Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Armstrong Family Foundation

The Armstrong Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2003 and based in Vancouver, British Columbia. As part of the Major Rock (formerly Armstrong Group) family of companies, the Foundation serves as the primary vehicle for the Armstrong family's philanthropic activities in Western Canada. The Foundation takes a proactive approach, researching and reaching out to organizations making positive impacts rather than waiting for unsolicited applications.

The Foundation focuses its giving on four key areas: Education, Health, Community, and Environmental Conservation. While the Foundation is not currently accepting donation requests through its website, it maintains an internal selection process for identifying grantees. The Foundation prefers organizations demonstrating measurable impact and commitment to community betterment in British Columbia, Alberta, and Ontario.

The Foundation publicly discloses its grantee organizations across multiple categories, demonstrating transparency in its giving. The Foundation is managed by three generations of the Armstrong family, with leadership transitioning to siblings Tristan, Ashley, and Chelsea Armstrong in 2023. The Foundation operates as part of the Major Rock portfolio, which also includes Rocky Mountaineer, Invictus Properties, and Alder Bay Equity Partners.

Founded in 2003, the Armstrong Family Foundation made its first donation to Covenant House Vancouver. Since then, it has grown to contribute over $7 million to charitable causes. Key milestones include multi-year pledges to the Pacific Salmon Foundation (2006), a $1 million commitment to the Nature Trust of BC for land conservation in Desolation Sound (2018), funding for BC Children's Hospital (2012-2017), and support for Ocean Wise's AquaVan 150 project. The Foundation has also established four university scholarships at UBC, SFU, Thompson Rivers University, and Queen's University.

The Foundation supports a wide range of charitable organizations serving vulnerable populations, healthcare institutions, educational institutions, and environmental conservation groups. Notable recipients include Covenant House Vancouver, BC Cancer Foundation, Canuck Place Children's Hospice, Greater Vancouver Food Bank, and the Nature Trust of BC. The Foundation has awarded scholarships to over 100 students through its university programs.

The Foundation works closely with the Major Rock family of companies, particularly Rocky Mountaineer, on joint charitable initiatives such as matching fundraising campaigns for community organizations. The Foundation is connected to various sector organizations through its grantees and participates in collaborative giving efforts within the Vancouver business community.