Civil Rights Leader's Nonprofit Compensation Draws Scrutiny After Church Protest

A civil rights activist who reportedly organized a recent protest at a religious institution in a northern region has come under scrutiny after tax documents revealed she received over $1 million in compensation while leading an anti-poverty nonprofit.

Nekima Levy Armstrong, who describes herself as a “scholar-activist” and civil rights attorney, allegedly helped coordinate the disruption of a church service in the state capital on Sunday. According to social media posts, protesters claimed one of the religious institution’s pastors holds a leadership position with federal immigration enforcement.

The demonstration was part of broader regional opposition to the federal government’s increased immigration enforcement activities, which officials say target widespread fraud in the area. Armstrong currently operates a cannabis company, according to sources.

Tax filings from the Wayfinder Foundation, where Armstrong served as executive director from 2019 through 2024, show a pattern that critics say raises questions about nonprofit compensation practices. In 2024, while the foundation awarded $158,811 in grants for anti-poverty initiatives, Armstrong reportedly received $215,726 in salary plus an additional $40,548 in benefits and compensation.

Similar patterns emerged in previous years, according to the documents. In 2023, the organization disbursed $133,698 in grants while Armstrong received $170,726 in salary and $44,300 in additional compensation. The 2022 filing shows $161,325 in grants compared to Armstrong’s $175,000 salary and estimated $33,126 in other compensation.

Over the six-year period, sources indicate Armstrong received approximately $936,395 in salary plus $201,313 in benefits, while the foundation awarded roughly $700,052 in total grants. During this timeframe, the organization reportedly collected $5.2 million in revenue.

Major donors to the foundation allegedly included prominent civil rights organizations and corporate philanthropic entities. Tax documents suggest one national civil rights group donated $20,000 for activities supporting minority communities, while a major retail family foundation contributed $2.34 million between 2018 and 2024.

Archived materials from the foundation’s now-defunct website described programs that “intentionally invest in Black women and Latina activists, organizers, and change agents who are using their social, political, and financial capital to challenge the status quo.”

The activist has previously been involved in various controversial campaigns, including organizing boycotts against major retailers over diversity policy changes. Social media posts from September reportedly showed Armstrong praising a figure convicted of killing a law enforcement officer in the 1970s, describing her as “a brave, wise, powerful, and revolutionary Black woman.”

Observers note this case reflects broader questions about nonprofit governance and compensation practices that have drawn increased scrutiny in recent years. Neither Armstrong nor the foundation responded to requests for comment, according to sources.