Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science
Encyclopedia
The Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science (RDFRS or RDF) is a non-profit organisation founded by British biologist Richard Dawkins
in 2006.
and Non-Believers Giving Aid.) The British Foundation is registered as Charity Number 1119952. In the US, the Foundation has 501(c)(3) status, EIN #98-0499347.
Among its planned activities, RDFRS will finance research into the psychology of belief and religion, finance scientific education programs and materials, and publicise and support secular
charitable organisations.
Dawkins
found the process of gaining tax-free status difficult. In a footnote in his 2009 book The Greatest Show on Earth
he complains that tax-free status is easily gained by religious organizations, but that non-religious ones "have to jump through hoops" to show they are worthy. Despite his success in gaining this status he describes the negotiations as "protracted" and "extremely expensive". He quotes a letter from the British Charity Commission
which said "It is not clear how the advancement of science tends towards the mental and moral improvement of the public. Please provide us with evidence of this or explain how it is linked to the advancement of humanism
and rationalism
." He contrasts this response to religious organisations, which he says are presumed to benefit humanity without evidence, even if they promote scientific falsehood as a number of them do.
form to enable the foundation to claim back the tax on their donation.
Theist author Marion Ledwig suggests that the foundation may have been set up as an atheist counterpart to the John Templeton Foundation
, an organization which Dawkins has publicly criticized, especially in The God Delusion
, for corrupting science. In a TED
talk prior to writing The God Delusion, Dawkins had called for the need for an "anti-Templeton" to step up, saying that if his books sold better, he would take the initiative himself.
, including condemning a visit by Dawkins to Oklahoma, he instructed the U.S. branch of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science to donate $5,000 to Oklahomans for Excellence in Science Education.
In December 2009, the RDFRS worked to gather US$100,000 in fundraising. As a response to the Haiti earthquake, the Foundation started Non-Believers Giving Aid and claims it raised $500K to donate to Doctors without Borders and the International Red Cross for relief aid.
Richard Dawkins
Clinton Richard Dawkins, FRS, FRSL , known as Richard Dawkins, is a British ethologist, evolutionary biologist and author...
in 2006.
The foundation
The trustees are Richard Dawkins and Claire Enders in the United Kingdom with J. Anderson Thomson in the United States. Executive Director is psychologist Dr. R. Elisabeth Cornwell, based in Washington, DC. (She also initiated the OUT CampaignOut Campaign
The Out Campaign is a public awareness initiative for freethought and atheism. It was initiated by Dr. R. Elisabeth Cornwell, Executive Director of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science, and is endorsed by Richard Dawkins, who is a prominent atheist...
and Non-Believers Giving Aid.) The British Foundation is registered as Charity Number 1119952. In the US, the Foundation has 501(c)(3) status, EIN #98-0499347.
Among its planned activities, RDFRS will finance research into the psychology of belief and religion, finance scientific education programs and materials, and publicise and support secular
Secularism
Secularism is the principle of separation between government institutions and the persons mandated to represent the State from religious institutions and religious dignitaries...
charitable organisations.
Online shop
On 2 April 2007, an online shop was launched on the Foundation website, with Growing Up in the Universe – a DVD of lectures from 1991 – the first release on sale. Since then, several video projects have been launched including science vignettes. Short clips on basic ideas in science, all of which are available on line for free to be used as a teaching resource.Dawkins
Richard Dawkins
Clinton Richard Dawkins, FRS, FRSL , known as Richard Dawkins, is a British ethologist, evolutionary biologist and author...
found the process of gaining tax-free status difficult. In a footnote in his 2009 book The Greatest Show on Earth
The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution
The Greatest Show on Earth: The Evidence for Evolution is a 2009 book by British biologist Richard Dawkins, which was released on 3 September 2009 in the UK and on 22 September 2009 in the U.S...
he complains that tax-free status is easily gained by religious organizations, but that non-religious ones "have to jump through hoops" to show they are worthy. Despite his success in gaining this status he describes the negotiations as "protracted" and "extremely expensive". He quotes a letter from the British Charity Commission
Charity Commission
The Charity Commission for England and Wales is the non-ministerial government department that regulates registered charities in England and Wales....
which said "It is not clear how the advancement of science tends towards the mental and moral improvement of the public. Please provide us with evidence of this or explain how it is linked to the advancement of humanism
Humanism
Humanism is an approach in study, philosophy, world view or practice that focuses on human values and concerns. In philosophy and social science, humanism is a perspective which affirms some notion of human nature, and is contrasted with anti-humanism....
and rationalism
Rationalism
In epistemology and in its modern sense, rationalism is "any view appealing to reason as a source of knowledge or justification" . In more technical terms, it is a method or a theory "in which the criterion of the truth is not sensory but intellectual and deductive"...
." He contrasts this response to religious organisations, which he says are presumed to benefit humanity without evidence, even if they promote scientific falsehood as a number of them do.
Taxes
As of 14 September 2007, it has been approved for non-profit status in the United States and United Kingdom. In the US, this means that a taxpayer who donates to RDFRS is entitled to apply to the IRS for a tax refund. UK donors can complete a gift aidGift Aid
Gift Aid is a UK tax incentive that enables tax-effective giving by individuals to charities in the United Kingdom. Gift Aid was originally introduced in Finance Act 1990 for donation from 1 October 1990, but was originally limited to cash gifts of £600 or more...
form to enable the foundation to claim back the tax on their donation.
Theist author Marion Ledwig suggests that the foundation may have been set up as an atheist counterpart to the John Templeton Foundation
John Templeton Foundation
"The John Templeton Foundation is a philanthropic organizationthat funds inter-disciplinary research about human purpose and ultimate reality. It is usually referred to simply as the Templeton Foundation...
, an organization which Dawkins has publicly criticized, especially in The God Delusion
The God Delusion
The God Delusion is a 2006 bestselling non-fiction book by British biologist Richard Dawkins, professorial fellow of New College, Oxford, and inaugural holder of the Charles Simonyi Chair for the Public Understanding of Science at the University of Oxford.In The God Delusion, Dawkins contends that...
, for corrupting science. In a TED
TED (conference)
TED is a global set of conferences owned by the private non-profit Sapling Foundation, formed to disseminate "ideas worth spreading"....
talk prior to writing The God Delusion, Dawkins had called for the need for an "anti-Templeton" to step up, saying that if his books sold better, he would take the initiative himself.
Activism
In March 2009, following proposed anti-evolution resolutions by Oklahoma State Representative Todd ThomsenTodd Thomsen
Todd M. Thomsen is a Republican politician in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, representing its 25th district .-Early life and career:...
, including condemning a visit by Dawkins to Oklahoma, he instructed the U.S. branch of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science to donate $5,000 to Oklahomans for Excellence in Science Education.
In December 2009, the RDFRS worked to gather US$100,000 in fundraising. As a response to the Haiti earthquake, the Foundation started Non-Believers Giving Aid and claims it raised $500K to donate to Doctors without Borders and the International Red Cross for relief aid.
Lawsuit
In October 2010 Richard Dawkins and the RDFRS filed a complaint against Josh Timonen who provided services to the charity, including video production and operation of its online store, claiming that he had embezzled funds from the charity.External links
- Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science – Official website