Business For Good Appointed First Full-Time CEO
Melinda Casey has stepped into the leadership role to oversee the nonprofit advocacy organization's expansion.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Business For Good San Diego has hired Melinda Casey as its inaugural full-time CEO. The appointment follows a $500,000 grant awarded to the organization and B Local San Diego by the Prebys Foundation.
Why it matters
The organization intends to use this leadership transition to strengthen local policy advocacy and develop entrepreneurial training programs. These efforts aim to support underprivileged business owners while establishing a sustainable funding model for the group's future operations.
The Prebys Foundation provided a $500,000 grant to fund this executive position and support collaborative efforts between the two local organizations. Business For Good has operated within the community for nine years since its founding in 2017.
The players
Melinda Casey
She is the first full-time CEO of Business For Good and previously served as the director of learning and engagement at the nonprofit Words Alive.
Business For Good
Founded in 2017, this organization works with nonprofits and government agencies to support business advocacy and training in the San Diego region.
Prebys Foundation
This philanthropic organization provided a $500,000 grant to support the hiring of new leadership and collaborative programming in San Diego.
B Local San Diego
This entity requires for-profit businesses to meet specific social, environmental, and transparency standards and is working in partnership with Business For Good.
The details
Melinda Casey, who previously served as director of learning and engagement at Words Alive, will now lead an organization that includes government agencies and nonprofits. She is tasked with expanding training programs for underprivileged entrepreneurs as the group works in collaboration with B Local San Diego to meet social and environmental certification standards.
Timeline
Business For Good was founded in 2017.
The Prebys Foundation awarded a $500,000 grant in July 2026.
Melinda Casey began her role as CEO on October 12, 2026.
The organization holds a Fall Fundraising Dinner on October 29, 2026.
Market Landscape
This transition aligns with the broader growth of certified social impact business networks that seek to formalize advocacy and operational standards. By professionalizing its leadership, the organization positions itself to better compete for regional influence against traditional industry lobbying groups.
Average business owners and local entrepreneurs can expect increased access to new training programs focused on underprivileged business development. These changes may lead to more standardized business practices within the region as the organization emphasizes new certification benchmarks.
The takeaway
The addition of full-time leadership suggests that the organization is moving from a grassroots model toward a more formal institutional structure. Readers interested in business advocacy should monitor how these new training programs impact local standards for social and environmental responsibility.
What happens next
The organization is scheduled to host its Fall Fundraising Dinner on October 29, 2026, which will be a key moment for its new leadership.
Further reading
Learn more about local non-profit initiatives in our San Diego Philanthropy section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Times of San Diego.
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