A figure at the center of recent protests, Nekima Levy Armstrong, has a complex history revealed through years of financial records. Armstrong, known for her activism and identified as a civil rights lawyer, recently helped organize a demonstration that disrupted services at a church in St. Paul, Minnesota, alleging a connection between a pastor and federal immigration enforcement.
This action follows a pattern of outspoken advocacy, including leading boycotts against major retailers over diversity initiatives. However, a deeper look into Armstrong’s leadership of the Wayfinder Foundation, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit focused on anti-poverty work, paints a striking picture of financial priorities.
Over six years, from 2019 to 2024, Armstrong earned nearly $936,395 as the foundation’s executive director, supplemented by over $201,313 in benefits and additional compensation. During that same period, the foundation distributed approximately $700,052 in grants to community initiatives.
The disparity between revenue and direct aid is particularly noticeable. The Wayfinder Foundation reported over $5.2 million in revenue during Armstrong’s tenure. In 2024 alone, Armstrong received a salary of $215,726, plus $40,548 in benefits, while the foundation awarded just $158,811 in grants.
Tax filings reveal a consistent trend. Each year, Armstrong’s compensation remained substantial, while grant amounts fluctuated but remained significantly lower. The foundation’s website, now offline, once highlighted its focus on investing in Black and Latina activists, aiming to “disrupt business-as-usual” and challenge systemic oppression.
Armstrong herself, in archived website content, appealed to donors by framing the foundation’s work as an investment in mothers, believing they are the key to systemic change. The foundation received significant funding from prominent organizations, including $20,000 from the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation and $2,340,000 from the Walton Family Foundation.
Armstrong’s past activism includes expressing admiration for Joanne Chesimard, also known as Assata Shakur, a convicted murderer. This, coupled with the financial details of her leadership, raises questions about the allocation of resources and the priorities of the Wayfinder Foundation under her direction.
Requests for comment from Armstrong, the Wayfinder Foundation, and the major donor organizations went unanswered, leaving a trail of unanswered questions surrounding the organization’s financial practices and its leader’s outspoken advocacy.
