Emily Bean has been with Burton D. Morgan Foundation since 2014 and has worked in the philanthropic sector since 2010. She is committed to advancing education through strategic initiatives that help young people build entrepreneurial skills and mindsets. In 2022, she led the development of YIPPEE, a platform designed to make grantmaking more equitable and to bring community expertise directly into classrooms. Through YIPPEE, educators can easily connect students with entrepreneurial role models and hands-on learning experiences that foster curiosity, confidence, and real-world skill development.
Emily has also held leadership and advisory roles with organizations including the Entrepreneurship Funders Network, McGregor Foundation, Fund for Our Economic Future, Jobs for Ohio’s Graduates, the Economic & Community Development Institute, United Way of Summit County, and the Barker Center for Economic Education. Before entering philanthropy, she led national B2B marketing campaigns supporting more than 600 franchise owners across the United States and Canada. She holds a master’s degree in human development from Kent State University.
First entrepreneurial venture: Her high school entrepreneurship class sold glow sticks at football games and Nordonia Knight mousepads throughout the district. They doubled their stockholders’ investments and donated to local children’s hospitals.
What she is passionate about: Theme parties, excel spreadsheets, social research, and creating art
What she would love to see invented: Human wings