Arthur S Demoss Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $7.5 million (2023)
• Success Rate: N/A (no public application process)
• Decision Time: N/A (invitation-only)
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $6,200,000
• Geographic Focus: United States and developing nations

Contact Details

• Phone: 561-804-9000
• Address: 700 S Dixie Hwy Suite 105, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
• Website: None available
• Email: Not publicly available
• Application Contact: Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications

Overview

The Arthur S. DeMoss Foundation, established in 1959 with a substantial bequest from insurance magnate Arthur S. DeMoss, is a private operating foundation with approximately $40 million in assets. Based in West Palm Beach, Florida, the foundation primarily runs its own evangelistic programs while making limited grants totaling $7.5 million annually to select Christian organizations. The foundation's mission centers exclusively on promulgating the Christian Gospel worldwide through direct programming and strategic partnerships. Controlled by the DeMoss family for over six decades, the foundation is known for major evangelistic campaigns like "Power for Living" and extensive Christian literature distribution in developing nations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation makes limited external grants while primarily operating its own programs:

• External Organization Grants: $5,000 - $6,200,000 (invitation-only to select Christian ministries)
• Literature for Little Ones: Direct program distributing free Christian materials to at-risk youth
• Power for Living: Major evangelistic media campaign with multi-million dollar advertising budget
• Executive Ministries: Program targeting business and professional executives
• International Ministries: $9.1 million to overseas projects in Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe

Priority Areas

• Christian evangelism and discipleship
• Missionary support and training
• Bible and Christian literature distribution
• Youth and children's Christian education
• Evangelistic media campaigns
• Support for pastors and evangelists in developing nations

What They Don't Fund

• Secular organizations
• Non-evangelistic religious activities
• Social services without evangelistic component
• Arts and culture
• Environmental causes
• Political campaigns (though historically supported conservative causes)
• General education
• Healthcare without evangelistic mission

Governance and Leadership

Board Leadership:

• Nancy S. DeMoss - Chairman of the Board and Treasurer (widow of founder)
• Robert DeMoss - President
• Charlotte DeMoss - Secretary and Assistant Treasurer
• Elisabeth DeMoss - Assistant Secretary
• Three additional DeMoss family members serve as directors

The foundation remains tightly controlled by the DeMoss family, maintaining the conservative evangelical vision of founder Arthur S. DeMoss, who died in 1979 leaving an estate valued at over $350 million.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Arthur S. DeMoss Foundation explicitly does not accept unsolicited applications for funding. All grants are made through pre-existing relationships or at the discretion of the board. Organizations cannot apply directly for funding.

The foundation operates by:

• Identifying partner organizations that align with their evangelistic mission
• Initiating contact with select ministries
• Making grants based on board discretion and existing relationships
• Running their own direct programs rather than accepting proposals

Getting on Their Radar

Based on available information about the DeMoss Foundation's operations:

• The foundation works exclusively with organizations already known to the DeMoss family through their extensive evangelical network
• Past recipients have included major evangelical organizations like Billy Graham Evangelical Association and Campus Crusade for Christ
• The foundation appears to identify potential partners through the family's involvement in conservative Christian circles and evangelical leadership networks

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Success Rates

Not available - the foundation does not accept applications, making success rate calculations impossible.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - unsolicited applications are not accepted.

Application Success Factors

Since the DeMoss Foundation does not accept applications, traditional success factors do not apply. However, analysis of their grant history reveals patterns:

Organizations They Have Funded:

• Major evangelical ministries with established track records (Billy Graham Evangelical Association received $2.2 million)
• Organizations focused on direct evangelism rather than social services
• Ministries working in developing nations, particularly in Asia and Africa
• Groups aligned with conservative evangelical theology
• Organizations with connections to the DeMoss family's evangelical network

Common Characteristics of Funded Projects:

• Direct evangelistic outreach as primary purpose
• International scope, especially in "Third World" countries
• Youth and children's ministry components
• Bible and Christian literature distribution
• Missionary support and training

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process - This foundation cannot be approached through traditional grant applications
• Invitation-only funding - Grants are made exclusively to pre-selected organizations
• Narrow religious focus - Only Christian evangelistic organizations are considered
• Family-controlled decisions - The DeMoss family maintains complete control over funding decisions
• Significant resources - With $40 million in assets and $7.5 million in annual grants, this is a substantial funder for those within their network
• Direct programming priority - Most foundation resources support their own programs rather than external grants
• Relationship-based giving - Access requires pre-existing connections within conservative evangelical circles

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Arthur S DeMoss Foundation Profile (Accessed March 2024)
• IRS Form 990-PF filings for Arthur S DeMoss Foundation (2021-2023)
• GuideStar/Candid Organization Profile - EIN 23-6404136 (Accessed March 2024)
• Charity Navigator - Arthur S DeMoss Foundation Overview (Accessed March 2024)
• GrantExec Platform - Foundation Profile and Application Status
• Cause IQ - Arthur S DeMoss Foundation Financial Data (Accessed March 2024)
• Foundation Directory Online - Historical Grant Data
• TIME Magazine - "Nancy DeMoss: Charity with an Agenda" (Historical context)
• SourceWatch - Arthur S. DeMoss Foundation Historical Grants