Joy Unspeakable Foundation

Joy Unspeakable Foundation is one of the most newly established major philanthropies in the United States, capitalized in 2023 and receiving its IRS ruling in May 2024. Funded through the Brett A Hildebrand Revocable Trust — Brett Hildebrand being a Charleston, SC-based investor previously associated with Sherman Capital Markets — the foundation is administered by Trustee Jane Hildebrand and managed through the Shumaker law firm, a prominent trust-and-estates practice.

With approximately $463.9 million in assets as of December 2024, Joy Unspeakable Foundation is a financially substantial institution still defining its philanthropic identity. Its first two documented grants — $2,000,000 to International Justice Mission and $100,000 to Coastal Community Foundation (both December 2024) — reveal a philosophy rooted in faith-driven human dignity, anti-trafficking advocacy, and local South Carolina community investment.

Organizations approaching this foundation must understand it operates entirely outside the public grants ecosystem. There is no published mission statement, no application portal, no grant guidelines, and no RFP calendar. This is a classic family-office philanthropic structure in its earliest operational phase, where relationship and alignment matter far more than formal proposals.

The most effective path to engagement is through: - Charleston and South Carolina civic networks, where the Hildebrands appear to be embedded philanthropic participants (they are listed as Palmetto Project donors). - Faith-based philanthropy networks, particularly those connected to evangelical Christian organizations with a global justice mandate, given the $2M International Justice Mission investment. - The Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina, which acts as a community philanthropy hub and whose grant may signal openness to intermediary-introduced relationships.

First-time applicants should not cold-submit proposals. Instead, focus on establishing credibility in the Hildebrands' known philanthropic circles, monitoring 990 filings for emerging program areas, and cultivating introductions through Shumaker or CCF channels. Patience is critical — the foundation is less than two years old and still building its grantmaking infrastructure.

Joy Unspeakable Foundation's financial trajectory reveals a foundation in rapid asset accumulation followed by a mandated grantmaking ramp-up. In FY2023 (the foundation's first filing year), it received $300,010,000 in contributions from the Brett A Hildebrand Revocable Trust, with net investment income of $430,625. Total assets at year-end FY2023 stood at $300,440,625. Crucially, grants paid in FY2023 were $0 — the entire year was a capitalization phase.

By December 2024, assets had grown to approximately $463.9 million — an increase of roughly $163 million — indicating either additional trust contributions, strong investment performance on a large portfolio, or both. The foundation's income_amount in the database shows $176,348,754, consistent with a substantial investment portfolio generating significant returns.

The two documented grants (December 2024) total $2,100,000: - International Justice Mission: $2,000,000 (95.2% of total giving) - Coastal Community Foundation: $100,000 (4.8% of total giving)

As a private foundation, Joy Unspeakable must distribute a minimum of 5% of its average net assets annually to satisfy IRS requirements. On ~$464M in assets, this translates to approximately $23.2 million in required annual distributions. The $2.1M distributed in 2024 represents roughly 0.45% of assets — creating a significant distribution deficit that legally compels major grantmaking acceleration through 2025 and 2026.

Grant size range (with only two data points): $100,000–$2,000,000. The 20:1 size ratio suggests the foundation is comfortable with both significant programmatic investments and smaller community grants. Until FY2024 Form 990 filings become publicly available, the full grantmaking picture remains opaque. Applicants should anticipate grant sizes in the $100,000–$2,500,000 range based on the asset base and early patterns, with the potential for larger multi-year commitments as the foundation matures.

The following table compares Joy Unspeakable Foundation to five peer foundations of similar asset scale, all categorized under Philanthropy & Grantmaking (NTEE T):

Joy Unspeakable Foundation sits squarely in the asset range of well-established regional and national foundations, yet is dramatically less mature in its grantmaking operations. Peers like Peter Kiewit and the Musk Foundation have decades of grantmaking history and transparent application processes; Joy Unspeakable has fewer than 18 months of grant activity and no published guidelines. This gap represents both a challenge (no clear entry point) and an opportunity: the foundation's distribution obligations mean it will need to identify dozens of new grantee relationships quickly. Organizations that position themselves early — before the foundation formalizes its program strategy — have an advantage that will diminish as the grantmaking infrastructure matures.

Joy Unspeakable Foundation is among the newest major foundations in the United States. Its IRS tax-exempt ruling was issued in May 2024, making it under two years old as of this writing. The foundation was capitalized through the Brett A Hildebrand Revocable Trust, with $300 million transferred in 2023 alone.

The only confirmed grantmaking activity consists of two grants issued in December 2024: - $2,000,000 to International Justice Mission — the world's largest anti-human trafficking organization, headquartered in Tysons, VA, with a global reach across 30+ countries. This is a clear signal of large-scale, values-driven giving aligned with evangelical Christian philanthropic priorities. - $100,000 to Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina — a Charleston-based community foundation that serves as a philanthropic hub for the region. This local investment suggests the Hildebrands' intention to be embedded in the South Carolina charitable ecosystem.

Jane Hildebrand was identified as Trustee as of May 2025. Brett A. Hildebrand (donor/founder, age 64, Charleston, SC) is listed as having been previously associated with Sherman Capital Markets and is a recognized donor to the Palmetto Project, a South Carolina advocacy nonprofit. No public leadership changes, new program announcements, or media coverage of the foundation have been identified as of March 2026. The foundation maintains no independently verified web presence. FY2024 Form 990 filings, expected to become publicly available in late 2025 or early 2026, will provide the next major window into expanded grantmaking activity.

Joy Unspeakable Foundation has no public application process — the IRS filing lists application instructions as none, and no application form, portal, or guidelines have been published anywhere online. This is not an oversight; it reflects the foundation's early-stage, family-controlled structure. The following tips are specific to this funder's actual context:

Do not submit an unsolicited proposal. There is no mechanism to receive one, and doing so may create a negative first impression with a foundation that has not yet established formal intake procedures.

Align with demonstrated funding values. The only two grants awarded reveal a clear values signature: global justice through a faith lens (International Justice Mission), and local South Carolina community philanthropy infrastructure (Coastal Community Foundation). Organizations doing anti-human trafficking, poverty alleviation, justice reform, or faith-aligned social services work are most likely to fit. Organizations doing secular-only advocacy, arts, or higher education are less likely to match based on current evidence.

Cultivate relationships through intermediaries. The Coastal Community Foundation of SC ($100K grantee) is the single most accessible entry point. Organizations that partner with or are referred by CCF will have natural credibility. Similarly, existing International Justice Mission chapter partners or peer anti-trafficking networks may provide introductions.

Monitor 990 filings. The FY2024 Form 990 will likely list additional grantees, program descriptions, and possibly officer contact details. Set calendar reminders to check ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer or CauseIQ for the Joy Unspeakable Foundation (EIN 93-4603637) 990 posting, expected Q3–Q4 2025.

Timing. Given the IRS 5% payout requirement and a ~$23M annual distribution obligation, expect new grantmaking to accelerate meaningfully in calendar year 2025. The foundation may reach out to potential grantees proactively rather than waiting for inbound applications.

Contact address. Mail correspondence to: Joy Unspeakable Foundation, c/o Shumaker, PO Box 20725, Charleston, SC 29413-0725. Keep inquiries brief, relational, and values-aligned. Do not reference grant amounts in initial outreach.