The Matthew Good Foundation, established by Hull-based family business The John Good Group in memory of director Matthew Good, has won the Corporate Foundation Award at the prestigious Third Sector Business Charity Awards. This accolade is a remarkable achievement for both the John Good Group and the Matthew Good Foundation, which triumphed over some of the UK’s biggest corporate names. The Business Charity Awards, run by Third Sector – the UK’s leading publication for the non-profit sector – celebrate outstanding contributions from businesses making a real difference to society. Previous winners of the Corporate Foundation Award include major players like Sony Music, Greggs, and Aviva, highlighting how prestigious this national recognition is. The Matthew Good Foundation was established in 2011 by Matthew’s family and colleagues at the John Good Group. Matthew was a passionate charity fundraiser who tragically passed away at the age of 32 while participating in the Humber Half Marathon to support a grassroots cause he cared about. Since then, the foundation has championed his vision of employee-led giving with a focus on supporting small non-profits, providing unrestricted grants to help them thrive.
Unlike many larger corporate foundations, the Matthew Good Foundation focuses on very small but impactful charities and non-profits. Through easy-to-access initiatives like the Grants for Good programme, it empowers fledgling and community-based organisations across the UK to make a lasting difference. This grassroots-first approach has earned it a reputation for meaningful, community-focused corporate philanthropy.
The award ceremony, held in London’s Grosvenor Square on 8th May 2025, celebrated the foundation’s commitment to grassroots giving. The John Good Group and Matthew Good Foundation team were joined by Sailors’ Children’s Society, a Hull-based charity that nominated them for the award after receiving significant support.
Natasha Barley, CEO of the Sailor’s Children’s Society said, “The Matthew Good Foundation is completely different to any other foundation we have worked with. Their support has been far-reaching and covered so many layers. They supported us with an Amplify Charity Film, John Good Group staff fundraised £20,000 for us through the Bridge2Bridge Challenge, the Group generously provided office space while we secured a new building, and their CEO, Adam Walsh, has become a mentor to me. They truly are a force for good.”
Tim Good, Matthew’s brother and sixth-generation custodian of the John Good Group, expressed his pride: “We’re incredibly proud of everyone involved in the Foundation’s success, from the John Good Group staff who choose the projects we support, to our dedicated Foundation trustees and staff, both past and present, whose hard work has been pivotal. We’re also deeply grateful to the wider Good family, whose commitment to embedding the Foundation within the core of the John Good Group ensures it continues to thrive and receive a substantial share of our profits.”
This win honours the legacy of Matthew Good, whose spirit of giving remains central to the foundation’s mission. It also highlights how big-hearted philanthropy can triumph over sheer financial power, and proves that even small grants can make a significant impact.
By dedicating a proportion of profits annually, the John Good Group ensures the Foundation has distributed over £1.5 million to charities since inception, with a focus on empowering employees to direct charitable giving. Its innovative five-year strategy targets small charities, a vital yet underfunded segment of the UK charity sector, offering accessible funding, practical support, and bespoke programmes.
We’re delighted that our approach has been recognised by the Business Charity Awards. We hope this brings attention to the importance of grassroots-led corporate social responsibility and its power to drive real, positive change.