The Business of Good Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 34-1973248 · since 2002thebusinessofgoodfoundation.org·Ohio·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$1.3M

Annual giving, 2025 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$1,000 to $345k

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$5,000

Typical grant (median)

13 grants in the latest filing

Invitation only

Unsolicited applications are not accepted

This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.

Key takeaways

The Business of Good Foundation funds mentoring for first-generation college students and training for aspiring entrepreneurs, so organisations whose work falls outside education and entrepreneurship are unlikely to fit its stated themes.
It does not accept unsolicited grant proposals and directs its grantmaking to programme partners, so a cold application will not be considered, and any approach is better made through an existing link or introduction.
No geographic focus is stated, although the filing shows grants mainly in Ohio, and half of its grants to organisations across its recent filings were $10,000 or less, so a modest request is the realistic size to plan around.
About 8 in 10 of its grants fall between $1,000 and $345,000, a typical band rather than a ceiling.
Because 99% of its grant dollars to organisations in its most recent filing went to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, its giving appears largely repeat and relationship-led.

Overview

The Business of Good Foundation is a US private foundation based in Ashtabula, OH.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2025, TY2024, TY2023) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Foundation invests in organisations that advance equality of opportunity through education and entrepreneurship, seeking to increase opportunities for individuals to improve their economic condition. It makes grants to organisations providing mentoring for first-generation college students and educational assistance and training for entrepreneurs wishing to start or grow a business. Its education work includes online mentoring to help first-generation students adjust to college. In entrepreneurship, it supports education and training that equip aspiring entrepreneurs with business know-how and access to affordable capital, enabling sustainable income-earning opportunities. Its executive coaching and consulting activity supports nonprofit leaders and social entrepreneurs in Northeast Ohio who are committed to empowering economically disadvantaged people. Grantmaking is directed to programme partners.

Themes

Education
Entrepreneurship

Geographic Focus

No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Ohio.

How to apply

The Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals; grantmaking is directed to its programme partners.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2025 filing, 99% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 or TY2024 filing.
Grant size: Across its TY2023, TY2024 and TY2025 filings, half of its 35 grants to organisations were $10,000 or less.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2025.

Grant dollars by state

Ohio100%

Florida<1%

The largest single recipient received 34% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2025, 99% of grant dollars went to organisations The Business of Good Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
17% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

13 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $5,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 13 grants in tax year 2025 by size

$1k–$2.5k15%

$2.5k–$5k15%

$5k–$10k31%

$10k–$25k15%

$25k–$50k0%

$50k–$100k0%

$100k–$250k0%

$250k–$500k15%

$500k–$1M8%

Median $5,000 (tax year 2025)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

Sea Change Incorporated · General operations
$595,0002025 tax year
NEO Fund · General operations
$337,0002025 tax year
America Mentors · General operations
$330,0002025 tax year
GO Community Development Corporation · General operations
$17,0002025 tax year
Saint Matthew's House · General operations
$10,0002025 tax year
College Now Greater Cleveland · General operations
$7,2102025 tax year
First Tee of Cleveland · General operations
$5,0002025 tax year
West Side Catholic Center · General operations
$5,0002025 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Andrea Bushweiler — Treasurer
Stuart W Cordell — President
Timothy P Mccarthy — Director
Alice Mccarthy — Director
Brad Roller — Director

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2023 tax year	$1,632,879	$1,406,334	$13,064,075	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$1,844,146	$1,652,927	$12,779,626	Filing for 2024 tax year
2025 tax year	$1,639,547	$1,319,210	$12,041,143	Filing for 2025 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.