What Big Grove For Good Foundation does

Big Grove for Good Foundation is a private nonprofit foundation operating as the community impact initiative of Big Grove Brewery, a craft brewery co-founded by Doug Goettsch in 2013 in Solon, Iowa. The foundation was formalized in 2017 alongside the hiring of Mikala Demet as Community & Project Manager (now Executive Director), with Doug Goettsch serving as President. It provides grant programs, microgrants, partnerships, and in-kind support to community and equity projects concentrated in the Midwest, specifically Johnson County, Linn County, and Polk County in Iowa and the Omaha Metro in Nebraska.

The foundation's core offering is the Neighborhood Beer Micro-Grant Program, which distributes grants of $250 to $1,000 to individuals and neighborhood groups for accessibility enhancements, environmental stewardship, community connection events, and neighbor-nominated projects. Micro-grants are funded by sales of Neighborhood Beer lager and three additional cause-marketed SKUs (Rainbow Connection fruited sour, Good Grove fruited lager, and Wade Wisely oatmeal stout), creating a cause-marketing flywheel that converts Big Grove Brewery's taproom and retail distribution into charitable capital. A parallel annual grant program funds larger grants to local nonprofits such as Table to Table, TRAIL of Johnson County, Youth Emergency Services, Annie's Foundation, Catherine McAuley Center, City Sprouts Omaha, Holding Tiny Hands, and Matthew 25 across three giving pillars: trees/trails/water, equity and equality, and "Our Backyard" hyperlocal support.

Revenue mechanics are structurally tied to Big Grove Brewery's beer sales rather than direct foundation fundraising; the foundation itself does not disclose revenue or grantmaking totals. Distribution occurs through Big Grove's taprooms and retail locations in eastern Iowa, with grant applications self-submitted via online JotForm portals. The foundation is governed by a board that includes brewery executive Doug Goettsch (President), Mikala Demet (Executive Director), Debbie Ackerman, Damian J. Thompson, Mundi McCarty, and Whitney Wessling, with no independent external investors indicated.

Name

Big Grove For Good Foundation

Legal name

Big Grove for Good Foundation

Website

https://biggroveforgood.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Big Grove for Good Foundation is the nonprofit community impact initiative of Big Grove Brewery, funding Iowa and Nebraska nonprofits and neighborhood groups through annual grants and a cause-marketed beer program that channels Neighborhood Beer sales into $250–$1,000 micro-grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nonprofit Grantmaking and Charitable Foundation Services

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219), Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

Keywords

• Community grantmaking
• Nonprofit foundation
• Cause marketing
• Micro-grant programs
• Brewery philanthropy

Headquarters

HQ city

Iowa City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Beer Sales (Cause Marketing): Revenue is generated through Big Grove Brewery's beer sales, with a portion of proceeds directed to the foundation's grant programs. Specifically, every case of Neighborhood Beer sold funds the micro-grant program. This cause-marketing model converts product sales into charitable donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Big Grove for Good Foundation is a nonprofit community impact initiative of Big Grove Brewery that distributes charitable funding to Midwest communities. It runs an annual nonprofit grant program in Johnson County, Linn County, and Polk County (Iowa) and the Omaha Metro (Nebraska), alongside a Neighborhood Beer Micro-Grant Program that awards $250–$1,000 grants to neighborhood groups for accessibility, environmental stewardship, and community connection projects. The micro-grants are funded by proceeds from sales of Neighborhood Beer and other cause beers (Rainbow Connection, Good Grove, Wade Wisely) produced by Big Grove Brewery.

Product overview

Big Grove for Good Foundation operates as a community impact initiative of Big Grove Brewery, offering a portfolio of cause beers (Neighborhood Beer lager, Rainbow Connection fruited sour, Good Grove fruited lager, and Wade Wisely oatmeal stout) that fund the core Neighborhood Beer Micro-Grant Program. The micro-grant program provides $250-$1,000 grants to support neighborhood projects in accessibility enhancements, environmental stewardship, community connection events, and neighbor-nominated initiatives across the Midwest, particularly in Iowa and Nebraska counties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Neighborhood Beer: A beer initiative where proceeds from each case sold fund the Neighborhood Beer Micro-Grant Program, with grants ranging from $250 to $1,000 for community projects.
• Neighborhood Beer Micro-Grant Program

Products and services

• Neighborhood Beer Micro-Grant Program Grant program that awards $250–$1,000 to individuals and neighborhood groups in the Midwest for accessibility enhancements, environmental stewardship initiatives, community connection events, and neighbor-nominated projects; funded by every case of Neighborhood Beer sold.
• Annual Nonprofit Grant Program Annual grantmaking program partnering with local nonprofits across four Midwest geographies (Johnson County IA, Linn County IA, Polk County IA, Omaha Metro NE) to fund environmental sustainability, social equity, and community development initiatives. Applications are submitted via county/metro-specific JotForm portals.
• Sponsorship Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 22,000 free books distributed through partner Annie's Foundation
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Table to TablecoreOthers2026 grant recipient. Table to Table bridges the gap between abundance and hunger by collecting and redistributing surplus food to people who can use it. The organization aims to increase food equality and reduce environmental harm.
• TRAIL of Johnson CountycoreOthers2026 grant recipient. Powered by volunteers to help older adults live and age with support, safety, and connection in the places they call home by providing tools and resources for active independent living.
• Youth Emergency Services (YES)coreOthers2026 grant recipient. The only organization in Omaha with the sole mission of helping homeless and at-risk youth. Provides critically needed resources and support to youth experiencing homelessness or near-homelessness.
• Annie's FoundationcoreOthers2026 grant recipient. Began as a small group of moms responding to book removals in their kids' schools. Mission to ensure unhindered access to books with characters and subjects that reflect diversity. Has distributed over 22,000 free books across Iowa.
• Catherine McAuley CentercoreOthers2026 grant recipient. A Place of Welcome in Cedar Rapids, Iowa where adult learners are welcomed to class, refugees and immigrants are welcomed to the community, and women experiencing homelessness and trauma are welcomed home. More than 500 individuals participate annually.
• City Sprouts OmahacoreOthers2026 grant recipient. An urban farm, community garden, and education center that teaches, practices, and grows sustainability. Through hands-on learning and farm-based programs, equips people with skills to grow food and steward the land.
• Holding Tiny HandscoreOthers2026 grant recipient. Supports NICU families by providing compassionate care, essential resources, and meaningful connections to community support. Works through partnerships with local hospitals in Central Iowa.
• Matthew 25coreOthers2026 grant recipient. Independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit began in 2006 to strengthen and elevate neighborhoods on the west side of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Works to improve health of people and neighborhoods through affordable housing, healthy food, educational opportunities, and community building.
• Iowa City Free Medical & Dental ClinicminorOthers2025 grant recipient providing free medical and dental services to underserved communities in Iowa City.
• Iowa Valley RC&DminorOthers2025 grant recipient focused on resource conservation and development in Iowa Valley.
• Central Furniture RescueminorOthers2025 grant recipient providing furniture assistance to families in need.
• Monarch ResearchminorOthers2025 grant recipient focused on monarch butterfly conservation research.
• Iowa Migrant Movement for JusticeminorOthers2025 grant recipient supporting migrant workers and their families in Iowa.
• The BeaconminorOthers2025 grant recipient providing services to individuals and families in need in the Des Moines area.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• Philanthropy Together: Philanthropy Together supports and networks community foundations and giving circles. Comparable as an ecosystem/peer organization that supports and connects small community grantmaking entities like Big Grove for Good.

Regional players

• Omaha Community Foundation: Omaha Community Foundation is the major regional grantmaker serving the Omaha Metro area—the same region as one of Big Grove for Good's grant areas. Comparable as a hyperlocal grantmaking foundation with overlapping geography.
• Iowa West Foundation: Iowa West Foundation is a large Iowa-based community foundation that funds nonprofits across western Iowa. Comparable as a regional grantmaking institution with overlapping beneficiary populations.
• Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation: Greater Cedar Rapids Community Foundation is an established regional community foundation operating in Linn County, Iowa—the same region as Big Grove for Good. Comparable as a local grantmaking entity serving overlapping nonprofits.
• Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque: Regional community foundation operating in eastern Iowa with hyperlocal grantmaking. Comparable as a geographically focused community foundation in Iowa with similar recipient organizations.

Direct peers

• Bell's Brewery Foundation (Lara & Eccentric): Bell's Brewery has community-oriented giving programs supporting local Michigan nonprofits. Comparable as a regional craft brewery with an integrated community impact initiative.
• Deschutes Brewery Foundation: Deschutes Brewery operates an integrated philanthropy/community giving program focused on Oregon communities. Comparable as a regional craft brewery with community-focused grantmaking tied to its brand.
• New Belgium Brewing Company (Foundation): New Belgium operates a craft brewery with a long-standing purpose-driven philanthropy and grantmaking program tied to its brand. Closely comparable as a craft brewery with an integrated charitable giving arm that channels beer sales into community impact.
• Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. (Foundation): Sierra Nevada runs significant environmental and community philanthropy tied to its craft brewery operations. Highly comparable as a craft brewery with a foundation focused on sustainability and community giving.

Broad incumbents

• Anheuser-Busch Foundation: Anheuser-Busch Foundation is the large corporate philanthropy arm of a major brewing company. Comparable as a brewery-affiliated foundation, though at vastly larger scale and broader geographic reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Big Grove For Good Foundation