Youth Entrepreneurship
Whether entrepreneurs are born or are molded by their personal circumstances, we know from research as well as long experience in the field that early exposure to hands-on learning and the nurturing of knowledgeable teachers and mentors helps them flourish and succeed.
That's why we support a rich and ever-expanding array of interconnected experiential opportunities for K-12 students and their teachers related to entrepreneurship and the free market.
All of these programs are designed to build confidence in kids, stimulate their problem-solving abilities, and deepen their school experiences. They also create a rich ecosystem of support and knowledge that helps young people progress along their educational journey.
Preparing Young People for Success
We prepare young people for entrepreneurial success by:
- Equipping their teachers with the quality training, programming, and peer networks that lead to academic excellence
- Providing them with opportunities to gain real-world entrepreneurial skills
- Developing pathways to further develop entrepreneurial competencies at each stage of their life
Our work is characterized by a determination to foster strong partnerships and a desire to continually introduce new and innovative ideas and approaches into the youth entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Foundation Values - Youth Entrepreneurship Programming
Burton D. Morgan Foundation values youth entrepreneurship programs that…
- Build the entrepreneurial mindset
Impactful programs allow students to recognize opportunities, innovate solutions, collaborate with others, and adapt to new information by actively engaging with their environments. - Empower individual agency
Creative programs celebrate student-directed learning, informed risk-taking, and failure as ways to cultivate initiative, resiliency, and perseverance. - Exhibit interdisciplinary components
Forward-thinking leaders break down barriers and encourage the integration of entrepreneurship into core areas of study, breeding innovation, and sparking connections. - Collaborate with ecosystem partners
Dynamic organizations facilitate opportunities for students to connect with other entrepreneurial ecosystem resources and promote pathways to continue building their entrepreneurial skills. - Leverage resources
Sustainable integration of entrepreneurship is best accomplished by building upon strengths and developing existing resources. - Employ entrepreneurial role models
Involved parents, teachers, and entrepreneurs ignite and shape the entrepreneurial mindset of youth. - Engage underserved populations
Robust inclusion of diverse ideas, voices, and perspectives enriches students' entrepreneurial experiences and inspires innovation. - Use evaluation to fuel growth
Continuous learning requires more than just basic data - progressive programs employ assessment tools that offer iterative feedback, produce bodies of evidence, inform practices, and galvanize students to advance their skills. - Pivot to meet changing needs
Responsive programs adapt to shifting landscapes to take full advantage of new opportunities and best practices in student learning. - Share lessons learned
Dedicated ecosystem partners prioritize the regular exchange of lessons learned through peer-to-peer sharing. - Demonstrate fiscal responsibility