percentile, which shows a mix of smaller awards and a narrower set of much larger institutional gifts. The recent record also shows repeat giving to the same recipients across multiple years, including SMU, the George W. Bush Presidential Center, the School of American Ballet, Colorado Ballet, New York City Ballet, One Chance to Grow Up, Central City Opera, and Project Unity. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. The grants shown are general-fund awards, indicating flexible support rather than tightly restricted project-only funding.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$6.4M
Total Assets
$28M
Total Revenue
$14.8M
Total Expenses
$6.4M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $3K and $24K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$24K
Geographic Reach
National10 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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