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
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Good Heart Work Smart Foundation reported a distributable amount of $68K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Beat the Streets Chicago ($55,000), Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory ($50,000), OPRF Community Foundation ($31,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Women's Global Education Project Oak Park, IL | Exempt Purpose of Organization | $2,000 |
| Ascension School Oak Park, IL | Exempt Purpose of Organization | $3,300 |
| Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory Oak Park, IL | Exempt Purpose of Organization | $50,000 |
| OPRF Community Foundation Oak Park, IL | Exempt Purpose of Organization | $31,000 |
| Oak Park Education Foundation Oak Park, IL | Exempt Purpose of Organization | $2,000 |
| Parks Foundation of Oak Park Oak Park, IL | Exempt Purpose of Organization | $3,000 |
| OPRF Infant Welfare Society Oak Park, IL | Exempt Purpose of Organization | $10,000 |
| Collaboration for Early Childhood Care Oak Park, IL | Exempt Purpose of Organization | $11,000 |
| One Earth Film Fest Oak Park, IL | Exempt Purpose of Organization | $2,000 |
| Misericordia Chicago, IL | Exempt Purpose of Organization | $4,000 |
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
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Good Heart Work Smart Foundation fund?
The foundation supports Catholic agencies and churches, education, and human services. Primary funding interests include Education, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, and Human Services.
How do I apply for a grant from Good Heart Work Smart Foundation?
The foundation is an active grantmaker with significant annual giving activity. Recent grants include: • One Mind: $100,000 (2024) • Beat the Streets Chicago: $55,000 (2024) • Friends of the Oak Park Conservatory: $50,000 (2024) The foundation made 109 grants in 2024. Typical grant awards range from $100 to $1,002,000, with a median grant amount in the mid-range. Total giving in 2024 was $1,763,844. **Application Process:** Unsolicited requests for funds are not accepted. The foundation does no…
Where does Good Heart Work Smart Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Illinois, Ohio, and New York, with a particular emphasis on Illinois-based nonprofits.
What size grants does Good Heart Work Smart Foundation award?
In 2024, Good Heart Work Smart Foundation awarded 97 grants totaling $1.8M — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Good Heart Work Smart Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Good Heart Work Smart Foundation reported a distributable amount of $68K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Good Heart Work Smart Foundation's EIN?
Good Heart Work Smart Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-5836042. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Good Heart Work Smart Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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