Mike has been President of The Arrington Foundation since 1979. The foundation has supported many of Mike’s charitable interests, such as The Pedersen and McCormick Chicago Boys and Girls Club,Prentice Women’s Hospital and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, as well as the City of Evanston and the University of Illinois.

In 2015 the foundation partnered with the City of Evanston to completely renovate the Evanston Lakefront Lagoon, a project that  totaled $1,387,000. The renovation was done to honor Mike’s father, W. Russell Arrington, for his 28 years representing Evanston and the Northshore in the Illinois legislature as both, State Representative and State Senator. He was also the Senate Majority Leader, and President Pro Tem of the Senate. The renamed Arrington Lakefront Lagoon was dedicated 6 June 2015.

Most recently Mike personally funded the Evanston Township High School (ETHS) Michael B. Arrington Wellness and Performance Center, which celebrated its grand opening on 25 October 2019. Mike contributed $330,000 and led a fundraising campaign that resulted in a total donation of a half a million dollars for Evanston Township High School (ETHS).

Mike and the foundation published a book about his dad’s life, including his business and political career, in June 2006. The name of the book, written by Taylor Pensoneau, is POWERHOUSE, Arrington from Illinois.

Following the book, on 28 February 2011, the foundation sponsored the W Russell Arrington Professorship in State Politics at the University of Illinois. Professor Christopher Z. Mooney (Chris Mooney) was installed as the named professor. The current Arrington professor is Brian Gaines.