You’ve probably seen the headlines or walked through the massive, high-ceilinged aisles of a Hobby Lobby. The smell of cinnamon brooms and the sight of endless rows of picture frames are a staple of American craft culture. But behind the glitter and the yarn is a massive financial engine led by David Green.
People often go searching for the David Green Heritage Foundation, usually because they’re trying to connect the dots between the Hobby Lobby fortune and the massive political influence of organizations like The Heritage Foundation.
But here is the thing.
Technically, a standalone entity titled the "David Green Heritage Foundation" doesn't exist in the way most people think.
If you're looking for a single bucket where David Green dumps all his money, you won't find it under that specific name. Instead, what you have is a complex, multi-layered web of giving that involves the Green family, Hobby Lobby’s corporate earnings, and several high-profile non-profits.
The Confusion Between David Green and The Heritage Foundation
It is super easy to see why people get confused. David Green is one of the most vocal conservative Christian billionaires in the country. The Heritage Foundation is one of the most powerful conservative think tanks in Washington, D.C. They share a lot of the same DNA when it comes to "traditional American values" and "limited government."
Actually, if you look at the staff directory for The Heritage Foundation, you will find a guy named David Green. He’s their Director of Finance and Controller. But that’s not the David Green of Hobby Lobby fame. Just a coincidence of names that sends Google searches into a tailspin.
The real story of the David Green Heritage Foundation—or the "Green family legacy" as they prefer to call it—is much more about the Bible than it is about a specific DC think tank.
Stewardship Over Ownership
Honestly, David Green’s whole vibe is that he doesn’t actually own Hobby Lobby. He’s said it a million times. He views himself as a "steward" for God.
In 2010, David and his wife Barbara signed The Giving Pledge. This is that famous commitment started by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett where the ultra-wealthy promise to give away at least half of their fortune. For Green, this wasn't just a tax move. It was a theological statement.
Hobby Lobby isn't a public company. It's a family-owned empire. Because they don't have shareholders to answer to, they can—and do—give away 50% of their pretax earnings to evangelical ministries. Think about that for a second. Half. Every year.
By 2012, that number had already topped $500 million. By now, in 2026, we are talking billions.
Where the Money Actually Goes
So, if there isn't a "David Green Heritage Foundation" on paper, where is the cash flowing?
It's basically split into three big pillars:
- The Museum of the Bible: This is the crown jewel. Located in Washington, D.C., just a few blocks from the National Mall, this $500 million project was largely funded by the Greens. It houses a massive collection of biblical artifacts, though it hasn't been without its share of drama (more on that in a minute).
- Every Tribe Every Nation: This is a massive tech-and-translation initiative. The goal is simple but insanely ambitious: get the Bible translated into every living language on the planet.
- Educational Support: The Greens have a history of stepping in when Christian universities are in trouble. They famously gave over $70 million to Oral Roberts University (ORU) back in 2008 to pull them out of a massive debt spiral.
The Artifact Scandals: A Nuanced Look
You can't talk about the David Green Heritage Foundation or the family's legacy without mentioning the "smuggling" headlines. It was a mess.
Between 2010 and 2017, Hobby Lobby acquired thousands of ancient artifacts from Iraq and Egypt. The problem? They weren't exactly following the strictest customs laws. Some items were falsely labeled as "tile samples."
Eventually, the Department of Justice stepped in. Hobby Lobby had to pay a $3 million fine and return thousands of items, including cuneiform tablets and papyrus fragments.
Some people see this as a deliberate attempt to bypass international law. Others see it as a wealthy family being "naïve" and over-eager to "save" biblical history. David Green himself has basically admitted they were "new to the world of collecting" and made big mistakes.
Then there was the Dead Sea Scrolls fiasco. The Museum of the Bible proudly displayed fragments that they thought were the real deal. In 2020, independent researchers proved they were modern forgeries.
It was a huge blow to their credibility. But, to be fair, they didn't hide it. They took the fragments down and leaned into the transparency.
Why This Legacy Still Matters in 2026
The reason the David Green Heritage Foundation remains a hot topic is because of the intersection of business and belief.
In a world where most CEOs are terrified of saying anything that might offend a customer base, Green does the opposite. He runs full-page ads in newspapers on the 4th of July and Christmas that are essentially gospel tracts. He closes all stores on Sundays, even though it costs him millions in potential revenue.
His son, Steve Green, who is the President of Hobby Lobby, has taken over much of the public-facing work for the Museum of the Bible. They’ve moved from being "collectors" to being "curators," hiring actual academics to oversee the collections and try to scrub the "amateur" label off their reputation.
Actionable Insights for the Curious
If you're trying to understand the impact of the Green family or looking into the David Green Heritage Foundation for your own research, here’s what you need to actually look at:
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- Read "Giving It All Away": This is David Green’s book (co-authored with Bill High). It’s the closest thing you’ll get to a "mission statement" for their family foundation. It explains the "100-year plan" they have for their wealth.
- Look at the 990s for "Museum of the Bible Inc.": Since this is a 501(c)(3), their financial filings are public. This is where the real "foundation" money is visible.
- Differentiate between Corporate and Private Giving: Remember that Hobby Lobby (the company) gives 50% of profits, but the Green family (the individuals) also gives through their own private channels.
The story of the David Green Heritage Foundation isn't about a single building or a single tax ID. It's about a massive, decentralized effort to use craft store profits to influence global Christianity. Whether you agree with their politics or their theology, the sheer scale of their "stewardship" is something you can't ignore.
To dig deeper into the actual financial mechanics, your best bet is to look up the "Signatry," a donor-advised fund that the Greens have heavily utilized to facilitate their massive charitable distributions without the need for a traditional, singular "David Green Heritage Foundation" nameplate. This allows for more privacy and flexibility in how they distribute billions across the globe.