Programs
Coffee Cup Classes
Education and knowledge are key to success in business. Knowledgeable leaders make decisions that foster growth and avoid pitfalls. Big corporations often have access to business education resources, but affordable options can be a challenge for small and medium-sized businesses. Coffee Cup Classes help close the gap.
We partner with local and regional experts to provide short classes, webinars, and counseling on critical topics like business finance and financial literacy, workers’ compensation, safety, DOT compliance, and continuing education for professionals—all grounded in ethical business practices.
Join us to get smarter and take home a coffee mug souvenir.
Educational partners and presenters
Focus CFO
Score
Frontpath
paramount Mewa
sheakley
lamar outdoor
wtol
ScamGuard workshop series
Education is the key to fighting scams. Our ScamGuard Workshop Series equips consumers with practical tools to recognize, avoid, and report scams before financial harm occurs. Through engaging, easy-to-understand sessions, participants learn how scammers operate, how to protect personal and financial information, and how to make confident, informed financial decisions. The workshops also introduce essential financial literacy concepts that strengthen long-term resilience, empowering individuals—especially those in vulnerable populations like seniors and military families—to safeguard their money, benefits, and peace of mind. All presentations, programs, and handout materials are free.
The Better Business Bureau currently incubates these valuable community programs but our goal is to fully fund them through public and private donations, sponsorships, and grants. Explore our ScamGuard Workshops in more detail below and feel free to reach out to schedule a presentation or support either program.
- Telephone & text scams
- Gift card scams
- Internet scams (credit card and online purchase scams)
- Fake charity scams
- Grandparent Scams
- Free “trial offers” (medicines and remedies)
- Sweepstakes/lottery
- Cat phishing/dating
- Caller ID/AI and algorithms
scam awareness & fraud prevention
digital & Tech safety
Community
Education
Independence &
Aging-in-place
for seniors
It’s no secret that older adults are frequently targeted for scams. Modern technology like social media, texting, auto-calls, and email lets fraudsters steal from people at a scale never seen before. Everyone is at risk, but seniors are particularly vulnerable because they often lack robust support networks and don’t always know how the latest technology can be used to trick them.
Education is the key. When seniors are educated about scams, they become well-equipped to resist and a valuable family and community resource to teach others! Senior ScamGuard educates our older population and their caregivers to foster dignity, independence, and aging-in-place, providing over 90 in-person presentations each year across northwestern Ohio and southeastern Michigan.
for military & veterans
Drawing from the Military & Veterans Initiative developed by the BBB Institute for Marketplace Trust, these workshops are tailored to active and recently discharged service members, veterans, and their families. They focus on scams that disproportionately target the military community, including benefit-related fraud, fake charities, employment and housing scams, and financial exploitation during deployments or transitions to civilian life.
Participants learn to recognize red flags, protect personal and financial information, and make confident financial decisions. The workshops also reinforce essential financial literacy concepts, helping military families safeguard their benefits, income, and long-term financial security.
Latino business initiative
Latino Business Initiative is one of the BBB Foundation’s newest and most exciting programs. Latino Business Initiative connects and empowers Latino entrepreneurs in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan through practical business education, trusted resources, and community support. With a warm, motivating approach, and our spirit of “Ponte las pilas,” we guide, support, and champion the growth of Latino businesses across the region.
The Scholarship Factory
The Scholarship Factory is a dynamic new initiative designed to empower students who demonstrate exceptional integrity, character, and drive. Through a diverse range of giving options, we invite donors to invest in the future of education by supporting scholarships that reflect their personal values and philanthropic goals.
General Scholarship Fund
This flexible fund supports scholarships for students who exemplify integrity, as demonstrated through video essays and other competitions that highlight their commitment to positive change and leadership. Each year, 95–100% of donations to this fund are awarded directly as scholarships.
Named Scholarships
Donors may establish personalized scholarships tailored to criteria such as field of study, geographic region, or specific student characteristics (e.g., first-generation college students). Because these awards require additional customization and administration, The Scholarship Factory includes a 25% administrative fee above the scholarship amount. For example, a $1,250 gift funds a $1,000 scholarship.
Endowment Fund
For donors seeking a long-term, sustainable impact, our Endowment Fund is designed to build principal that generates investment returns for future scholarships. 100% of all contributions are added to the Endowment principal. Funds will remain invested until the Endowment reaches $250,000, at which point 50% of annual investment returns will be transferred to the General Scholarship Fund to support yearly awards—creating a growing, perpetual source of opportunity.
Torch & Spark Awards
The Torch Awards for Ethics are a BBB legacy program. We’ve reimagined and expanded the program for stronger participation from our outlying counties, and we’ve added the Spark Awards for younger owners and newer businesses.
John J Evola DDS Inc.
Small Business Torch Awards Winner 2025
The
BBB Torch Awards for Ethics recognize businesses and nonprofits that demonstrate a strong commitment to integrity and ethical practices. This prestigious honor celebrates organizations that build trust with customers, employees, and their communities while setting a high standard for leadership, transparency, and ethical conduct in the marketplace.
The
BBB Spark Awards recognize young entrepreneurs and new business owners who lead with integrity from the start. Typically honoring leaders under 35, the awards highlight individuals and companies that reflect BBB’s values of trust, honesty, and transparency, inspiring a lifelong commitment to ethical business practices.
students of integrity essay competition
Coming Soon!
Mental Health & Wellness
Mental health challenges have been on the rise, and local systems are stretched. We collaborate with several mental health-focused organizations in our region for events like NAMIWalks and our own Shred the Stigma fundraiser. The need is great and we are always looking for new ways to partner.
What is namiwalks?
NAMIWalks is a nationwide community walk that brings people together to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and support mental health for all. Hosted by local NAMI affiliates across the country, each walk celebrates hope, connection, and recovery while raising funds that help provide free mental-health education, support groups, and advocacy in local communities. Open to individuals, families, friends, and supporters, NAMIWalks events create a welcoming space where everyone can show that no one walks the mental-health journey alone.
What is shred the stigma?
Hosted by NAMI and the Better Business Bureau Serving Northwest Ohio, in partnership with AccuShred, Shred the Stigma is a collaborative community event promoting mental health awareness and consumer protection. The event features free, drive-through document shredding, helping individuals safely dispose of sensitive papers and prevent identity theft. A $5 donation is made for each car that participates in shredding (maximum $2,500).
This year’s Shred the Stigma event will take place from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on the first Saturday of May, at the corner of Central and Secor, in the parking lot across from COSTCO.