Big Joy Foundation concentrates its giving on faith-affiliated international development projects that build basic infrastructure for children and communities in low‑income countries. Grants are largely capital- and project‑focused — school buildings, school buses, and water/sanitation work — with repeated support to a few mission-driven NGOs working in East Africa and South Asia. The foundation favors Christian relief and education organizations and funds tangible, place‑based interventions.
Big Joy Foundation’s recent giving is anchored by stand-alone capital projects for children, especially school construction and school transport tied to faith-based organizations. One of its largest grants went to Serve Now - Teach Housing Lagutu Sc for a new school classroom building in Kassanda, Uganda, showing the foundation’s preference for durable infrastructure rather than program-only support. Another sizable award went to Servlife International for two new school buses for children in Northeast India, a different but similarly concrete form of access support. The foundation also backed World Vision’s Northern Zambia WASH work, which fits the same pattern of place-based, tangible interventions in low-income settings. Across the grant list, the throughline is practical project funding for children and communities served through Christian or mission-linked organizations. The recipients include groups working in Uganda, India, Zambia, Nepal, and Liberia, often on education and basic services. Several awards appear to be made through US-based nonprofits carrying out international work, and the foundation also funds some domestic faith and human-services organizations. The result is a portfolio that mixes international development with religiously affiliated service delivery, while staying focused on projects with visible physical outcomes.
Education is a central theme. Big Joy Foundation gave $144,200 to Serve Now - Teach Housing Lagutu Sc for a new school classroom building in Kassanda, Uganda, and also awarded $86,250 to Servenow for the Chitwan Lighthouse Project in Nepal and Uganda school building. Student access is another clear thread. In 2025, the foundation granted $139,498 to Servlife International for two new school buses for children in Northeast India, following a 2024 award of $33,120 for the same purpose. Water and sanitation also appear in the portfolio. World Vision received $100,000 for Northern Zambia WASH, indicating support for basic infrastructure beyond school facilities. The foundation also made smaller grants to faith-linked service organizations such as Lutheran Hour Ministries for international ministries in the Middle East/North Africa.
Typical grant size sits at $19,625 at the 25th percentile, $27,560 at the median, and $89,688 at the 75th percentile, with a wide spread that includes both smaller ministry support and larger project grants. The grant list shows repeat support to some recipients across multiple years, including Serve Now - Teach Housing Lagutu Sc, Servlife International, and Lutheran Hour Ministries, suggesting an ongoing relationship with selected organizations. Big Joy Foundation operates as a private foundation; it funds both US-based nonprofits and international projects carried out through US-based grantees. It also accepts unsolicited applications through its general grant program and project grants process.
$810K
$4.8M
$4.3M
$396K
Most grants fall between $20K and $90K, with a median of $28K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$28K
75th Percentile
$90K
About 50% of grants go to recipients in CO.
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Concentrated funding with few, relatively large grants; favors repeat grantees and one-off capital/project grants (restricted to specific builds/equipment) rather than broad general operating support. Geographic focus is international (Africa and South Asia) and grantees are primarily faith-based NGOs.
Notable grantees: SERVE NOW / SERVENOW, SERVLIFE INTERNATIONAL, WORLD VISION (Northern Zambia WASH), WORLD RELIEF
Grant recipients are overwhelmingly US-based, with the recipient country distribution showing all grants in the US. The top state by grant count is Colorado, and many recipients are in Colorado Springs, Denver, and Fort Collins. Other repeated recipient cities include Indianapolis, St. Louis, Dallas, Mesa, and San Diego. Although the foundation’s giving is national in scope, the recent grant list shows a strong concentration of grantee organizations in Colorado alongside US nonprofits carrying out work in Uganda, India, Zambia, Nepal, and Liberia.
Its recent grants favor tangible, durable projects for children and communities: a new school classroom building in Kassanda, Uganda; two school buses for children in Northeast India; and Northern Zambia WASH work. The portfolio also includes faith-linked ministries and community support organizations.
Yes. The grant program covers United States and international projects supported by US-based nonprofits. Recent awards include US recipients in Colorado, Indiana, Washington, and Texas, alongside project work in Uganda, India, Zambia, Nepal, and Liberia.
The typical grant size is $19,625 at the 25th percentile, $27,560 at the median, and $89,688 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards range from smaller five-figure grants to six-figure project awards.
Yes. The grant list shows repeat awards to Serve Now - Teach Housing Lagutu Sc, Servlife International, and Lutheran Hour Ministries across multiple years, indicating ongoing support rather than one-time-only relationships.
Yes. The foundation’s general grant program and project grants both accept unsolicited applications, with project grants submitted through the Big Joy Foundation Grants Portal.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SERVLIFE INTERNATIONAL | INDIANPOLIS, IN | $139,498 | 2025 | TWO NEW SCHOOL BUSES FOR CHILDREN IN NORTHEAST INDIA |
| WORLD RELIEF | WASHINGTON, DC | $65,558 | 2025 | DONATION |
| SERVE NOW - TEACH HOUSING LAGUTU SC | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $50,000 | 2025 | NEW SCHOOL CLASSROOM BUILDING IN KASSANDA, UGANDA |
| IDEA | WESLACO, TX | $48,500 | 2025 | DONATION |
| CENTRAL INDIANA YOUTH FOR CHRIST | INDIANAPOLIS, IN | $20,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| NDOTO FOR AFRICA'S FUTURE | DALLAS, TX | $19,308 | 2025 | DONATION |
| DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES | SAN DIEGO, CA | $14,782 | 2025 | DONATION |
| STEP INTERNATIONAL INC | BELLVILLE, TX | $10,060 | 2025 | DONATION |
| LUTHERAN HOUR MINISTRIES | ST LOUIS, MO | $10,000 | 2025 | DONATION |
| SERVE NOW - TEACH HOUSING LAGUTU SC | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $144,200 | 2024 | NEW SCHOOL CLASSROOM BUILDING IN KASSANDA, UGANDA |
| WORLD VISION - NORTHERN ZAMBIA WASH | DENVER, CO | $100,000 | 2024 | NORTHER ZAMBIA WASH |
| SERVLIFE INTERNATIONAL | INDIANPOLIS, IN | $33,120 | 2024 | TWO NEW SCHOOL BUSES FOR CHILDREN IN NORTHEAST INDIA |
| THE SHEPHERD FUND | DAYTON, OH | $22,000 | 2024 | DONATION |
| KIDZ AT HEART INTERNATIONAL | MESA, AZ | $18,500 | 2024 | DONATION |
| WEST AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT & SUPPORT ORG - PB HOUSE LIBERIA | FORT COLLINS, CO | $8,500 | 2024 | PB HOUSE LIBERIA |
| SERVENOW | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $86,250 | 2023 | CHITWAN LIGHTHOUSE PROJECT IN NEPALUGANDA SCHOOL BUILDING |
| LUTHERAN HOUR MINISTRIES | ST LOUIS, MO | $20,000 | 2023 | INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES - MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA |
SERVLIFE INTERNATIONAL
$139,498TWO NEW SCHOOL BUSES FOR CHILDREN IN NORTHEAST INDIA
WORLD RELIEF
$65,558DONATION
SERVE NOW - TEACH HOUSING LAGUTU SC
$50,000NEW SCHOOL CLASSROOM BUILDING IN KASSANDA, UGANDA
IDEA
$48,500DONATION
CENTRAL INDIANA YOUTH FOR CHRIST
$20,000DONATION
NDOTO FOR AFRICA'S FUTURE
$19,308DONATION
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
$14,782DONATION
STEP INTERNATIONAL INC
$10,060DONATION
LUTHERAN HOUR MINISTRIES
$10,000DONATION
SERVE NOW - TEACH HOUSING LAGUTU SC
$144,200NEW SCHOOL CLASSROOM BUILDING IN KASSANDA, UGANDA
WORLD VISION - NORTHERN ZAMBIA WASH
$100,000NORTHER ZAMBIA WASH
SERVLIFE INTERNATIONAL
$33,120TWO NEW SCHOOL BUSES FOR CHILDREN IN NORTHEAST INDIA
THE SHEPHERD FUND
$22,000DONATION
KIDZ AT HEART INTERNATIONAL
$18,500DONATION
WEST AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT & SUPPORT ORG - PB HOUSE LIBERIA
$8,500PB HOUSE LIBERIA
SERVENOW
$86,250CHITWAN LIGHTHOUSE PROJECT IN NEPALUGANDA SCHOOL BUILDING
LUTHERAN HOUR MINISTRIES
$20,000INTERNATIONAL MINISTRIES - MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA