Evangchr4 Trust
Background
Evangchr4 Trust is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization formed in 2011 that describes its mission as to “develop, disseminate and apply biblical principles to economics, politics and society as a whole in order to make the United States a Country where spiritual and economic prosperity flourishes,” according to its IRS Form 990 filings.
Evangchr4 Trust was described in a 2014 Washington Post profile of key players in the Koch network as “a pastor outreach effort that gave nearly $1.2 million to CitizenLink, an advocacy arm of the conservative Christian group Focus on the Family. CitizenLink spent more than $2.5 million on ads on behalf of GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney and other Republicans in 2012.”1Matea Gold. “The players in the Koch-backed $400 million political donor network,” The Washington Post, January 5, 2014. Archived September 9, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/UaRQa
In its 2012 IRS Form 990 filing, Evangchr4 listed itself as the direct controlling entity of the Institute for Faith, Work, and Economics. All known key people at Evangchr4 — Paul Brooks, Arthur Lindsley, and Hugh Welchel — have either current or former affiliations with the Institute for Faith, Work, and Economics, as seen for example in 2013, 2020, and 2021 IRS Form 990 filings available at ProPublica. Themis Trust was also listed by Evangchr4 as a related organization.
Evanchr4 Trust has made significant donations to the Family Research Council, an anti-choice,2“Abortion,” Family Research Council. Archived September 13, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/Uvs2M anti-LGBTQ+ organization.3“Homosexuality,” Family Research Council. Archived September 13, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/XkI0v
Stance on Climate Change
EvangChr4 Trust has not released any statements on climate change.
Funding
The following information is based on a combination of data from the Conservative Transparency project and IRS Form 990 filings researched by DeSmog.4“Evangchr4 Trust,” Conservative Transparency. Search performed September 9, 2019.
View the attached spreadsheet for additional details on Evangchr4 Trust funding by year (.xlsx).
According to its IRS Form 990 filings (see 2014/2015 for example), for those years that Evangchr4 Trust recorded program expenses, nearly all expenses were in the form of grants to other organizations. This suggests that Evangchr4’s primary activity was funneling money from donors to like-minded organizations.
The group’s 2017 IRS Form 990 filing states, “Due to a lack of funding the organization was not able to conduct any program activities in 2017.”
Evangchr4 Trust as Donor
| Recipient | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2016 | Grand Total |
| CitizenLink | $1,185,000 | $3,600,000 | $1,325,000 | $2,455,000 | $8,565,000 | |
| Susan B. Anthony List | $700,000 | $1,785,000 | $600,000 | $3,085,000 | ||
| Vision America Action | $200,000 | $520,000 | $425,000 | $1,145,000 | ||
| Family Research Council Action | $375,000 | $400,000 | $775,000 | |||
| Family Policy Alliance | $600,000 | $600,000 | ||||
| The Institute for Faith Work & Economics | $7,000 | $7,000 | ||||
| Grand Total | $1,192,000 | $3,800,000 | $2,920,000 | $5,065,000 | $1,200,000 | $14,177,000 |
Evangchr4 Trust as Recipient
| Donor | 2012 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2013 | Grand Total |
| Freedom Partners | $5,055,000 | $5,745,000 | $2,050,000 | $1,250,000 | $505,000 | $14,605,000 |
| TC4 Trust | $725,000 | $725,000 | ||||
| Grand Total | $5,780,000 | $5,745,000 | $2,050,000 | $1,250,000 | $505,000 | $15,330,000 |
IRS Form 990 Filings
Key People
Evangchr4’s IRS Form 990 filings with the IRS have listed the following individuals under “officers, directors, trustees, key employees, and highest compensated employees”:
| Name | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | Description |
| Arthur Lindsley | Y | VP of Theological Initiatives | ||||||
| Hugh Whelchel | Y | Y | Executive Director | |||||
| Paul Brooks | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Trustee |
Arthur Lindsley
Arthur (Art) Lindsley was listed on Evangch4’s 2012 IRS Form 990 filing as the group’s vice president of theological initiatives. This is also his title at the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, “where he oversees the development of a theology that integrates faith, work, and economics.”5“Art Lindsley, Ph.D.,” Institute for Faith, Work & Economics. Archived September 13, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/CcSJe
Lindsley is an emeritus member of the C.S. Lewis Institute board of directors. He joined the institute as president in 1987, and remains a senior fellow there, according to the organization’s website.6“Board of Directors,” C.S. Lewis Institute. Archived October 30, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Psgtj
Arthur Lindsley was formerly the director of educational ministries at the Ligonier Valley Study Center, and a staff specialist at the Coalition for Christian Outreach in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.7“Art Lindsley, Ph.D.” Institute for Faith, Work & Economics. Archived September 13, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/CcSJe
Hugh Whelchel
Hugh Whelchel was listed as Evangch4 Trust’s executive director on its 2011 and 2012 IRS Form 990 filings. Welchel is a co-founder and the executive director of the Institute for Faith, Work & Economics, and is on the boards of several Christian non-profits. Whelchel was formerly an executive director and board member of The Fellows Initiative, “an umbrella organization supporting and establishing church-based Fellows Programs which are designed to help young adults understand God’s vocational calling on their lives as they enter their careers.” Hugh Welchel worked in the IT industry before becoming an executive director and guest professor at the Washington, D.C. campus of the Reformed Theological Seminary.8“Hugh Whelchel,” Institute for Faith, Work & Economics. Archived September 13, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/7JVcc
Paul Brooks
Paul Brooks, Evangch4 Trust’s trustee, is the chairman and co-founder of the Institute for Faith, Work, and Economics, and co-founded the group in 2011 with Hugh Whelchel. Brooks was formerly an executive at Koch Industries, according to his guest speaker profile at the Oklahoma Wesleyan University:9“CLLF: GUEST SPEAKERS 2016,” Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Archived September 13, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/qt5Fp
“Paul spent 18 years working with Koch Industries before he left to be involved in teaching and discipleship ministry and urban church planting. During his career at Koch Industries, Paul held a variety of positions but spent most of his time as the senior vice president for Capital Services and Management Consulting, where he helped develop the management philosophy, Market-Based Management®,” that profile notes.10“CLLF: GUEST SPEAKERS 2016,” Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Archived September 13, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/qt5Fp
Before joining Koch Industries in 1980, Paul Brooks worked as an engineer and technical supervisor for Exxon in Louisiana. Before that, he specialized in missile defense as a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army.11“CLLF: GUEST SPEAKERS 2016,” Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Archived September 13, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/qt5Fp
DeSmog has confirmed that Paul Brooks has been the chairman of the Institute for Faith, Work, and Economics at least as far back as 2017, according to the group’s 2017 IRS Form 990 filing.
Related Organizations
- The Institute for Faith, Work & Economics
- Themis Trust
- Orra, LLC — Disregarded entity reported on Evangchr4’s IRS Form 990 filings. Has served as a funding conduit to Evangchr4 from Koch network groups like Freedom Partners and TC4 Trust.
Contact & Address
According to its 2017 IRS Form 990 filing:
#100
8400 Westpark Drive
McLean, VA 22102
Ph: 703-962-7877
Social Media
- Evangchr4 Trust does not appear to be active on social media.
Other Resources
- “Talk:Evangchr4 Trust,” SourceWatch
- OpenSecrets profile
- “How Fossil Fuel Money Made Climate Change Denial the Word of God,” Job One for Humanity. August 10, 2017.
Resources
- 1Matea Gold. “The players in the Koch-backed $400 million political donor network,” The Washington Post, January 5, 2014. Archived September 9, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/UaRQa
- 2“Abortion,” Family Research Council. Archived September 13, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/Uvs2M
- 3“Homosexuality,” Family Research Council. Archived September 13, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/XkI0v
- 4“Evangchr4 Trust,” Conservative Transparency. Search performed September 9, 2019.
- 5“Art Lindsley, Ph.D.,” Institute for Faith, Work & Economics. Archived September 13, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/CcSJe
- 6“Board of Directors,” C.S. Lewis Institute. Archived October 30, 2023. Archive URL: https://archive.ph/Psgtj
- 7“Art Lindsley, Ph.D.” Institute for Faith, Work & Economics. Archived September 13, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/CcSJe
- 8“Hugh Whelchel,” Institute for Faith, Work & Economics. Archived September 13, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/7JVcc
- 9“CLLF: GUEST SPEAKERS 2016,” Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Archived September 13, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/qt5Fp
- 10“CLLF: GUEST SPEAKERS 2016,” Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Archived September 13, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/qt5Fp
- 11“CLLF: GUEST SPEAKERS 2016,” Oklahoma Wesleyan University. Archived September 13, 2019. Archive.fo URL: https://archive.fo/qt5Fp
