Arthur S. DeMoss Foundation

In 1999, the Arthur S. DeMoss Foundation had "been based in West Palm Beach, Fla., since 1996. The foundation, with assets of $450 million, distributes its largess generously to Religious Right and other evangelical Christian causes.

"One major recipient of DeMoss money is the American Center for Law and Justice, TV preacher Pat Robertson's legal group, which received $1.6 million in 1997. GOPAC, a political action committee formed by former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), received $70,000 in 1993. And the National Coalition for the Protection of Families and Children, an anti-pornography group based in Cincinnati, received $2 million in 1996 and nearly $400,000 in 1997. Several anti-abortion groups have also received DeMoss money.

"The foundation is chaired by Nancy DeMoss, who named it in memory of her deceased husband. Arthur DeMoss, an insurance executive and born-again Christian, made his fortune through the National Liberty Corporation of Valley Forge, Pa., which sold insurance policies through television ads hosted by Art Linkletter.

• DeMoss "was a pioneer in the mass marketing of life and health insurance." [1]

"Arthur DeMoss died in 1979, leaving a fortune of $359 million behind. $200 million was used to start the National Liberty Foundation, later renamed the Arthus S. DeMoss Foundation.

"The Palm Beach Post reported in January [1999] that the DeMoss Foundation is unusual in that so much of its money goes to right-wing political groups. At least one organization the group funds is very extreme: the Plymouth Rock Foundation, a Christian Reconstructionist-aligned group that seeks to impose 'biblical law' on America."

Source: "'Power for Living' Group Has Ties to 'Religious Right'," Americans United for Separation of Church and State, March 1999.

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The Arthur S. DeMoss Foundation was founded by "insurance magnate" Arthur DeMoss. The Foundation "ranks as the 48th largest philanthropic grantor in the United States according to a study done by The Foundation Center. Total giving on various projects [in 2003], including slick 'pro-life' ads on the national media, exceeded $31 million. Assets for the DeMoss Foundation exceed $400 million.

"Antiabortion maven Nancy DeMoss received the annual 'Proudly Pro Life Award' from the National Right-To-Life Committee.

"The DeMoss name is linked to other important religious and political groups including the Republican GOPAC machine, and the Christian Reconstructionist group Coalition on Revival. (Reconstructionists advocate the death penalty for a number of offenses including 'sodomy,' witchcraft, blasphemy and adultery.)

"Mark DeMoss, a director of the Foundation's board has worked for televangelist Jerry Falwell, and Deborah DeMoss (ADF) was a staffer for Sen. Jesse Helms; she was mentioned in the Iran-Contra hearings as 'the world's living, breathing expert' in covert arms dealings according to a report from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, a group which studies reproductive health issues.

"Arthur DeMoss was a key figure in the consolidation of the modern Religious Right as a political force dating back to the 1970s and the so-called 'Third Century' movement. In 1974, DeMoss, Bill Bright of Campus Crusade for Christ, Richard DeVos of Amway and Rep. John Conlan of Arizona founded 'Third Century Publishers,' a focus for educating Christian fundamentalists and evangelicals in political activism. Sociologists like Sarah Diamond have traced the origins of many religious right groups back to the 'Third Century' group. Then, as now, DeMoss was a key player."

Source: American Atheist Online Journal, 2004.

Personnel

• Ken Fuller, Executive Director

Contact Details

777 South Flagler Drive
Phillips Point, Suite 1600
West Palm Beach, Florida, 33401
Phone: 561-804-9000

SourceWatch Resources

• Dominionism

External Links

• Republican GOPAC: Arthur DeMoss Foundation gave GOPAC (through mid-1993) $70,000; Mrs. Arthur (Nancy) DeMoss is "an anti-abortion crusader and a member of the DeMoss Family, whose anti-abortion Arthur DeMoss Foundation has poured massive sums into efforts to restrict a woman's right to choose (New York Times, 10/14/93)."
• Detailed Contributor Breakdown: John Ashcroft, Open Secrets. The Arthur DeMoss Foundation was one of only two Nonprofit campaign contributors ($1,000 each) for Ashcroft's 1996 campaign.
• David Van Biema, "[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,991686,00.html Who Are Those Guys?

The secretive DeMoss Foundation is behind those Power for Living ads, and a lot more]", Time, August 9, 1999.