Good Heart Work Smart Foundation
Good Heart Work Smart Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2006 and located in Oak Park, Illinois. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to grantmaking and philanthropy.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.8M
+36.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.8M
+147.2% YoY
Grant Count
97
+6.6% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
+131.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports Catholic agencies and churches, education, and human services. Primary funding interests include Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services.
Grantmaking
The foundation is an active grantmaker with significant annual giving activity. Recent grants include:
How to Apply
** Unsolicited requests for funds are not accepted. The foundation does not maintain an open application process.
Ready to take the next step with Good Heart Work Smart Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Illinois, Ohio, and New York, with a particular emphasis on Illinois-based nonprofits.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $2,781,267
- Total Revenues: $3,525,078
- Total Expenses: $1,784,666
- Total Liabilities: $7,780
Investment Income: $41,632 (2024)
The foundation is supported by Serenity Investments LLC.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,781,267 | $2,033,361 | $2,718,708 |
| Revenue | $3,525,078 | $-120,557 | $509,824 |
| Expenses | $1,784,666 | $743,531 | $2,028,513 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,784,155 | $738,587 | $2,019,554 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,046,441 | $23,491 | $18,228 |
| Distributable Amount | $68,121 | $119,891 | $184,400 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation's board includes:
- Susan Mika
- Melvin P. Phillips, Jr.
- Mary Jo Schler
- Stephen G. Schuler
- Stacy Wettstein
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MARY JO J HALL-SCHULER | PRESIDENT/SECRETARY | 10 | — |
| STEPHEN G SCHULER | VICE PRESIDENT/TREASURER | 5 | — |
| ANDREA G SCHULER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| RYAN W SCHULER | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 1011 Lake Street, Suite 202, Oak Park, IL 60301-1137
Phone: 708-652-6421
Website: www.goodheartworksmart.com
EIN: 20-5836042
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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