Funding for B Local San Diego and Business For Good San Diego will help strengthen and scale purpose-driven business across the region.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
San Diego, CA – July 13, 2026 – In a major step toward building a more equitable and resilient local economy, Prebys Foundation (Prebys), the largest independent private foundation in San Diego, is investing $500,000 to strengthen San Diego’s purpose-driven business ecosystem through support for two nonprofit organizations – B Local San Diego (B Local) and Business For Good San Diego (Business For Good).
While Prebys has traditionally focused on areas like arts and culture, healthcare, and youth services, this investment in business-centric organizations signals a belief that purpose-driven businesses can present a scalable solution to the region’s most pressing economic challenges.
“We believe San Diego’s future will be shaped by businesses that create value not only for shareholders, but for workers, communities, and the region as a whole,” said Grant Oliphant, President and CEO of Prebys Foundation. “Business for Good and B Local are helping build the relationships, practices, and shared commitment that make a more resilient and inclusive economy possible.”
Rather than allowing economic gains to flow away from the region, this investment is designed to help more wealth, opportunity, and ownership take root locally, strengthening San Diego’s long-term economic resilience. Each organization will receive $250,000 over one year to fulfill its distinct and complementary role. B Local will focus on expanding B Corp certification and relaunching its Bridges Program to accelerate certification for BIPOC-owned businesses. Business For Good will drive policy education and advocacy, continue local legislative engagement, and expand entrepreneurial education and programming, especially for underserved populations. B Local has already hired former Board Chair, Abraham Chen, as their new Executive Director, and Business For Good will be hiring a similar, dedicated position to lead their next phase of growth.
“The Prebys Foundation’s investment validates what we’ve known all along”, commented Business For Good Board Chair, Emily Renda. “That business can and should be a powerful force for equity and community resilience. With dedicated leadership and a coordinated ecosystem alongside B Local, we’re ready to show the nation what’s possible when business serves people — when workers thrive, communities flourish, and everyone wins.”
San Diego has the opportunity to lead in defining a modern, responsible economy where businesses, communities, and the environment can thrive. Beyond programming, this investment fosters long-term collaboration, civic engagement, and economic leadership across the region.
“This is a turning point for our region,” said Abraham Chen, B Local Executive Director. “With Prebys Foundation’s support, we’re not just growing a community. We’re building the infrastructure for a better kind of economy. One where businesses succeed because they create value for people and the planet, not at their expense.”
#
Prebys Foundation is the largest independent private foundation in San Diego County. Through grantmaking and impact investing, the Foundation invests in arts and culture, youth success, health and well-being, and medical research to build an inclusive, equitable, and dynamic future for all. Learn more at prebysfdn.org.
B Local San Diego is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a more equitable and regenerative economy by growing the local B Corp community and advancing the adoption of B Impact standards. Local B Corp certified businesses represented on the board include Better APC, Civilian, The Untours Foundation, Rescue Agency, Farallon Strategies, Athletic Brewing, and Next Door Photos.
Business For Good San Diego is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that brings together business owners, professionals, nonprofits, and public sector workers to drive meaningful change in the San Diego region. The organization provides advocacy education, networking events, and business resources that embody a new definition of what it means to be pro-business by promoting sustainable, equitable policies and business practices that improve the quality of life for all San Diegans. Founded in 2017, BFG offers an alternative to the monolithic voice of business, championing the belief that when communities thrive, so do businesses. Learn more at businessforgoodsd.org.
