Big Joy Foundation
Big Joy Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilmington, Delaware. The foundation says the Schultz family of Colorado created it in 2021, and describes its aim as spreading joy through faith, hope, and love by supporting vulnerable people, including people in extreme poverty and at-risk children and youth.
Key facts about Big Joy Foundation
In short: Big Joy Foundation gave $622K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $41K), mostly in Colorado. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 87-2389539
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $622,451
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- Average grant
- $41,497
- Median grant
- $39,000
- Total assets
- $7,399,638
- Primary geography
- Colorado (52% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- How to apply
- Submit an application through the process described on the foundation’s website. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- Applications are reviewed quarterly, with listed due dates of February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1.
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$7.4M
+52.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$622K
+64.8% YoY
Grant Count
15
+66.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$41K
-1.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Big Joy Foundation reported a distributable amount of $297K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
How Big Joy Foundation gives
- 17% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 486% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 222% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
Big Joy says it seeks to support work that spreads joy through faith, hope, and love. Its priorities include projects that directly serve children or youth; stand-alone projects rather than ongoing operations; and tangible, durable projects useful for years to come. It says it particularly considers carefully conceived proposals with clear outcomes, including projects that may not happen without its support. Recent grants have often been for specific projects requiring special funding.
The foundation describes its human-services interests as including work with people experiencing extreme poverty, disabilities, or at-risk situations, as well as orphans and people without clean water or adequate medical care. Its spiritual-enrichment interests include helping people develop an authentic relationship with God through ministries, published or digital works, and special projects. It also supports arts and media that promote faith, hope, and love.
Grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Denver Film Society says it works to help diverse audiences discover film and to cultivate film as an art form. ServeNow describes its mission as serving vulnerable people through national churches and leaders. Ndoto says it works with at-risk youth and adults in Kenya through education, discipleship, and development. International Deaf Education Association says it seeks to foster self-reliance by providing opportunities for deaf children, adults, and families.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Big Joy reported 15 grants totaling $622,451. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $100,000, with a median of $39,000.
Review Cycle
Applications are reviewed quarterly, with listed due dates of February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1. The February, May, and August 2026 dates have passed; the next listed date is November 1, 2026.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it supports U.S.-based organizations working on domestic and international efforts. In 2025, grant dollars by recipient state were reported as Colorado 52%, Texas 26%, Indiana 9%, Montana 7%, and Arizona 2%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $100K (2021) to $622K (2025). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $622K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Servenow ($143K across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $600K.
Grant Size Distribution
33 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 20 grants of 33 (61%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Film Society Denver, CO | General & Unrestricted | $100,000 |
| Servenow Colorado Springs, CO | General & Unrestricted | $90,725 |
| Servlife International Inc Indianapolis, IN | General & Unrestricted | $56,450 |
| Ndoto Dallas, TX | classroom building fund at Ndoto Academy in Kisumu, Kenya | $50,000 |
| Ndoto Dallas, TX | General & Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| River's Promise Frederick, CO | General & Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| International Deaf Education Association Billings, MT | General & Unrestricted | $42,000 |
| Big D Vision Orphans Grand Prairie, TX | General & Unrestricted | $39,000 |
| Servenow Colorado Springs, CO | The High 5 Youth Development Training Center | $32,276 |
| Mosaic International Ministries Colorado Springs, CO | General & Unrestricted | $29,500 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7,399,638 | $3,338,013 | $784,602 | $622,451 | 15 |
| 2024 | $4,848,035 | $4,252,317 | $396,051 | $377,706 | 9 |
| 2023 | $1,945,161 | -$72,138 | $328,107 | $326,320 | 6 |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7,399,638 | $4,848,035 | $1,945,161 |
| Revenue | $3,338,013 | $4,252,317 | $-72,138 |
| Expenses | $784,602 | $396,051 | $328,107 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $660,187 | $377,706 | $326,320 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,731,657 | $929,309 | — |
| Distributable Amount | $296,915 | — | $133,834 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 18, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Thomas J Schultz as president and Joan Schultz, Matthew Schultz, and Shawna Schultz as directors.
Big Joy Foundation is led by Thomas J Schultz, President on the 2025 filing; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Thomas J Schultz
President
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joan Schultz
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Schultz
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shawna Schultz
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Thom Schultz (2021–2024) — President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Application contact: Big Joy Foundation
Mailing address: 839 Rossum Drive, Loveland, CO 80537
Phone: (800) 839-1754
Email: info@bigjoyfoundation.org
Website: HTTPS://WWW.BIGJOYFOUNDATION.ORG/
Frequently asked questions about Big Joy Foundation
How much does Big Joy Foundation give each year?
Big Joy Foundation gave $622K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $378K across 9 grants.
What is Big Joy Foundation's typical grant size?
Big Joy Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $39,000, and its average grant was $41,497, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Big Joy Foundation give grants?
Big Joy Foundation gives mostly in Colorado: 52% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Texas (26%) and Indiana (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Colorado Springs, CO (4 grants) and Dallas, TX (2 grants).
Does Big Joy Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 80% of Big Joy Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Big Joy Foundation's largest grantees?
Big Joy Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Servenow ($142,501 across 3 grants), Denver Film Society ($100,000) and Ndoto ($100,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Big Joy Foundation?
Big Joy Foundation reported $7.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $660K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $297K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Big Joy Foundation fund?
Big Joy says it seeks to support work that spreads joy through faith, hope, and love. Its priorities include projects that directly serve children or youth; stand-alone projects rather than ongoing operations; and tangible, durable projects useful for years to come. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Big Joy Foundation?
Submit an application through the process described on the foundation’s website. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Big Joy Foundation's EIN?
Big Joy Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-2389539. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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