Activist Who Led Minnesota Church Protest Received $1 Million From Anti-Poverty Nonprofit

Civil rights activist Nekima Levy Armstrong, who recently organized a controversial protest at a Minnesota church against ICE operations, received over $1 million in compensation while leading a Minneapolis anti-poverty nonprofit over a six-year period, financial records show.

Armstrong, a self-described civil rights lawyer and “scholar-activist,” helped coordinate the disruption of a service at Cities Church in St. Paul last Sunday. Protesters targeted the church based on Armstrong’s claim that one of its pastors works as a leader at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The demonstration is part of a wave of protests throughout the Twin Cities region against the federal government’s recent deployment of additional immigration enforcement officials to Minnesota. Federal authorities have increased their presence to address what they describe as widespread fraud occurring in the state.

Financial records indicate that Armstrong served as executive director of the Wayfinder Foundation from 2019 through 2024. During this period, tax filings show she earned $936,395 in salary, plus an additional $201,313 in health benefits and other compensation, bringing her total compensation to approximately $1.14 million over six years.

The foundation’s financial priorities have raised questions among observers. In 2024, while Armstrong received $215,726 in salary and $40,548 in additional benefits, the organization awarded just $158,811 in grants. Similar patterns appear in previous years’ filings, with Armstrong’s compensation consistently exceeding the foundation’s grant disbursements.

Over the six-year period of her leadership, the Wayfinder Foundation reported $5.24 million in revenue but distributed only about $700,052 in grants—approximately 13.3% of its revenue.

The nonprofit, which is no longer operational based on its defunct website, described itself as an organization that invested in “Black women and Latina activists, organizers, and change agents who are using their social, political, and financial capital to challenge the status quo and to disrupt business-as-usual within systems that perpetuate oppression.”

Major donors to the Wayfinder Foundation have included the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, which contributed $20,000 “to conduct activities to educate and support Black communities,” according to a 2023 tax filing. The Walton Family Foundation, which manages charitable giving for Walmart’s founding family, was a significantly larger contributor, donating $2.34 million between 2018 and 2024.

Armstrong has since transitioned to a new role as founder and CEO of Dope Roots, a cannabis company. However, her activism has continued to generate controversy beyond the recent church disruption. She has been a key organizer of boycotts against Target over the retailer’s decision to scale back its diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.

Her social media activity has also drawn scrutiny. Last September, Armstrong posted praise for Joanne Chesimard, also known as Assata Shakur, who was convicted of murdering State Trooper Werner Foerster in 1977. Armstrong described Shakur as “a brave, wise, powerful, and revolutionary Black woman.”

The disruption at Cities Church has intensified the ongoing debate about immigration enforcement in Minnesota. Protesters oppose what they characterize as heavy-handed tactics by ICE agents, while federal officials maintain that their increased presence is necessary to combat fraud and enforce immigration laws.

When contacted for comment on the financial records and recent activism, Armstrong did not immediately respond. Representatives from the Wayfinder Foundation, Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation, the Walton Family Foundation, and Walmart also did not provide responses to inquiries.